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The Department of Geography offers multiple graduate degrees to meet the needs of different individuals.

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for students looking for the terminal degree in the field of study. Our program is strongly focused on the urban environment and “the city” as the entity of engagement. Our PhD also relies heavily on Geographic Information Science (GIS) as a research tool and as an organizing framework.
  • Master of Arts (MA) for students focusing on human geography.
  • Master of Science (MS) for students interested in physical geography.
  • A coordinated Master of Arts/Master of Library and Information Science Program (MA/MLIS) for students interested in library or archival work.
  • A graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems for advanced training in GIS methods and applications.

Regardless of which credential a student chooses to pursue, they will find the department’s courses and research centered around three areas, each of which has strong demand for career growth.

  • Human Geography and Urban Environments: With the world’s population becoming increasingly urbanized and globalized, courses examine the continuing challenges of urban growth and change, race, ethnicity, and gender in the city, immigration and identity politics, and spatial aspects of urban planning processes and political decision-making.
  • Physical Geography and Environmental Studies: This area addresses the impact and implications of global climate change, and human connections with natural phenomena. Courses on long-term atmospheric change are emphasized along with related topics of phenology, water, conservation, natural hazards, and natural resource scarcity.
  • Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing: Courses examine geographic information collection (including remote sensing), data analysis and geocomputation (spatial analysis), information presentation (cartography), and societal implications. Our program emphasizes applications of GIS in urban, regional, and environmental planning, policy making, and public health.

Contact Us

Prospective Graduates

Questions regarding the application or the application process should be directed to the UWM Graduate School at gradschool@uwm.edu or 414-229-6569.

Current Graduates

Questions about research opportunities, department funding opportunities, or issues specific to the discipline should be directed to Alison Donnelly.

Graduate Programs

Cards for the graduate programs will appear below automatically once the programs have been created.

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Graduate Student Resources

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Geography Graduate Courses
Course lists and upcoming offerings.
Visit Graduate Courses
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Financial Support for Graduate Students
The Department offers assistantships and limited scholarships for graduate students.
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Scholarships & Awards
Understand how to create a scholarship application and sources of funding.
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Campus Resources

UWM offers a wide range of on-campus resources, such as academic support and mental health resources. Students also find community within our student centers.

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UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.