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Graduate Program |
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The graduate program in geography offers advanced training in four general areas: 1) environmental analysis; 2) cartography, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems; and 3) cultural and regional geography; and 4) land-use analysis. Both thesis and non- thesis options are available. The degree is intended to serve the needs of students who elect to continue work at the Ph.D. level, or who plan to use the M.A. as a terminal degree.
The student must be accepted by the Graduate School and by the Department of Geography. Admission is based on a sufficiently high quality of work at the undergraduate level leading to the completion of a baccalaureate degree and satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination. The Department of Geography reserves the right to grant either conditional or full admission to the program. If admitted on a conditional basis, the student must complete all of the deficiencies upon which conditional admittance was based before full admission will be granted.
Students pursuing the M.A. in Geography must show prior credit for GEOG 2801 (Quantitative Methods in Geography) or its equivalent. Students with baccalaureate degrees outside of geography may be granted conditional admission.
All students are required to complete GEOG 6887 (Geographic Thought and Research Methods), GEOG 6001 (Land Use and Environmental Analysis), and either GEOG 4810 (Remote Sensing I) or GEOG 4805 (Fundamentals of Mapping and GIS). Students who intend to take 6000-level courses in the 'Techniques' or 'Environmental Analysis' areas of concentration must also take GEOG 4801 (Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography). All students must complete a minimum of 31 credit hours in the thesis option or 37 credit hours in the non-thesis option. In both options, a 6-hour minor outside of Geography is required.
THESIS OPTION. (Clicking the link will provide you with a check sheet). Students who elect to pursue the thesis option must complete the core requirements described above and the following additional requirements:
a. At least 9 hours in Geography courses numbered at 6000 or above (excluding thesis hours), of which at least 3 hours are from seminar courses.
b. at least 6 hours are in each of two of the four areas of concentration (land use analysis, environmental analysis, techniques, cultural/regional analysis), to include a minimum of 12 hours. At least 6 of the 12 hours must be at the 6000 level or above.
c. at least 6 hours of thesis research.
d. the remaining credit hours are in core courses and electives approved by the student's major advisor. In addition, students in the "Cultural and Regional" concentration may elect to substitute 3 hours of Anthropology for 3 of the 6 hours in Geography required to satisfy section b) above. Any substitution must be done with the consent of the student's advisor. Students must successfully defend a thesis to complete the degree. Students who have already completed any or all of the core courses prior to admission to the M.A. program may, with the approval of the student's advisor, substitute an equivalent number of hours in other geography courses.
NON-THESIS OPTION. (Clicking the link will provide you with a check sheet). Students who elect the non-thesis option must complete the core requirements described above and the following additional requirements:
a. at least 15 hours are in Geography courses numbered at 6000 or above, of which at least 6 hours are in seminar courses.
b. at least 6 hours are in each of two of the four areas of concentration (land use analysis, environmental analysis, techniques, cultural/regional analysis). At least 6 hours of the 12 hours must be at the 6000 level, with a minimum of 3 hours of 6000-level credit coming from each of the two areas of concentration.
c. the remaining hours are in core courses and electives, approved by the student's major advisor. In addition, students in the "Cultural and Regional" concentration may elect to substitute 3 hours of Anthropology for 3 of the 6 hours in Geography required to satisfy section b) above. Any substitution must be done with the consent of the student's advisor.
Students must pass a comprehensive exam to complete the degree. This exam will include material from the geography core courses and from each of the two areas of concentration. Students who have already completed any or all of the required core courses prior to admission to the M.A. program may, with the approval of the student's advisor, substitute an equivalent number of hours in other geography courses.
Students who have already completed any of the required core courses prior to admission to the M.A. program may be allowed to substitute an equivalent number of hours in other geography courses.
Students who wish to apply for admission must complete the following steps:
1. Complete and return the Graduate School Application for Admission, and materials requested therein, to the University of New Orleans Office of Admissions. 2. Take the Graduate Record Examination and have the scores reported to the University of New Orleans. Students may be admitted provisionally before they report these scores, but a strong GRE score will enhance the likelihood of admission.
3. Compose a “Statement of Purpose,” a maximum of one page in length. In this statement indicate: a) why you want to earn an M.A. degree in Geography; b) what particular areas of geography interest you the most; and c) how the M.A. degree fits into your future life goals. Send the Statement of Purpose directly to:
Dr. Peter Yaukey
No letters of recommendation are required; however, strong letters of support may enhance an applicant’s chances of admission. Send letters of recommendation to Dr. Yaukey at the above address.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Yaukey (504-280-3164 or pyaukey@uno.edu)
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