Master of Science
Geospatial Sciences in Geography and Geology

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS (A minimum of 33 hrs)

1. Required Geospatial Sciences Core (15 hrs)

• GEO 700 Introduction to Graduate Study in

• Geospatial Sciences 3 hrs

• GEO 701 Rsrch Methods in Geospatial Sciences 3 hrs

• GEO 651 Remote Sensing 3 hrs

• GEO 666 Advanced Geographic Inform. Science 3 hrs

• One of the following 3 hrs

  • GEO 668 Thematic Cartography

  • GEO 672 Introduction to Photogrammetry and

  • Spatial Statistics

  • GEO 673 Geographic Info. Science Programming

  • GEO 678 Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing

Students who do not have adequate background in statistical analysis from their undergraduate course work are strongly encouraged to take at least one of the following (3 hrs):

• MTH 645 Applied Statistics
• MTH 646 Analysis of Variance & Design of Experiments
• MTH 647 Applied Regression Analysis
• MTH 648 Applied Time Series Analysis

2. Research Requirement (complete one)

• Thesis Option. A student can take up to 6 hours of GRY 799 or GLG 799. Successful completion of a thesis and thesis defense is required.
• Non-Thesis Option. Students choosing the non-thesis option must complete two research projects and write scholarly reports for each project. Up to a total of 3 hours of credit can be received for these two projects under GEO 780. The results of both research projects must be orally defended and the student’s advisor and another graduate faculty member must approve written reports on the research projects. Non-thesis students must present at least one of these papers as a departmental seminar as part of course requirements of GEO 780. Students in the non-thesis option are not allowed to count thesis hours toward the 33 hour degree requirement.

3. Additional Course Requirements

Students in both the thesis and non-thesis options must complete an additional 18 hours of graduate course work beyond the required 15-hour core. Students choosing to complete a thesis may count up to 6 credit hours of GRY 799 or GLG 799 toward this 18 hour requirement. For all students, at least 17 credit hours of course work must be at the 700 level, including thesis credits. Students must complete a program of study worksheet by the end of their first academic semester. Before enrolling in the 12th hour of graduate credit, the student, an academic advisor, and the Graduate Program Director must agree upon and sign an Advisor Approved Program of Study.

4. Comprehensive Examination

A written comprehensive examination must be taken following completion of 15 hours of courses. Students will be provided reading lists specific to the required core and their selected track of study. The examination questions will be drawn from these reading lists and students must pass both sections of the examination. A student may repeat the examination, or section of the examination, upon recommendation of the Program Director and approval of the department chair. Students who have not passed the comprehensive examination upon completion of three academic semesters of study will not be permitted to continue in the program. If a student opts to change tracks after completing the comprehensive examination, the student must take and pass the examination specific to the new selected track before a degree will be awarded.

Reading Lists. Materials to be included on the reading lists should cover subject matter that the student is already expected to be familiar with when starting the program or should be able to read and digest by the time of the exam. Students are to be provided the reading lists when starting the program. One copy of the reading material will be on reserve in the library.

Exam Period and Questions. The number and type of questions to be included on the examination are to be determined by the Geospatial Science Comprehensive Exam Committee. Question types could be multiple choice and short answer/essay. Students are to answer all questions.

The Geospatial Sciences Comprehensive Examination Committee is to prepare the exam questions. The committee should determine what constitutes a passing mark for the exam.

5. Research Concentrations

The Department of Geography, Geology and Planning has identified three areas of research concentration for prospective students. Students are strongly encouraged to select a research topic in one of these concentration areas.

Physical Geography

Students interested in physical geography can select a research topic in fluvial geomorphology, water quality and watershed management, or climatology. Students should integrate geospatial science with physical geography when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project. Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses:

• GRY 625 Environmental Hazards
• GRY 635 Global Climate and Weather Cycles
• GRY 645 Global Environmental Change
• GRY 650 Fluvial Geomorphology
• GRY 731 Environmental Assessment
• GRY 751 Topics in Advanced Physical Geography
• GEO 770 Advanced Field & Laboratory Methods

Human Geography and/or Planning

Students interested in human geography and/or planning can select a research topic in land use assessment, urban design, community and regional planning, neighborhood planning, transportation planning, or tourism planning and development. Students should integrate geospatial science with human geography and/or planning when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project. Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses:

• GRY 610 Tourism and Sustainability
• GRY 625 Environmental Hazards
• GRY 645 Global Environmental Change
• GRY 731 Environmental Assessment
• PLN 673 Urban Design and Preservation
• PLN 674 Open Space and Recreation Planning
• PLN 705 Social Planning
• PLN 670 Planning Law
• PLN 671 Land Use Planning

Geology

Students interested in geology can select a research topic in environmental geochemistry, geohydrology, karst geomorphology, stratigraphy, or geophysics. Students should integrate geospatial science with geology when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project.

Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses.

• GLG 670 Principles of Stratigraphy
• GLG 681 Geochemical Techniques
• GLG 690 Applied Geophysics
• GLG 672 Geohydrology
• GLG 673 Engineering Geology
• GLG 680 Geochemistry

Students interested in research topics outside of these concentrations should consult with the Graduate Director and a possible advisor before beginning the program.