Graduate

Effective Fall 2026, admissions to the Geography PhD Program are suspended (last updated March 2026).

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.
  
  Admissions to the Geography PhD program are currently suspended.
• 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.