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The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography is designed as a two-year program of study (minimum of 33 units). Students elect either a thesis option (recommended for those pursuing a Ph.D.) or a non-thesis option (recommended for those pursuing a professional, non-academic career). At the Masters level, the School offers courses in a wide range of fields within Geography, as shown below. Many of our masters students continue on at SGD for a Ph.D., depending on their interests and accomplishments.
As one of the leading geography departments in the United States, University of Arizona is distinguished by the broad spectrum of teaching and research interests among its faculty, providing ample opportunities for graduate students to specialize in many sub-fields. These include:
School of Geography and Development
Graduate students in the School of Geography, Development, and Environment (SGDE) benefit from the broad range of faculty expertise and strong links to interdisciplinary research centers across campus. Our work spans the discipline, from physical geography (climate science, dendrochronology, remote sensing, spatial science), to human-environment (political ecology, water policy, climate change) to human geography (development, state theory). Our shared commitment to collaboration and community makes for a lively and engaged department.
SGDE offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, two professional master’s degrees, and participates in several graduate certificate programs
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
The deadline for fall admission is January 5 for both domestic and international applicants. Please note that the SGDE deadline supersedes Graduate College deadlines and that there are no spring semester admissions to SGDE. A background in geography or related fields in the natural and social sciences is strongly recommended for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Students are selected on the basis of:
1. Academic background and performance (generally a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0).
2. Professional experience.
3. Personal statement of intent.
4. Letters of recommendation.
6. TOEFL (for international students). Either a score of 550 [PB], 79 [IBT], or IELTS [composite score of 7, no subject area below a 6]. To be considered as a TA, a citizen of a non-English-speaking country must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English via examination. This requires a score of at least 26 on the speaking section of the IBT TOEFL.
NOTE: A master's degree is required for admission to Ph.D. program (applicants without master's degrees who are interested in the Ph.D. need to initially apply for the master's degree).
All test scores must be sent from ETS.
The GRE and TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Arizona is 4832.
*The GRE score is no longer required.
**The minimum TOEFL score is 550 [PB], 79 [IBT], or IELTS [composite score of 7, no subject area below 6]
Every effort is made to provide some kind of financial support for incoming graduate students.
Teaching and research assistantships and graduate tuition waivers, available on a competitive basis, are used to waive nonresident tuition, registration fees, and/or health insurance premiums. Teaching and research assistantships offer a half-time academic year stipend that is competitive with other geography programs around the country.
Incoming students may also apply or be nominated for one of several available fellowships (e.g., see the Carson Scholars Program).
AAUW International Fellowships
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Lewis & Clark Fund for Research for Exploration and Fiedl Research
NSF Geography and Spatial Sciences Program Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship
Philanthropic Educational Organization
Regional Science Assocaition International Dissertation Award
Thomas R. Pckering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
Later submissions and off-cycle applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis as allowed by the Urban Planning Emphasis Committee in conjunction with the SGDE Director and admissions committee.
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
33
GEOG 689: History of Geographic Thought (3 units)
GEOG 500: Research Design (3 units)
Additional 3 units of advanced methods study. This course will vary between students and agreed upon by the student and advisor/committee.
Geography Courses including Advanced Methods Courses: (12 units or 4 courses; 1 of which should be an advanced methods course)
Geography Courses: 9 units (three courses) of graduate credit courses; up to six of these units may be jointly convened graduate/ undergraduate credit courses; and/or independent studies other than thesis or dissertation units
1 course (3 units) of advanced methods tailored to the needs of each student, as defined in discussions with his/her advisor and advisory committee.
Electives: (12 units of 4 courses)
12 units (four courses) of graduate credit courses in SGDE and other departments, including independent studies, thesis, and dissertation credits. These courses may include other courses on campus in other departments as agreed upon by the student and their advisor and/or advisory committee.
These 3-unit GEOG elective courses MAY include: (GEOG graduate seminar courses are not offered on regular cycles and are contingent upon faculty availability)
696A Economic Geography (3 units)
696B Cultural Geography (3 units)
696C Physical Geography (3 units)
696F Advanced Methods and Techniques (3 units)
696G Urban Geography (3 units)
696H Political Geography (3 units)
696I Political Ecology (3 units)
696J Water Resources Geography (3 units)
696K Development and the Latin American Experience (3 units)
696M Geography and Dendrochronology (3 units)
696N Geography and Social Theory (3 units)
696O Adaptation & Resilience in Water Resources Systems (3 units)
696Q Participatory Systems Design and Delivery (3 units)
The Director of Graduate Studies may approve exceptions to the above requirements. Most students take two years as full-time students to complete the M.A., assuming that they are working as graduate assistants and taking nine units of credit per semester. This timing applies to both thesis and non-thesis options. Graduate credit, to be applicable towards the M.A. degree, must have been earned no more than six years prior to the completion of the requirements for the M.A. degree.
A master's student who proposes to undertake research in or on a non-English speaking area is required to demonstrate the necessary language skills. A language test will normally be arranged by the student's mentor, and be approved by the student's advisory committee.
Complete 12 units (four courses) of graduate credit courses in SGDE and other departments, including independent studies and thesis credits.
These 3-unit GEOG elective courses MAY include: (GEOG graduate seminar courses are not offered on regular cycles and are contingent upon faculty availability)
696A Economic Geography (3 units)
696B Cultural Geography (3 units)
696C Physical Geography (3 units)
696F Advanced Methods and Techniques (3 units)
696G Urban Geography (3 units)
696H Political Geography (3 units)
696I Political Ecology (3 units)
696J Water Resources Geography (3 units)
696K Development and the Latin American Experience (3 units)
696M Geography and Dendrochronology (3 units)
696N Geography and Social Theory (3 units)
696O Adaptation & Resilience in Water Resources Systems (3 units)
696Q Participatory Systems Design and Delivery (3 units)
Graduate students can register for different kinds of individual study and professional development. Up to nine of these credits (including GEOG 910 Thesis credits) can apply to requirements for the M.A. degree. In the following list, the number in brackets refers to the number of credits permitted each semester, not the number of credits required for graduation. For an M.A., at least one and up to six credits of GEOG 910 are required for graduation.
The 33 units offered for the degree may not include more than nine units of thesis, internship, and/or independent studies.
All graduate students in residence are expected to attend the weekly Colloquium whenever possible, whether or not they are formally registered for GEOG 695A (one credit, which is not graded and does not count towards degree requirements). Students should register for the Colloquium each semester if their credit load permits.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 25.93% |
| Med. Time-to-degree (years) | 2.00 |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 30% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 70% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 0% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 10% |