Geography and Earth Sciences
Degree: M.A.
Coordinator: G.L. Ingalls
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY
The M.A. in Geography emphasizes the application of skills, methods, and theory to problem solving in contemporary society. To this end, students are offered a solid foundation in research methods, problem formulation and solution, quantitative methods, computer applications and GIS. The program offers concentrations in four areas of study: (1) Locational Analysis; (2) Community and Regional Planning; (3) Environmental Analysis; and (4) Transportation Studies. Faculty and students are active in the community and students are encouraged to cap their programs with either funded or unfunded internships in the private or public sector.
One of the program's greatest strengths is the close relationship between its students and faculty and among the students themselves. Small class sizes, close student and faculty contact, and a strong sense of community are considered essential components of the learning and teaching environment at UNC Charlotte.
The applied geography program at UNC Charlotte is recognized as one of the
best of its kind in the country. Many of its graduates have gone directly into
jobs as professional geographers, research and/or marketing specialists,
location analysts, planners, transportation specialists, and private
consultants. About 10 percent of the more than 130 graduates of the program
have gone on to study in Ph.D. programs.
Additional Admission Requirements. In
addition to the requirements for admission to the
They are evaluated in five major areas: grade point average (GPA), letters of recommendation, personal essays, scores on the Graduate Record Exam, and transcripts of college course work. Each of these are weighted equally during the evaluation of applicants. In general, the department would prefer a GPA of at least 3.1 overall or for the last two years and scores of 1000 or more on the combined Verbal and Quantitative portions of the GRE.
Applicants must demonstrate competence in undergraduate subject matter in their area of study. While the department does not require that applicants have a degree in Geography or Earth Science, they must provide evidence that they are prepared immediately to take full advantage of graduate level course work in Geography and Earth Sciences.
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in English by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Overall scores of 575 with scores of 55 on individual sections (listening comprehension; structure and written expression; vocabulary and reading comprehension) are preferred.
All applicants for admission will be reviewed by the Graduate Advisory
Committee. The department will admit applicants on a competitive basis as space
in the program allows and grant exceptions to the departmental requirements as
deemed in the best interests of the program.
Degree Requirements. The M.A. program
in Geography requires a minimum of 36 hours of graduate credit. GEOG 6100,
6200, and 7900 are required of all students. An additional 12 semester hours of
coursework at the 5000 level or above is required. Up to 12 hours may be taken
in related work. Transfer credits and courses taken at the 4000 level cannot
exceed a combined total of 12 hours, including a maximum of 6 hours transferred
from other accredited institutions. Coursework pursued in the form of
independent studies should be taken as GEOG 6800. The 7900 course is designed
as a capstone to the program and should not be taken until all but about one
course remains to be completed.
Program Concentrations. The program
offers four primary areas or concentrations of study. Students normally focus
primarily in one of these; however, with careful consultation with an adviser,
special programs of study may be designed which are based on courses from different
concentrations. The courses listed within a concentration are suggestions.
Students do not have to complete all the courses listed within each
concentration.
Location Analysis Concentration. This concentration prepares students for jobs in location research with retail companies, real estate developers, consulting firms, commercial banks, and economic development agencies or for continued academic training in economic geography and location analysis. The following courses are suggested for the location analysis concentration:
|
GEOG 4155 |
Retail Location |
|
GEOG 4255 |
Applied Population Analysis |
|
GEOG 6000 |
Selected Topics in Economic Geography |
|
GEOG 6030 |
Topics in Geographic Techniques |
|
GEOG 6101 |
Store Location Research |
|
GEOG 6102 |
Site Feasibility Analysis |
Community and Regional Planning Concentration. Students who complete this concentration typically become planners in public sector planning agencies. The following courses are suggested for the community and regional planning concentration:
|
GEOG 4205 |
Internal Structure of the City |
|
GEOG 4210 |
Urban Planning Methods |
|
GEOG 4255 |
Applied Population Analysis |
|
GEOG 4400 |
Planning Internship |
|
GEOG 5405 |
Urban Field Geography |
|
GEOG 6005 |
Topics in Urban Geography |
|
GEOG 6015 |
Topics in Regional Geography |
|
GEOG 6020 |
Topics in Environmental Studies |
|
GEOG 6106 |
Urban Planning: Theory and Practice |
Transportation Studies Concentration. Students in this concentration can pursue course work in transportation systems analysis, policy formulation, impact analysis, and planning to prepare themselves for jobs in the public and private sector, usually as planners in the public sector and as analysts for transportation providers and for consulting companies in the private sector. An extensive laboratory provides hands on research and practicum opportunities in a GIS setting. The following courses comprise the transportation studies concentration:
|
GEOG 4160 |
Geography of Transportation Systems |
|
GEOG 5100 |
Transportation Policy Formulation |
|
GEOG 5105 |
Transportation Analysis Methods |
|
GEOG 5110 |
Evaluation of Transportation Impacts |
|
GEOG 5040 |
Transportation Topics: e.g., GIS Applications |
In addition, selected coursework offered by the Civil Engineering and
Marketing Departments is available for students in this program. Additional
coursework is available through GEOG 6800 (Directed Problems), and the
capstone, GEOG 7900 (Individual Research Internship Project).
