Studies & Degrees in Applied Geography
Choose where you would like to study Applied Geography:
GermanyIndiaThe United KingdomThe United StatesAre you a graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography or a related field? Would you be interested in expanding your knowledge and enhancing your employment prospects in this field by studying the various applications in which an advanced knowledge of geography comes into play? If so, you may want to consider pursuing a graduate degree in Applied Geography. The Master of Science degree program in Applied Geography is designed to provide for students the background knowledge and analytical skills needed to study and solve real-world issues with geographic dimensions. Below we will discuss this course of study in a bit more detail, including a course description, the typical curriculum to which students will be exposed and the eligibility requirements for admission into the program.
Master of Science Degree in Applied Geography: Course Description
The Master of Science Degree program in Applied Geography is a two-year, full-time course of study which aims to ready undergraduate geographers to utilize their skills and knowledge in a number of different areas in which a background in geography is essential. These areas include, but are not limited to, land use/land cover change; urban and regional studies; qualitative and quantitative methods and analysis; transportation and location analysis; border studies; remote sensing; globalization; glaciology; hydrology and water resources; geomorphology; medical geography; climatology; and meteorology.
Master of Science Degree in Applied Geography: Curriculum
As mentioned briefly above, the Master of Science Degree in Applied Geography is typically a full-time, two-year program requiring 36 semester hours of study prior to completing the program. The first 15 hours of the program are dedicated to the core or foundational courses associated with this degree, and while the exact titles of these courses may vary from one university to the next, they may include courses such as:
- History and Philosophy of Geography
- Methods and Practical Approaches in Applied Geography
- Advanced Quantitative Methods and Analysis
- Advanced Qualitative Methods and Analysis
- Research Design and Proposal Development
In addition to the 15 semester hours of core coursework, students will also be asked to choose and complete an additional 15 hours of elective courses. These courses give students the opportunity to concentrate their studies in a specific subject area, one that matches their unique interests. The Master of Science Degree in Applied Geography culminates with a Master’s thesis that must be presented to the faculty prior to graduation. This thesis represents the final 6 hours of the 36-hour course of study.
Master of Science Degree in Applied Geography: Eligibility
All students with a background in geography are encouraged to apply for the Master of Science Degree program in Applied Geography. Successful applicants must possess a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in geography or a related field, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in all of their core and elective coursework. Students who wish to study at a university in the United States must also take the GRE examination and earn a score of 1000 or better to be eligible for the program, and submit two letters of recommendation, preferably from people who have an intimate knowledge of the student’s prior academic success.