Masters of Arts in Geography

The Department offers two Master's Degree Programs; the 30-credit MA in Geography, and the 48-credit MRP in Urban and Regional Planning. For outstanding undergraduate students at Albany, there is also a combined BA/MA Program in Geography. The Department also offers the 15-credit Graduate Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis (GISSA), and it coordinates the 16-18 credit Graduate Certificate Program in Urban Policy. Students may work towards a single graduate degree, or, with faculty approval, they may elect to work on two degrees simultaneously. The Department accepts both full and part-time students, and degree programs may be started in Fall, Spring or Summer.

There are close ties between academic geography and the profession of urban and regional planning, and the two disciplines share a common focus on environment, land-use, landscape, location and distribution. Both disciplines have benefited enormously in recent years from the rapid growth of policy application and career opportunities in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The Department has a well-equipped GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory, and a specially designed Planning Studio. It is a participant in the UTRC/AITE Transportation Planning Scholarship Program. The Capital Region offers many opportunities for paid internships and professional GIS and planning careers in government, business and non-profit organizations.

Master of Arts Program in Geography

The unifying idea of modern geography is the study of spatial patterns in the cultural and physical features of the earth's surface. Faculty strengths in the department include: urban, social, cultural and economic geography; climate and environmental systems; geographic information systems, remote sensing, cartography, computer applications and spatial analysis. Faculty have regional interests in Europe, Latin America, North America, Africa, and East Asia.

Program of Study
The Department offers two options within the M.A. in Geography: a thesis track for students who intend to pursue further academic study, and a non-thesis track for those interested in obtaining a terminal degree in pursuit of career goals.

Thesis Track (30 credits, minimum)

1. At least 24 units with Gog prefix (or cross-listed courses), including: Gog 500 Introduction to Graduate Study in Geography (3); and Gog 502 Statistical Methods (3); and Gog 596 Geographic Information Systems, or an approved equivalent. No more than 9 credits may be taken in Gog 694, 695, and 697 combined.
2. A master's thesis (Gog 699, 6 credits).
3. 3 courses in an area of specialization from: Human Geography, Physical Geography, or Geographical Information Systems, as advised.
4. Supporting courses in cognate fields (up to 6 credits).
5. Satisfactory completion of oral and written comprehensive examinations.

Non-Thesis Track (36 Credits)

1. At least 24 units with Gog prefix (or cross-listed courses), including: Gog 500 Introduction to Graduate Study in Geography (3); and Gog 502 Statistical Methods (3); and Gog 596 Geographic Information Systems, or an approved equivalent. No more than 9 credits may be taken in Gog 694, 695, and 697 combined.
2. 3 courses in an area of specialization from: Human Geography, Physical Geography, or Geographical Information Systems, as advised.
3. Supporting courses in cognate fields (up to 6 credits).
4. Satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination.

Combined B.A.-M.A.

Qualified undergraduates may apply for admission to the M.A. program and, if accepted, simultaneously work toward completion of the requirements for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. See Combined Baccalaureate- Master's Degree Programs for details.

Requirements for Admission to M.A. Program

The Department welcomes applicants with undergraduate majors in geography or any cognate field. Applicants are recommended to submit official Graduate Record Examination scores. Students with deficiencies in their education within geography may be required to complete courses in addition to those required for the M.A., at the discretion of their advisors and the director of the graduate program.

Specialization Tracks

The three broad specialization tracks correspond to major emphases in the field. They are intended not to constrain students' work, but to provide guidance, in the context of individual advisement. Students are required to complete three courses (or 9 credits) in one of the following tracks (all courses in these lists have the Gog- prefix):

Human Geography: 521, 526, 532, 540, 542, 547, 580, 620, and, when on appropriate subjects, 530, 555, 697;

Physical Geography: 504, 519, 532, 585, 593, 685, and when on appropriate subjects, 530, 555, 697;

Geographic Information Systems: 555, 584, 585, 590, 593, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 685, and when on appropriate subjects, 530, 697.