Geography - Ph.D. Program Requirements Download to print

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Geography requires a minimum of 60 credit hours, of which at least 30 hours must be for work on the dissertation. Of the remaining 30 hours, the department requires the completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours in letter-graded coursework at the 60000– , 70000– and 80000–level. In particular:

• At least 12 credit hours must consist of graded geography coursework (which may include graded independent study) at the 60000–, 70000– and 80000–level*.
• A minimum of 6 credit hours of coursework or equivalence in research at a graduate level must be taken in a cognate discipline. Generally, such work is taken with the cognate member of the student's advisory committee.
• Once a student reaches candidacy it is expected that they register for Dissertation I for two academic terms at 15 credit hours each, and Dissertation II thereafter, each semester, including one term each summer, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

New students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses within the first year of their enrollment, if they have not already taken similar courses at the Masters level:

• GEOG 69701–Research and Presentation of Geographic Data (3)
• GEOG 70800–Seminar in the Development of Geographic Thought (3)

*Students are not permitted to count Research (GEOG 80996 or GEOG 80998) towards this requirement.