Current Geography Grad Students

Master's Degree in Geography

The Geography Department at Marshall University offers a supportive atmosphere featuring responsive, accomplished faculty and state-of-the-art facilities. In order to prepare students for professional employment or further education, the faculty strives to maintain a flexible curriculum, involve students in research, keep offerings updated with changes in the field and the job market, and help students obtain internships. As a result, many of our students secure employment as professional geographers before graduation, obtaining positions as urban and regional planners, GIS professionals, environmental scientists, geography doctoral students, economic development consultants, city/county/state/federal government professionals, historic preservationists, international trade consultants, and more.

Students wishing to earn a master’s degree in geography have the option of selecting either a Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) degree. The core requirements are the same for both degrees. In consultation with a faculty advisor, a student choosing the M.S. option will specialize in natural science-based geography such as environmental science/planning, cartography, GIS/remote sensing, or physical geography. In consultation with a faculty advisor, a student pursuing an M.A. degree will specialize in social science-based geography emphasizing GIS, planning, geographic education, human or regional geography. Both the M.S. and M.A. degree options prepare the graduate for professional employment or advanced work at the doctoral level.

Admission Requirements:

Application materials to the graduate program should be sent to the Graduate College. Applicants must have completed:

1. the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and
2. nine semester hours of undergraduate coursework in geography for full admission to the program.

Provisional admission may be granted with consent of the faculty. Applications for department research or teaching assistantships are available from the Geography Department Chair.

Degree Requirements

The requirements for the master’s degree consist of:

1. meeting the general requirements for the Graduate College;
2. completing not fewer than 24 hours of graduate coursework in geography; and
3. completing either a thesis with a minimum of 30 total credits or comprehensive exams with a minimum of 36 total credits.

Plan of Study

What courses should you take and when during your Geography Master's Degree? How will you write your thesis? What are the comprehensive exams like? We hope our

• Graduate Plan of Study (38kb PDF)

will answer these questions.

Core Requirements
(Master of Arts and Master of Science)

*Requirement waived if course was taken at the 400 level as a Marshall undergraduate.

Geography Electives

Other disciplines that may offer courses of interest
(Master of Arts)

• Anthropology
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Economics
• French
• History
• Information Systems
• Park Resources and Leisure Services
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Technology Management

Other disciplines that may offer courses of interest
(Master of Science)

• Biological Science
• Computer Science
• Environmental Management
• Environmental Science
• Geology
• Information Systems
• Park Resources and Leisure Services
• Physical Science
• Technology Management

See a Faculty advisor for more information.