Geography, MA
Climate, Environmental, GIS, Meteorology, SPATIAL, Science, earth, geography, map, world
Come discover geographical sciences at ASU. Experience a distinct learning environment that places your focus on location --- the heart of geography, urban planning, climatology and geographic information science. With this foundation, you'll tackle some of the most pressing environmental and societal challenges facing our world today.
The Master of Arts program in geography is designed to offer specialized academic and professional training in geography, enabling students to secure a sound graduate background for further coursework or for immediate employment. The program has sufficient flexibility to accommodate individual needs and interests, allowing students to create a plan of study that fits their personal and professional goals.
In addition to innovative coursework, the state-of-the-art research centers, Spatial Analysis Research Center and Urban Climate Research Center offer students the opportunity to work with exceptional faculty on diverse research projects. Students can work alongside some of the brightest minds in geography, including four members of the National Academy of Sciences and rising talent in the fields of urban heat island research, GIS and more.
Students earning the MA in geography can build a path of knowledge that reflects their personal interests within the realms of geography. Students benefit from a wide variety of coursework and research opportunities in four broad interdisciplinary themes that span the expertise of the faculty within the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning:
- computational spatial science
- earth systems and climate science
- place, identities and culture
- sustainability science and studies
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe or Online
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required capstone course (GPH 597)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
GCU 585 Geographic Research Design and Proposal Writing (3) or
GCU 596 Geographic Research Methods (3)
Other Requirements (8 credit hours)
GCU 528 Geographic Problems and Context (3) or GCU 529 Contemporary Geographic Thought (3)
GCU 591 or GPH 591 Seminar: Geography Colloquium (1)
GCU 591 or GPH 591 Seminar: Geography Colloquium (1)
methods and statistics course (3)
Electives (13 or 16 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours)
GCU 599 Thesis (6) or GPH 599 Thesis (6)
GPH 597 Geography Capstone (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
Coursework and research hours are selected by the student in consultation with an advisory committee. The program recognizes that other graduate-level courses are offered at ASU. Advanced topics are often taught in omnibus courses, which have rotating content that is not reflected in their titles. Students may include these courses in their curriculum with approval of the program directors.
The Other Requirements course Seminar: Geography Colloquium is taken twice, once in each of the first two semesters of the program, for one credit hour each. Other courses may be used with approval of academic unit. For the methods and statistics course requirement, students should consult with the academic unit for eligible courses.
Students take 13 credit hours of electives for the Culminating Experience thesis option, and 16 credit hours of electives for the nonthesis option.
Up to six credit hours of 400-level coursework may be applied toward the plan of study.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement
- resume
- one letter of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
The personal statement must address three items:
- What area of geography does the applicant wish to pursue, and why?
- What aspects of the applicant's education (a description is needed) will enable the student to pursue this specialty?
- What additional training does the applicant believe can be obtained at ASU to realize their educational and career goals?
Applicants may also include in the personal statement any other information they feel should be considered in their application for admission (e.g., research experience or information that might be drawn from the applicant's resume).
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 01/15 | Priority |
| Session A/C | Online | 07/24 | Priority |
| Session B | Online | 09/17 | Priority |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 12/16 | Priority |
| Session B | Online | 02/17 | Priority |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | Online | 04/21 | Priority |
| Session B | Online | 06/04 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Analyze the journal research literature in the different subfields (physical, human, environmental) in geography.
- Conduct an analysis of a research problem in geography.
- Analyze the spatial dimensions of a subfield of geography
Professionals with expertise in geographical sciences research, theory and practice are in high demand across sectors and industries, including consulting firms, government agencies, community organizations, and public and private research facilities. Skills in geographical data analysis, mapping and climate science are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on research-based approaches to solve complex problems.
Some graduates of the program pursue doctoral degrees.
Career examples include:
- environmental scientist or specialist
- geographic information systems technician
- geological materials technician
- geophysical data technician
- geoscientist
- geospatial information scientist or technologist
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
|
COOR 5671
SGSUP.gradprograms@asu.edu
480-965-7533
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
