Geography M.A.

Geography Major

Students interested in enrolling in this program must submit a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study and should refer to their MyUNIverse Student Center To-Do list or contact the graduate coordinator in the Department of Geography for any other application requirements. Applications should include two letters of recommendation, a brief statement about professional interests and career objectives, and transcripts of both undergraduate and graduate credit.  Graduate information and application for graduate admission can be found at https://admissions.uni.edu/application.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

Only graduate courses (course number 5000 or above) will apply to a graduate degree, even if the undergraduate course number (4999 or less) is listed. No exceptions will be made.

The major in Geography is available on the thesis (research) and non-thesis (professional) options. A minimum of 33 semester hours, including 6 hours GEOG 6299 for thesis research and writing, is required for the thesis option. Students must successfully present a written and oral thesis proposal prior to registration in GEOG 6299. A minimum of 30 semester hours, including 3 hours GEOG 6598 for completion of a research paper, is required for the non-thesis option. A minimum of 17 hours of 6000-level course work is required for both the thesis and non-thesis options.  Any 6000-level course offered as a graded course must be taken on a graded basis. Students pursuing either thesis or non-thesis option may select from the following research concentrations: Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing; Environmental and Earth Systems; Geomorphology; Human Spatial Systems; Planning and Development; Geography Education.

Thesis Option:

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At least 12 of the 21 hours must be in geography; at least 3 of the 18 hours must be at the 6000-level; cannot include GEOG 6598; additional hours of GEOG 6299 cannot count toward the minimum 21 elective hours.

Non-Thesis Option:

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At least 3 of the 12 hours must be at the 6000-level; at least 3 hours must be a content elective and 3 hours must be a skills elective. Students may take an additional 3 hours of GEOG 6598 as an elective with approval of the Graduate Coordinator.

Each student's program (beyond the required core courses) will be determined by individual needs in consultation with their graduate advisor and the graduate coordinator.  For the thesis option, an oral thesis defense is required. For the non-thesis option, a final presentation of the research paper is required.

Learning Outcomes

Geography: M.A.

Goal 1: Communication

• SLO 1: Demonstrate an advanced development in effective communication of new knowledge.

Goal 2: Critical Thinking

• SLO 2: Conduct advanced research through the development of a research question, select appropriate research methods, and execution of suitable methods of data collection.

Goal 3: Content Knowledge & Skills

• SLO 3: Acquire an awareness of the discipline of geography as a professional field including an understanding of the social importance of geographic knowledge and research.
• SLO 4: Develop a mastery of a specialized field within the discipline of geography.

Related Programs

• Geography B.A.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Cartography Graduate Certificate