Geography
220 Davenport Hall
607 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1880
Fax: (217) 244-1785
E-mail: geograph@illinois.edu
Major: Geography
Degrees Offered: M.A., M.S., Ph.D.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Geography offers programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The department's specializations are organized into three programs: (1) River, Watershed and Landscape Dynamics (fluvial geomorphology, watershed science and management, periglacial geomorphology, and ecosystem dynamics); (2) Society, Space and Environments (analysis of Third World development, urban analysis, health geography and geopolitical analysis); (3) Geographic Information Science (geographic information systems, dynamic modeling of ecological and social systems, geocomputation and cyber GIS, aerial photogrammetry, interregional input-output modeling, regional science and spatial analysis). Detailed descriptions of these programs may be obtained from the departmental office.
Admission
Students applying for admission to the master's program are expected to have a strong undergraduate background in geography and/or related disciplines. In addition to other Graduate College admission requirements, a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the undergraduate major is required. Ph.D. candidates are generally expected to have at least a 3.5 average in previous graduate work.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Programs and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Arts/Master of Science
Successful candidates for the master's degree whose backgrounds are largely in physical geography or geographical information science are recommended for the Master of Science; others receive the Master of Arts.
| Required Courses: | Thesis option - Required Hours | Non-thesis option - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Registration is required in Geog. 595Z for zero credit during all semesters that the student is in residence | 0 | 0 |
| At least one course on geographic information systems (GIS) and related geospatial techniques | ||
| GEOG 471 and 491 | 6 | 6 |
| Each student must also fulfill program requirements specific to his/her specialty area | ||
| Students are required to demonstrate competence in a research technique beyond the GIS requirement | ||
| Thesis Hours Required– GEOG 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | max 8 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | 32 |
Minimum Hours Overall Required Within the Unit: |
16 | 16 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 in Geog) | 12 (8 in Geog) |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Some Geography program options do not allow the non-thesis Master's degree option. Contact the department for further details. | ||
| Two written research papers which address substantive research questions are required along with a comprehensive examination. | ||
| A maximum of 2 elective courses may be taken CR/NC. | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy
| Required Courses: | Required Hours - Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree | Required Hours - Entering with approved B.S./B.A. degree* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration is required in Geog. 595Z for zero credit during all semesters that the student is in residence. | |||
| At least two graduate-level courses on analytical research methods from the following options | At least one of these courses must be in geographic information systems (GIS) or related geospatial techniques | ||
| GEOG 471 and 491 | 6 | 6 | |
| Doctoral students are required to demonstrate competence in a specific research technique | |||
| Minor | 16 | 16 | |
| Students must fulfill program requirements specific to his/her specialty area | |||
| Thesis Hours Required – GEOG 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 0 min | 0 min | |
| Total Hours | 64 | 96 | |
Minimum Hours Overall Required Within the Unit: |
24 | ||
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 (8 in Geog) | ||
| Other Requirements:* | |||
|
|
||
Minimum GPA: |
3.0 | 3.0 | |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes | Yes | |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes | Yes | |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes | Yes | |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes | Yes |
Admission presupposes distinction in undergraduate and graduate study. In the doctoral program, the student develops depth in the program chosen for specialization and further advances in research competence. A student must complete the course requirements as determined by an individually planned program, initiate and complete research projects, and qualify for candidacy by passing the preliminary examination. Although there is no departmental foreign language requirement, students may study a foreign language as a research tool.
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Geography. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in this program.
Facilities and Resources
The department maintains two computer-based laboratories for instruction - a main instructional facility containing 30 computers and a satellite facility containing 15 computers. In addition, a dedicated computer laboratory is available exclusively for graduate student use. The Regional Economics Applications Laboratory focuses on the development of models of urban and regional economies for impact analysis and economic forecasting. The Cyberinfrastructure and Geospatial Information Laboratory (CIGI) provides a cutting-edge cyberinfrastructure-enhanced GIS facility that is established as a virtual organization. The laboratory houses several high performance computers and servers for performing computationally intensive geographic analysis and problem solving in various research, education, and outreach contexts. The soil laboratory has a wide array of equipment for physical and chemical analysis of earth materials. The department is a participant in the Center for Water as a Complex Environmental System (CWACES), an interdisciplinary center devoted to improving understanding of water related issues.
Map and Geography Library
Within the University's outstanding library is the Map and Geography Library, which has an excellent collection of geography monographs, periodicals, and more than 500,000 maps and aerial photographs.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and waivers of tuition and some fees are available in the department.