The M.A./M.S. Degree

General

The Department of Geography awards the Master of Arts or Master of Science degree to those who successfully complete the Department’s general M.A./M.S. requirements (this document) and the requirements of one of the Department’s programs (Geographic Information Science, Society, Space and Environments, Environmental Studies in Physical Geography) which are described separately. In exceptional cases a student may obtain a degree outside a normal program through separate agreement with an individual faculty member and approval of the Graduate Advisor.

The purpose of the M.A./M.S. program is to provide a framework by which the candidate may obtain competence in at least one of the systematic branches of geography and support this with mastery of at least one primary research technique and a basic understanding of geographic information systems (GIS). Master’s degree work incorporates formal class work, seminars and direct research experience. Candidates are expected to have received a Bachelor’s degree in geography or a related discipline. Those without such a qualification may be required to undertake remedial course work in geography.

Admission to a Master’s degree program is restricted to those applicants who have demonstrated high academic ability (a ‘B’ average is a generally accepted minimum requirement). A complete application requires: a completed online application; three letters of reference, official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended, and an official G.R.E. (Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Writing) record. Applicants are advised that the admitting committee studies the student’s statement of intent very carefully.

The department may admit a student to a program contingent upon his or her removal of specific deficiencies before graduation. In such circumstances the student should discuss the deficiencies with the Graduate Advisor upon his/her arrival on campus. Departmental and programmatic prerequisites have been chosen with great care and will be waived only under exceptional circumstances.

Students whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL competency test and pass it with a minimum score of 590 (on the paper-based test), 243 (on the computer-based test) or 95 (on the Internet-based test or IBT). Graduate College regulations preclude review of any application from a foreign student that does not include a TOEFL score.

Advising

Incoming Masters students are automatically assigned to the Graduate Advisor for advising during their first semester. The Graduate Advisor will assist them in course selection, development of a preliminary degree program and any other matters that arise.

It is important for a newly arrived graduate student to discuss his/her research interests with faculty in the area of geography in which the student plans to specialize. Those discussions should lead to the selection of an advisor. Each student is required to have selected an academic advisor by the tenth week of his/her second semester of enrollment. Either the student or the faculty advisor is free at any time to request a change in advising assignment.

Requirements of the Master's Program

The Graduate College requires that at least 32 hours of course work be completed for a Master’s degree. 12 of the 32 hours must be in 500 level courses, and at least eight of these twelve must be in Geography. An overlapping requirement is that a total of at least 16 400/500 level hours must be accumulated in Geography.

Credit gained at other accredited institutions may be transferred under certain circumstances. The Graduate College regulations governing this procedure are as follows:

  1. The student must have successfully completed eight hours of credit at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U.I.U.C.) prior to making the application.
  2. The student must be registered at U.I.U.C. when the application is made.
  3. The course work to be transferred must have been completed within the preceding five years.
  4. The grade(s) obtained must have been A or B.
  5. The courses in question must not have been used to fulfill degree requirements prior to their use for this purpose at U.I.U.C.

Course Requirements:

  1. GEOG 471 (Introduction to Contemporary Geographic Thought). GEOG 471 provides students with a review of the geographic methodologies and philosophies that have prevailed in recent decades, as well as those of the present. In addition, this course provides students with exposure to the research methodologies of a variety of departmental faculty members.
  2. GEOG 491 (Research Methods in Geography). GEOG 491 is designed to provide students with appropriate guidance in preparing and completing a research proposal in their area of interest, preferably one that they will then complete as part of their degree program.
  3. GIS Requirement. All Masters students are required to take at least one course on geographic information systems (GIS) and related geospatial techniques. Options include:
    • GEOG 460 – Air Photo Interpretation
    • GEOG 473 – Map Compilation and Construction
    • GEOG 476 – Applied GIS to Environmental Studies
    • GEOG 477 – Introduction to Remote Sensing
    • GEOG 479 – Principles of GIS
    • GEOG xxx – GIS and Health
    • Other graduate-level GIS courses may be applied to this requirement with the permission of the student’s faculty advisor and the Graduate Advisor.

Students are required to demonstrate competence in a research technique beyond the GIS requirement. Techniques may include: a foreign language (to the level of passing the ETS reading examination); quantitative or qualitative methods; or GIScience-related techniques..

Registration is required in Geog. 595Z for zero credit during all semesters that the student is in residence. This course requires attendance at the departmental colloquium series.

Each student must also fulfill program requirements specific to his/her specialty area (see program statements for: Geographic Information Science; Environmental Studies in Physical Geography; Society, Space and Environments). It is important to note that some programs (e.g., Physical Geography) require a student to take the thesis option in completing their degree.

Geography 595 classes may be taken for a letter grade of S or U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory); however, the department restricts the use of S/U option as follows:

  1. The department restricts a student to a maximum of two S/U grades, including the thesis if this option is taken.
  2. Students are not permitted to use S/U grades to meet the Graduate College’s minimum requirement of three 500-level classes.

