Geography and Planning Graduate Program Curricula
The Department offers multiple Master's Degree Programs; the 30-36 credit MA in Geography, the 36 credit MS in Geographic Information Science, the 48-credit MRP in Urban and Regional Planning, and the 30 credit MS in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy. 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 Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics, 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.
Masters Programs:
- Geography Master of Arts Degree Program
- Geography Combined B.A. - M.A. Degree Program
- Geographic Information Science Master of Science Degree Program
- Master of Regional Planning (MRP) in Urban and Regional Planning Degree Program
- Combined Joint Master of Regional Planning and Doctor of Law (MRP/JD)
- Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy Master of Science Degree
Graduate Certificate Programs:
