Master of Arts in Geography/Water Resources

Master's programs are based on student interests and faculty expertise. Requirements differ for MA (geography) and MP (planning) degrees that correspond to the differing content of these areas. Content also differs for the MA in geography that depends on student interest in human or physical geography; natural resource management; spatial analysis, information and display. Planning areas include: land use planning, economic development, natural resource planning, community and regional planning, and site development. Plans A (with thesis) and B (without thesis/including two research papers) are available in each of the major areas. Coursework in other departments and programs (e.g. Anthropology, Renewable Resources, Botany, Geology/Geophysics, Political Science, and others) is commonly encouraged. Tool courses in all areas are emphasized to ensure the employability of graduates or success in PhD programs. Geography Degree Requirements Required Background Incoming students must have a minimum undergraduate background equivalent to 15 semester hours in college-level geography courses to include three hours each in maps and mapping, human geography, and physical geography. Planning students may use undergraduate course work in planning, analytic tools, regional science, or other relevant subject matter to meet the undergraduate requirement. Deficiency courses prescribed by the faculty advisor do not count toward graduate program requirements, and must be taken for credit and for a grade (not S/U). All Master Degrees (Plan A Thesis) Thirty credit hours of approved course work (not including thesis research), a minimum of six hours of thesis research, and completion of a thesis. Core Requirements - All Programs: GEOG 5000 Research Perspectives (3) GEOG 5001 Research in Geography Colloquium (2) GEOG 5002 Geography Graduate Seminar (1) Students will successfully complete at least two techniques courses totaling six or more credit hours. These may be selected from the list below. Alternatively, students may discuss with their advisor techniques courses that more appropriately support their program of study and research plans. GEOG 4200 Introduction to Geographic Information Sciences (4) GEOG 5111 Remote Sensing of the Environment/Lab (4) GEOG 5210 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (4) GEOG 5220 Spatial Modeling (4) GEOG 5455 Remote Sensing of Rivers (3) GEOG 5050 Data Management (2) STAT 5070 Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences (3) STAT 5210 Statistical Methods (3) AMST 5800 Historical Preservation (3) SOC 5100 Advanced Social Research Methods (3) GEOL 5430 Applied Geostatistics (3) GEOL 5446 Introduction to Geostatistics (3) All students must complete a thesis which shall be an original contribution to knowledge. All students must prepare a thesis proposal for submission to their committee and have committee approval to initiate research on their thesis and must successfully complete an oral defense of their thesis. The student's committee may also require a written examination. Master of Arts in Geography/Water Resources Core Requirements: GEOG 5000 Research Perspectives (3) GEOG 5450 Fluvial Geomorphology (4) REWM 4700 Wildland Watershed Management (3) OR REWM 4285 Wildland Hydrology (3) Plan B (Non-Thesis) Thirty credit hours of approved course work (not including geographic research writing credit), a minimum of six hours of research writing credit, and the completion of two professional research papers. Core Requirements - All Programs: GEOG 5000 Research Perspectives (3) GEOG 5001 Research in Geography Colloquium (2) GEOG 5002 Geography Graduate Seminar (2)