COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master’s program in Geography at Queen’s University follows Research Pattern I and offers students two options for structuring their degree. The first option includes four term-length graduate courses along with a thesis that constitutes half of the total program, while the second option comprises six term-length graduate courses with a thesis accounting for one-quarter of the program’s weight. Regardless of the option chosen, all Master’s students are required to complete GPHY 857, the Geography Research Seminar, which provides essential guidance in research design, methodology, and the development of analytical skills necessary for independent scholarship. The program is designed to integrate coursework with original research, enabling students to explore critical questions related to physical geography, environmental processes, human-environment interactions, and broader socio-environmental issues such as climate change and sustainable planning. Through close collaboration with faculty, students develop advanced research competencies, including data collection, spatial analysis, and interpretation, while engaging with both theoretical frameworks and applied approaches. The combination of seminar participation, structured coursework, and thesis research ensures that graduates acquire the knowledge, methodological skills, and practical experience required to pursue careers in academia, environmental consulting, government, and policy-making, or to continue on to doctoral studies, contributing meaningfully to the study and management of complex environmental and societal challenges.