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Program Details

Graduate Program: Geography (PHD)

General Information

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Program/Degree
Geography (PHD)  
Program Description

SGD also offers a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) minor in Geography for Ph.D. students majoring in other disciplines at UA. This program consists of a minimum of 12 units of graduate coursework in geography, including a maximum of 3 units of independent study. Students considering the Ph.D. minor in geography should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and with potential SGD committee members at an early stage about coursework and preparation for the comprehensive examination. For more information about the Ph.D. minor in geography, see the graduate program handbook.

The Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography is a specialized, research-oriented degree which requires a qualifying examination (waived for students who meet certain minimum requirements), at least one year of coursework (minimum of 18 credits) in addition to a Masters degree, and approximately three years of independent study and research culminating in a dissertation. Under the direction of their faculty committee and in consultation with the graduate advisor, doctoral students design an individualized program of coursework and independent study in preparation for their comprehensive examinations, which are typically taken after two years of study. Upon successful completion of the exams, the student prepares a dissertation proposal which must be approved by the faculty committee. This proposal may also form the basis for requesting external funding for research. The final requirement for the Ph.D. degree is a dissertation involving original research. During students’ time in the School, they will gain an understanding of the history and core concepts of the discipline, and range of  research methodologies.  They also have opportunities to obtain  teaching experience and  training in professional skills,. Potential applicants should be sure to review these webpages and our faculty interests before applying. While some faculty have research grants and may offer students both employment and research opportunities related to those projects, the majority of students design their own Ph.D dissertation topics and are encouraged to seek their own funding for field research and writing up the results. Our students have been remarkably successful at securing funding for their dissertations.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

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

College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Elizabeth S Cordova
520-621-7486
Graduate Program Coordinator
Elizabeth S Cordova
520-621-7486
Director of Graduate Studies
Stefano Emanuel Bloch
520-621-3311
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Tammy Tran
520-621-0119
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Admission Requirements

A background in geography or related fields in the natural and social sciences is recommended for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Students are selected based on their academic background, professional experience, and letters of recommendation.

  • Applicants to the M.A. program must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • A Master's degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Applicants without a Master's degree who are interested in the Ph.D must apply for the M.A. program.  

Statement of Intent

Please write a statement of intent of 2-3 pages (single-spaced), in which you describe your background, interests, and goals in seeking an M.A. or Ph.D.  Be as clear and specific as you can in writing your statement.  It is not necessary to propose a particular research project, but your statement will be stronger if you can articulate your areas and direction of interest, and how they fit with the work of one or more of our faculty members.

Letters of Recommendation

You will need a minimum of two letters of recommendation (three preferred). Enter contact information for your referees in the online application. Your referees will be contacted directly by the University of Arizona..

Transcripts

Transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended or are currently attending are required. Photocopies of unofficial transcripts can be uploaded with your application. You will submit official transcripts later on, before you can be officially admitted by the Graduate College.

GRE Scores

The School does not request scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

*Current M.A. students must also apply online to the Graduate College and pay an application fee (which the School cannot pay). Finally, these students should indicate their plan to apply for the Ph.D. in their annual progress report due on 1 February.

In general, the School encourages our M.A. students to continue here if their goal is a Ph.D., and new students are often recruited and/or admitted to the M.A. program with that understanding. The procedure described here fosters orderly information-gathering and allows systematic review of Ph.D. applicants.

M.A. students progressing to the Ph.D. in Geography must have completed and passed the M.A. thesis before the start of their first semester in the Ph.D. program. Failure to do so will result in the student becoming ineligible for Ph.D. funding.

 

 

 
Standardized Tests

GRE Scores: The School does not request scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

TOEFL Scores (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.

See Graduate College requirements for international students 

 
Funding Opportunities

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).

AAG Research Grants

AAG Education Grants

AAG Hoffman Award

AAUW American Fellowships

AAUW International Fellowships

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)

Boren Fellowship

Czamanski Dissertation Prize

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 

Rangel Graduate Fellowship

Regional Science Assocaition International Dissertation Award

Thomas R. Pckering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

Society of Women Geographers

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall: January 5
  • Spring: There is NO spring admission 

International Applicants:

  • Fall: January 5
  • Spring: There is NO spring admission
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 2203

NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Geography

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

54 

Core Coursework Requirements

Minumum credits: 36
 

Core Courses: (12 units; only GEOG689 and GEOG500 are required)

GEOG 689: History of Geographic Thought (3 units)

GEOG 500: Research Design (3 units)

Additional 6 units of advanced methods study. This course will vary between students and agreed upon by the student and advisor/committee. 

18 Dissertation Units
 

Language requirements: A doctoral student who proposes to undertake research in or on a non-English speaking area is required to demonstrate the necessary language skills before taking the comprehensive exam. A language test will normally be arranged by the student's mentor, and be approved by the student's advisory committee.
 

Other requirements: Please see our Graduate Handbook

 
Elective Coursework

Electives (Geography and other): 12 units (four courses) of graduate credit courses in SGDE and/or other departments, including independent studies, thesis, and dissertation credits.

These 3-unit GEOG elective courses MAY include: (GEOG 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 33 units offered for the degree may not include more than nine units of thesis, internship, and/or independent studies (see section 1.1.5). In addition to the 33-unit minimum, students are also required to register for one unit of GEOG 695A (Colloquium) during each semester in residence, although these units do not count towards degree requirements.

The Director of Graduate Studies may approve exceptions to the above requirements.

 
Additional Requirements

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. 

 
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program

The doctoral minor in geography (for Ph.D. students majoring in other disciplines) comprises a minimum of 12 units of coursework in geography, including at least one of the Ph.D. core course requirements (GEOG 500, GEOG 689 or an advanced methods course); and a maximum of 3 units of independent study. The program must be pre-approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Students considering the minor in geography should consult with the potential minor committee member(s) at an early stage, regarding coursework and preparation for the comprehensive examination. The participation of the committee member(s) must be agreed to by mutual consent through discussion with the faculty member(s) concerned.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate 37.84%
Med. Time-to-degree (years) 6.00
 
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male 40.74%
Enrollment Percent Female 59.26%
Enrollment Percent International 18.52%
Enrollment Percent URM 12.96%

Back to statistics
  • All application, admit, and enrollment data are from Fall 2020.
  • Median Time to Degree calculates how long graduates in the last 5 years (2015-2019) took to complete their degrees, counting back to the first semester entering their program. This measure uses the methodology established in the 2011 Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs by the National Research Council.
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes domestic students of ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in higher education: African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/GEOGPHD
Last revised 21 Jul 2022
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