Applied Geography, M.A.

For information regarding deadlines and requirements for admission, please see https://grs.uncg.edu/programs/.

In addition to the application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit a 250-500 word personal statement concerning their interest in geography.

Degree Program Requirements

Required: 34-37 credit hours

Thesis Option

Required: 34 credit hours

Required Core Courses (4 credits)
GES 601Research Trends in Geography1
GES 620Spatial Analysis3
Electives (24-33 credits)
Select 24-33 credits *24-33
Research Courses (3-6 credits) **
GES 699Thesis3-6
Total Credit Hours34
*

The student, in consultation with the advisor, will determine the appropriate courses to be taken in that individual's program, including any cognate courses.

**

Research courses comprise Capstone Experience.

Internship Research Option

Required: 34 credit hours

Required Core Courses (4 credits)
GES 601Research Trends in Geography1
GES 620Spatial Analysis3
Electives (24-33 credits)
Select 24-33 credits *24-33
Research Courses (3-6 credits) **
GES 695Internship3-6
Total Credit Hours34
*

The student, in consultation with the advisor, will determine the appropriate courses to be taken in that individual's program, including any cognate courses.

**

Research courses comprise Capstone Experience.

Non-Thesis/Professional Portfolio Option

Required: 37 credit hours

Required Core Courses (4 credits)
GES 601Research Trends in Geography1
GES 620Spatial Analysis3
Electives (24-33 credits)
Select 24-33 credits *24-33
Research Courses (3-6 credits) **
GES 695Internship3-6
or GES 699 Thesis
Total Credit Hours37
*

The student, in consultation with the advisor, will determine the appropriate courses to be taken in that individual's program, including any cognate courses.

**

Research courses comprise Capstone Experience.

Formal Review

  • Approval of master’s plan of study
  • Assessment of academic performance, which will be determined by the approval of thesis, internship, or professional portfolio proposal
  • Final thesis defense, internship presentation, or completion of portfolio

Details concerning specific core requirements, plans of study, theses, internships, and competency portfolios can be obtained from the Graduate Program Director.

Geosciences Education for Teachers Concentration

Required: 38 credit hours

The Geosciences Education for Teachers concentration is directed towards students and educators interested in expanding their expertise in teaching geosciences. Completing the Master of Arts in Applied Geography with this concentration requires students to combine the core requirements of the M.A. degree with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills needed to teach geosciences at the middle grades, secondary grades, and community college levels. The required core courses, formal reviews and examinations are the same as for the M.A. in Applied Geography, non-thesis, course work option with a competency portfolio. Within this framework, students will complete 38 credit hours by taking the required courses specified below. Note that GES 650 Applied Physical Geography and GES 651 Seminar in Regional Geography will be field course experiences for the concentration and students will present their portfolios as part of GES 650 and GES 651. (Students’ competency portfolios will be comprised of self-selected geosciences instructional modules designed while students were enrolled in GES 607 Earth Science for Educators, GES 608 Weather and Climate for Educators, GES 609 Hydrology for Educators, GES 610 Physical Geology for Educators, and GES 611 Natural Hazards and Society for Educators.

Required Core Courses (38 credits)
GES 601Research Trends in Geography1
GES 607Earth Science for Educators5
GES 608Weather and Climate for Educators5
GES 609Hydrology for Educators5
GES 610Physical Geology for Educators5
GES 611Natural Hazards and Society for Educators5
GES 620Spatial Analysis3
GES 650Applied Physical Geography3
GES 651Seminar in Regional Geography3
AST 609 (COURSE INACTIVE)3
Total Credit Hours38

Sustainability Concentration

Required: 34 credit hours

The Sustainability concentration in the M.A. in Applied Geography is directed towards students who have an interest in connecting approaches to addressing coupled human environmental problems in the context of broader studies in geography. Students completing this concentration will combine the core requirements of the M.A. in Applied Geography with departmental courses emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to social and environmental challenges alongside classes from outside the department (chosen in consultation with the advisor). The concentration provides foundational and advanced knowledge and skills necessary for sustainability-related careers in a variety of sectors. The core seminar, GES 662 Sustainability, offers a translational experience around the unique definition of sustainability at UNC Greensboro, where academics, operations, and outreach are conducted with careful attention to the enduring interconnectedness of social equity, environment, economy, and aesthetics.

Required Courses (10 credits)
GES 601Research Trends in Geography1
GES 620Spatial Analysis3
GES 699Thesis6
Sustainability Concentration Core (3 credits)
GES 662Sustainability3
Sustainability-Focused Electives (12 credits)
Select 12 credits from the following:12
Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment
Understanding Geographic Information Systems
Sustainable Regional Planning
Environmental Planning
Natural Resource Geography
National Parks and Protected Areas
Biogeography
Advanced Weather and Climate-Synoptic Climatology
Sustainable Transportation Planning
Geography of Livable Cities
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Environment
Sustainability Electives (9 credits)
Select 9 credits from the following: *9
Sustainable Campus Operations
Topics in Ethics and Aesthetics
Topics in Development and Economics
Topics in Equity and Society
Topics in Environmental Sciences
Total Credit Hours34
*

Up to 9 credits of courses from outside the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability may be chosen in consultation with the adviser (these could include courses from Anthropology, Biology, Communication Studies, Community and Therapeutic Recreation, Economics, Education, Interior Architecture, Business, Sociology, or others).

Urban Planning and Economic Development Concentration

Required: 15 credit hours (for the concentration)

The Urban Planning and Economic Development concentration is directed towards students who have an interest in preserving and enhancing the quality-of-life of urban areas and dealing effectively with growth and development issues. Students completing this concentration will combine the core requirements of the M.A. degree in Applied Geography with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills required to provide effective leadership in urban and economic development for metropolitan areas. The required core courses, electives, research courses, collateral expertise, and formal reviews and examinations are the same as for the M.A. degree in applied geography. Within this framework, the following 15 credits must be completed:

Required Core Courses (12 credits)
GES 602Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment3
GES 605Sustainable Regional Planning3
GES 631Sustainable Transportation Planning3
GES 632Geography of Livable Cities3
Elective Courses (3 credits)
Select one course (3 credits) from the following:3
GIS Applications in Urban Planning
Regional Economic Development
Urban and Regional Development Policy
Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice
Total Credit Hours15

Accelerated B.A. to M.A. in Applied Geography

Application and Admission

Qualified UNC Greensboro undergraduate students who are pursuing the B.A. in Geography may apply for admission to the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP). A cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 based on at least 30 credits earned at UNC Greensboro is required. Applicants must have completed at least 60 credits and may not apply for admission to the AMP before the first semester of the junior year. Applicants will not be required to take the GRE. All applicants must complete the Accelerated Master's Program information along with their application for admission to the graduate degree program.

Courses

Admitted students may apply a maximum of 12 credits of graduate-level course work from the following course list toward completion of both the undergraduate and graduate degree, provided they earn a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course and fulfill graduate-level requirements:

GES 602Sustainable Urban Planning in an Entrepreneurial Environment3
GES 604Political Geography3
GES 618Biogeography3
GES 619Advanced Weather and Climate-Synoptic Climatology3
GES 632Geography of Livable Cities3
GES 650Applied Physical Geography3
GES 651Seminar in Regional Geography3
GES 657Advanced Cartography3
GES 659Advanced Remote Sensing-Imaging3

Please consult with an advisor to determine how the courses taken at the graduate level will meet requirements in the bachelor's degree program. All degree requirements for the B.A. and M.A. degree in Geography remain the same.