Combine a comprehensive study of physical and human geography with an emphasis
on global skills and geographic techniques. Choose a specialized course of study to
focus to match your career interests.
Gain expert knowledge and relevant experience in applied geographic methods and technologies. Tailor your master’s degree to your academic and professional goals as you prepare for positions in the public and private sector.
Choose from specialized topics, including:
View admission and degree requirements and course descriptions in the Graduate Catalog.
View Geography and Environmental Planning Graduate Handbook.
Classes are conveniently offered in late afternoon, evening and during the summer. Depending on your academic interests and professional goals, you can choose between the program’s thesis and non-thesis options. Thesis students work closely with an adviser to plan, develop and complete a six-unit thesis project. If you are planning to pursue doctoral work, you will gain a solid foundation in theory and practice and develop your own research projects. Non-thesis students present a research paper before the graduate faculty or at an approved professional meeting.
Gain access to the department's state-of-the-art facilities, including a computer laboratory, physical geography laboratory, and automated weather station.
The Geospatial Research and Education (GRE) Laboratory supports faculty and graduate student research, geographic education projects, university service and community outreach activities.
Fifteen full-time and 12 adjunct faculty members have wide-ranging research interests with experience as regional experts in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East; geoscientists with specialties in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and cartography; physical geographers; planners; and human geographers.