Environmental Concentration. This concentration encompasses two traditional earth science concentrations -- hydrologic processes and atmospheric studies -- and one interdisciplinary focus on environmental assessment and planning. Each of these concentrations is integrated into the department's GIS technology and supported by field and laboratory equipment. Courses currently being offered in the environmental concentration include:
|
GEOG 4000 |
Selected Topics in Geography |
|
ESCI 4140 |
Hydrologic Processes |
|
ESCI 4145 |
Ground Water Hydrogeology |
|
ESCI 4150 |
Climatology |
|
ESCI 4155 |
Fluvial Processes |
|
ESCI 4160 |
Remote Sensing |
|
ESCI 5160 |
Digital Image Processing in Remote Sensing |
|
GEOG 6020 |
Topics in Environmental Studies |
|
GEOG 6025 |
Topics in Physical Geography |
|
GEOG 6030 |
Topics in Geographic Techniques |
Examinations. Two examinations are
required after 27 hours of the degree requirements have been completed. Any
incomplete grades must be removed before a student is eligible to take these
exams. All students must pass a comprehensive written examination comprised of
questions from the faculty. Questions are generated from faculty responses to
the student's thesis/internship committee chairperson's request. While this
request is open to the entire faculty, questions typically cover areas within
the student's concentration. If exam performances are not satisfactory,
students can expect to re-write them or to re-write portions of them. The
second exam involves an oral defense of the student's finished research
experience. The exam will focus on that project.
Research Experiences. A common research experience is not appropriate for all students. Instead, students should pursue research experiences which are appropriate to departmental faculty resources, individual student’s programs, and the availability of opportunities that exist to work with allied agencies or clients on or off campus. One of three options, depending on the previously stated stipulations, will be available: (1) a research experience similar to that of a traditional academic thesis; (2) a research experience which involves a paid internship funded by and arranged with a public or private agency or client; and (3) a research experience involving an internship that is not funded, but arranged with a public or private agency or client. Each of these options fulfills program requirements equally. Each will produce a finished, quality research effort of thesis quality.
Not every student can expect to engage in a paid internship because the number of students frequently exceeds a matching number of opportunities funded in that manner. Unpaid internships provide the same caliber of experience and training in an applied environment. In some cases, that experience may relate student interest with non-profit agencies or social services which simply do not have the resources to fund an internship. In either case, the topic of the internship is defined by the client's problem or needs.
Not every student can expect to develop the thesis option, but it does
provide a choice for the student to pursue a research problem in a direction of
his/her individual interest. Students who ultimately plan to pursue a Ph.D.
degree might be more inclined and encouraged toward that option. The same is
true of students who wish to complete their master's program with that kind of
individual research activity. In all cases, students must work closely with
their advisor and program committee to choose the option which best fits both
their particular program and prevailing circumstances.
Continued Enrollment. The department
requirements for continued enrollment differ from those of the university in
several areas. Students who compile academic records that include either one
"U" or two "C’s" will be dismissed from the program.
Students who consistently show borderline course performance; who are not
developing good applied skills in the practice of their chosen area of study;
who fail to complete coursework on a timely basis; or otherwise perform
unsatisfactorily, or unprofessionally, or in an unethical manner, may be
required to complete additional courses or may be dismissed from the program.
Graduate Assistantships. The
department normally arranges financial assistance in the form of assistantships
or work situations off campus for 25-30 students. Assistantships are available
to support students involved with faculty in teaching and in research, on and
off campus. Students may be involved in teaching labs and/or assisting faculty
in the administration of their classes. On campus research assistantships are
usually funded through grant or contract work obtained by faculty. Off campus
funding opportunities normally consist of part-time work negotiated by the
department with private corporations such as banks or major companies.
Regardless of where the assistantship is situated, the department makes every
effort to assure parity in funding and equal work conditions for all students
receiving funding. Students may receive funding for four semesters if there is
evidence that academic performance and progress through the program are
satisfactory and performance in assistantship duties is satisfactory. All
funding options are awarded on a competitive basis. To be considered, students
must include a graduate assistantship application with their application to the
program. Those planning to begin their work during the fall semester should
submit their applications before March 1 especially if they wish to be
considered for funding; for entry in the spring semester applications should be
submitted by November 1.
Additional Financial Assistance. Additional
funding options such as work/study, financial grants, and loans for graduate
study are also available. To explore these additional options, applicants
should contact the
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