The department requires all graduate students to maintain a 3.0 (B) average or better. All courses that are required, either by the department or by the student’s program of specialization, must be passed with an A or B grade. For elective courses the student’s average grade must be 3.0.

Research Project Requirement:

Students are required to initiate and complete a research project or projects; completion is understood to mean production of an acceptable written thesis or papers. This requirement may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

a. Research Paper Option: Two written research papers which address substantive research questions; these papers will be submitted formally to the examining committee prior to the oral examination. Such papers are typically derived from 500-level research seminars, independent study, planned summer field experience, or from an internship.

b. Thesis Option: Successful completion of a Master’s thesis. A maximum of 8 semester hours of thesis research (GEOG599) may be counted towards the Masters degree;

The research papers or thesis must be presented in a style used by one of the major professional journals. If the thesis option is selected, one copy suitable for binding will be deposited with the Department of Geography. The student will be expected to answer questions about the projects/thesis during the Master’s examination.

Final Examination for M.A./M.S. Degree:

The student must have completed or must be enrolled in all courses needed for the degree and must have completed all other requirements before taking the M.A./M.S. final examination. The student is encouraged to take this exam as soon as possible. The exam may be scheduled during the first 13 weeks of the semester or the first seven weeks of the summer session.

The student and his/her advisor will select two additional faculty members to serve on the student’s Advisory Committee. The majority of the committee must be faculty members of the Department of Geography at U.I.U.C.

The final examination for students taking the “Research Paper Option” (option a.) will consist of both oral and written segments, but it will be viewed as a single unit for purposes of evaluating the student’s performance. The written portion will consist of approximately five questions assembled by the advisor: one on the student’s research technique, one on geographic philosophy and methodology, and three on the student’s program area. The question on methodology will deal primarily with research approaches being used in the student’s area of the discipline as illustrated by recent books and periodicals. Within two weeks after the written portion is completed, the oral portion will be given. The committee will examine the student to assess his/her ability in analytical thinking and general knowledge of the contemporary situation in the declared program area.

Students who complete a thesis (option b) are not required to undertake a final written examination. However, they are required to undertake an oral defense of their thesis.

As a result of either final examination format the committee will award the student a grade of:

  1. Pass; no major deficiencies. The committee chairman then writes a letter to the Head of the department, indicating whether or not the student could be accepted into the Ph.D. program.
  2. Fail; remediable deficiencies. If there are remediable deficiencies the committee will identify them, specify the nature of the remedial work to be done, specify a deadline for its completion, and specify a set of criteria for its evaluation. Failure to meet these requirements will result in a “fail”; successful completion will result in a “pass.”
  3. Fail; major deficiencies. If deficiencies are serious enough that, in the committee’s judgment, the student does not meet acceptable standards for a Master’s degree from this department, a “fail” will result. In this case, the student may appeal through established procedures to the Department’s Advisory Committee. The appeal will then be rejected or allowed. If allowed, the student will be re-examined orally by a new committee whose recommendation will be final.

NOTE: Whatever the outcome of the student’s examination, the advisor is required to deposit in the student’s file a written record of the examination result, as well as copies of the examination questions and written answers if the research paper option was followed.

A Brief Outline of the Requirements for an M.A. or M.S. Degree in the Department of Geography, UIUC.

More than 32 hours of 400/500 level course work required by Graduate College.

Required Courses

  • Geog. 471: 4 hours. Required by Department (no exemptions).
  • Geog. 491: 2 hours. Required by Department (no exemptions).
  • GIS Requirement: 4 hours. Required by Department.
  • Geog. 595Z: 0 credit. Required by Department (no exemptions).
  • Geog. 5xx: 4 hours. (letter grade).
  • Geog. 5xx: 4 hours. (letter grade).
  • ???? 5xx: 4 hours. (letter grade).
  • [12 500 level hours required by Graduate College. > 8 hours must be in Department of Geography.]

  • Sub-total = 22 hours.
None of the above courses may be taken S/U, except Geog. 595Z.

Elective Courses

Selected with consent of advisor. Note the following requirements and restrictions.

  1. You must complete at least 16 400/500 level hours in geography. Usually this is met by Geog. 471, Geog. 491, a GIS course, Geog. 5xx and Geog. 5xx.
  2. You must demonstrate competence in a research technique beyond one GIS course . This may, but need not be established by taking (an) elective course(s).
  3. A maximum of 2 elective courses may be taken S/U (including a thesis).
  4. If you write a thesis only 8 hours of GEOG 599 credit will apply towards the minimum 32 hours needed for the MA/MS degree. Additional GEOG 599 credit may be earned in the course of completing the thesis, but will not reduce the 400/500 level credit needed to complete the degree below the minimum of 24 hours.

NOTE: This is an integration of university and departmental requirements and, therefore, represents the minimum requirements. Individual graduate programs in the department must meet these minimum requirements, but may also have additional ones.