Geography - M.A. and Ph.D. Download to print

The curriculum for the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography meets the needs of students who expect to continue with a professional career in academic or applied fields such as business, environmental or social planning, geographical information systems or cartography in private or governmental agencies. Students are exposed to geographic thought, research techniques and topical specialties, and are prepared to conduct original research.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography provides specialized training and inquiry into contemporary problems in geography.

Official transcript(s), GRE, resume, goal statement and three letters of recommendation. For more information about graduate admissions, please visit the Graduate Studies website.

M.A.: The curriculum for the M.A. degree is designed to meet the needs of students who expect to continue with a professional career in academic or applied fields such as business, environmental or social planning, geographical information systems or cartography in private or governmental agencies. Students must complete GEOG 60800, 69004 and two techniques courses as well as other courses suggested by their thesis advisory committees*. Students may elect to write a thesis or two research papers.

Ph.D.: The program for the Doctor of Philosophy degree is designed to provide specialized training and inquiry into contemporary problems in geography. Students should take courses with the advice of the department and their dissertation advisory committees. At least 6 hours of coursework must be taken in a cognate field in a department other than geography.
 

*Students who earned their bachelor's degree at Kent State University and have taken the undergraduate equivalents of any techniques courses listed can count these towards the techniques courses requirement. Note that these courses taken at the undergraduate level will not count towards the total degree course hour requirement, only that additional techniques courses will not be required.

Ph.D. Geography

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Engage in independent research projects by means of Ph.D. level independent research courses. Geography will encourage Ph.D. degree candidates to engage research projects with faculty members' guidance. By carrying out independent research projects, Ph.D. degree candidates will be able to acquire experiences in formulating research problems, reviewing relevant literature, designing research methodology, analyzing research data, and formulating results from academic research.

Candidacy examinations are taken after the dissertation proposal is approved by the committee. This should be completed by the end of the second year of doctoral study.