COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science (MS) in Geography is designed to develop advanced academic knowledge, research skills, and professional expertise in geographic studies, preparing students for either doctoral-level education or applied careers in government, environmental management, consulting, and education. The program is structured to give students both flexibility and depth through four main areas of focus: Earth system science, environment and natural resources, environment and society, and geographic information science (GIScience). Students are trained to analyze physical environmental processes such as climate, hydrology, soils, and ecosystems, as well as human-environment interactions involving land use, policy, transportation, and sustainability. The program also strongly emphasizes technical and analytical training through GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, and geographic modeling, which are increasingly essential tools in modern geographic research and applied environmental problem-solving. Two degree options are available: a thesis option requiring 30 credit hours and a non-thesis option requiring 36 credit hours. The thesis track includes core courses such as GY 500 (Research Traditions and Methods in Geography), GY 523 (Quantitative Methods), and GY 601 (Geography Colloquium), along with 6 credit hours of thesis research and at least 12 credit hours in a chosen area of focus. Students complete remaining credits through electives and advisor-approved coursework, often integrating interdisciplinary study. The non-thesis option replaces the thesis with a non-thesis research project (GY 598) and requires a broader 18-credit focus area concentration plus additional electives, providing a more coursework-based pathway. Students in both tracks are expected to build strong methodological skills, especially in quantitative analysis and spatial data interpretation, and may participate in internships, special topics courses, or independent research. Overall, the program is designed to produce graduates who are capable of conducting independent geographic research, applying spatial technologies, and addressing complex environmental and societal challenges in both academic and professional contexts.