The master's program in geography is designed to enable the student to achieve professional competence in the discipline. This program is intended to increase substantive and technical proficiency.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
All students seeking the master's degree in geography are expected to have completed courses in physical, human, and regional geography; in quantitative methods; and in geographic information science. Applicants who have not completed all of these requirements may be admitted provisionally, and must remedy all course deficiencies before the degree is granted. Any course work complete to correct course deficiencies may not be counted towards the requirements for the degree.
REGULAR STATUS: The requirements for admission to the program include:
- A bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university preferably with an undergraduate major in geography or at least 14 credits in geography and related fields.
- A grade–point average of at least 3.40 at the time of application in both (1) all geography courses and (2) all courses completed during the junior and senior years.
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test.
Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Geography
The Master of Science in Geography is available only under Plan A (with thesis). The student must complete a total of 30 credits distributed as follows:
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| 1. |
Both of the following courses (7 to 9 credits): |
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GEO |
886 |
Research Design in Geography |
3 |
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GEO |
899 |
Master's Thesis Research |
4 to 6 |
| 2. |
One of the following four seminars (3 credits): |
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GEO |
871 |
Seminar in Physical Geography |
3 |
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GEO |
872 |
Seminar in Human Geography |
3 |
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GEO |
873 |
Seminar in Human-Environment Geography |
3 |
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GEO |
874 |
Seminar in Geographic Information Science |
3 |
| 3. |
Complete 3 or 4 credits in a geospatial technology course at the 400 level or 800-level. A list of courses available to fulfill this requirement is available from the student's guidance committee. Course work used to fulfill this requirement must be taken while enrolled as a graduate student at Michigan State University. |
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| 4. |
Complete 3 or 4 credits at the 400 or 800- level in an area of cartography, geographic information science, remote sensing, quantitative methods, qualitative methods, world language, or programming. A list of courses available to fulfill this requirement is available from the student’s guidance committee. Course work used to fulfill this requirement must be taken while enrolled as a graduate student at MSU. The course used to fulfill requirement 3. above may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
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Complete an additional 10 to 14 credits of course work taken inside or outside of the department. The course work must be approved by the student’s guidance committee. |
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| 6. |
Presentation of a research paper or poster at a professional meeting. |
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| 7. |
Pass a final oral examination in defense of the thesis. |
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