Geography, Applied (MS)

Admission Requirements

Students from geography and related fields are encouraged to apply. All applicants must hold a BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university and must have earned  a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. 

All applicants must complete/submit the following:

  • graduate admissions application
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and/or universities attended
  • Two  letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's academic abilities,  readiness for graduate study, and potential for success. Letters from current and/or former faculty members are preferred.
  • A statement of interests and intent covering relevant experience, potential areas of research/study, academic/career goals, and how the MS in Applied Geography would allow the applicant to achieve these goals.

All materials must be submitted to the Graduate School. 

Application deadlines:

  • May 15 for fall semester (individuals desiring consideration for Graduate Assistantships should apply by March 15th)
  • November 15 for Spring semester

Upon acceptance, students receive an enrollment form from the Department with questions about credit hours and financial assistance.

Program Requirements

The Master of Science in Applied Geography is a 30 credit hour program with both a thesis and a non-thesis option.

Geographic information systems (GIS) proficiency is required for all students. If not attained at the undergraduate level or in a job-related environment, students will be required to take GEOG 558 in addition to the coursework requirements listed below.

Thesis Option

Required Foundation Courses12
History and Philosophy of Geography 1
Spatial Statistics 1
Qualitative Methods in Applied Geography 1
Research Design and Proposal Development in Applied Geography
Electives at 500 or 600 level 212
Thesis6
Minimum Total Hours30

After the second semester, each thesis student will choose a thesis advisor and two other faculty members for a thesis committee. 


Non-Thesis Option

Required Foundation Courses12
History and Philosophy of Geography 1
Spatial Statistics 1
Qualitative Methods in Applied Geography 1
Research Design and Proposal Development in Applied Geography
Electives at 500 or 600 level 218
Comprehensive Examination
Minimum Total Hours30

Non-thesis students will choose a three member advising committee to administer and evaluate the comprehensive exam.

1

GEOG 600GEOG 656 and GEOG 660 are prequisites to GEOG 641.

2

Up to two courses used to satisfy the elective requirement may be from outside the department.