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The Department of Geography has two MA degree options; an accelerated one-year, non-thesis program, and a two-year, thesis program. The MA non-thesis program has been structured primarily for students who have an undergraduate degree in geography and who desire to enter the job market upon completion of a master's program. The MA thesis program is recommended for students who wish to continue graduate work in a PhD program. The MA thesis program also may be appropriate for students who do not have an adequate background in geography and who wish to take additional course work over a longer time period (2 years). A student may select the thesis or non-thesis option program no later than the beginning of the spring quarter of the first year of matriculation. The faculty reserve the right to approve the selection. Students selecting the thesis option may not choose the non-thesis option after course credit is taken for thesis research. Candidates for the Masters of Arts degree are expected to show broad mastery of the field, with a focus on the areas of departmental strength, including economic, urban and historical-cultural geography. Also available is a concentration in physical geography, with slightly different requirements and options. Students are expected (i) to complete satisfactorily certain required courses and seminars, (ii) to complete additional work in areas related to their special interests (either within or outside the department) and (iii) to write a thesis and defend it successfully, or write a research paper and successfully conclude a field problem (non-thesis option). Students whose background preparation for the required graduate-level courses is weak, or who lack certain of the background skills for conducting research, are expected to repair these deficiencies by taking appropriate courses, if necessary, at the undergraduate level. The normal time taken to complete the MA program is two academic years for the thesis option and one calendar year for the accelerated, non-thesis option. Full-time candidates are expected to register for 15 hours of graduate credit during each quarter in residence. Every quarter, a student's course schedule is worked out in consultation with the director of graduate studies, whose approval is required before registration. At the end of the second academic quarter of residence, all MA students must select a faculty adviser, or a faculty adviser will be appointed by the director of graduate studies. It is the faculty adviser's responsibility to assist graduate students in the completion of all degree (thesis or non-thesis option) requirements in a timely manner, to monitor student academic progress and to mentor students during their graduate career. As an essential part of their educational experience and as a condition of admission to a degree program, all full-time graduate students are given certain responsibilities within the department as research, teaching, fieldwork, cartographic or computer assistants. These responsibilities are in addition to the specified curricular requirements. The department evaluates student performance regularly at the end of the
first quarter, in each course and seminar, and through a written progress
report submitted by each graduate student during the spring quarter (by May
15)
Course requirements for the non-thesis MA program are at least 46 credits of graduate courses. Students should follow the MA program course schedule that includes Introduction to Graduate Geography, Quantitative Geography, Computer Applications, Geography Seminars, elective classes and Staff Seminar. See the "Table of Requirements" for more details of these requirements. Students may petition out of certain core requirements (with the permission of the graduate adviser). Students petitioning out of core requirement courses must take an equivalent number of graduate credits in other courses. An extended research paper is a requirement of the non-thesis MA program. The following guidelines should be adhered to:
The paper is read by two faculty chosen by the director of graduate studies. A letter indicating successful completion is entered in the student's file. A field problem is given to all MA non-thesis option students. The problem
is given upon conclusion of the spring quarter no earlier than two weeks
prior
During the summer between their first and second years, students should
plan to pursue their thesis research and gather much of the necessary data.
In most cases, preliminary analysis of these data should also be started
during the summer. Credit may be obtained for such work under the Summer
School courses "Problems in Geography" (15-041-501, 502, 503).
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Urban-Economic Historical Concentration 50 Graduate Credits
50 Graduate Credits
Master of Arts in Geography Programs: Non- Thesis Option Urban-Economic Historical Concentration 46 Graduate Credits
Physical Concentration 46 Graduate Credits
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