Applied Geography, M.S. (Thesis)

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Degree Requirements: 36 Credit Hours (Thesis Option)

Admission

Students are selected for the Master of Science in Applied Geography degree program on a competitive basis. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications for graduate assistantships must be received by April 1 to receive full consideration for fall. Assistantships are awarded for a maximum of five semesters and are reviewed each semester. Students must comply with the College of Graduate Studies degree completion timeline for a master’s degree. A student who has not matriculated for three or more consecutive semesters must re-apply and meet all admission requirements in effect at the time of the new application for admission.

Admission Requirements

For potential admission to the College of Graduate Studies to pursue graduate work leading to the Master of Science degree in Applied Geography, the applicant:

Must have completed requirements for the bachelors degree in a college accredited by the proper regional accrediting associations.
Must complete the TOEFL Exam with scores sent to the College of Graduate Studies (international students only).
Must submit a statement of purpose explaining the reasons for pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Geography.
Must submit three letters of recommendation.
Typically, will have a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for all undergraduate coursework.

Non-Degree

Non-degree students are accepted on an individual basis as space is available.

Thesis and Non-Thesis options are possible for the M.S. degree in Applied Geography.

Program of Study (Thesis Option)

Thesis Option, 36 Credit Hours

The graduate student and the graduate committee shall jointly develop a Program of Study that includes 36 credits in graduate course work including the required courses listed below. Either faculty or the graduate program director may advise non-thesis students.

Core Requirements Credit Hours: 9

Electives Credit Hours: 21

Major Electives

Select at least one of the following courses:

Electives

Select at least five of the following courses:

Thesis

GEOG 7999 - Thesis (1-6 Credit Hours)

Total Credit Hours: 36

Other Program Requirements (Thesis Option)

Each candidate for the Master of Science Thesis option in Applied Geography must have accomplished the following by the end of their second term to earn or maintain their eligibility for a graduate assistantship:

Identified an adviser within the Geography Program.
Formed a Steering Committee of the adviser and two other approved faculty.
Each candidate must receive approval from the Geography Graduate Director of the Applied Geography Graduate Program to take courses that are taught outside of the Geography Program and/or do not apply to the M.S. in Applied Geography degree.
Each candidate for the Master of Science Thesis Option in Applied Geography must complete a thesis on a subject approved by their steering committee.
- This thesis must be defended before the thesis committee.
- The thesis defense is a comprehensive examination that may include questions on the thesis, and subject matter related to the thesis, and course work.
- In addition to the thesis, the student must provide the adviser (if requested) with all forms of the data that were collected, including electronic files, and a written document detailing the contents of the data files (or other forms).

The degree is conferred at the end of the semester during which the student has passed the thesis defense and the final written version of the thesis has been approved by the committee.

Students entering the Master of Science Thesis option in Applied Geography can apply to switch to the Non-Thesis option within their first two academic semesters by completing the appropriate change of degree paperwork assuming that they are in good standing (See the Graduate Program Director for the required paperwork). After their second academic semester, applications to switch to the Non-Thesis degree can occur, but a student cannot transfer more than twelve (12) credits of coursework from the thesis option to the non-thesis option. Additional criteria required to switch programs after the second semester are: < > Email the Geography Graduate Committee via the graduate program director a request to switch programs. This email should include an explanation and justification for the request. The request must receive approval for the switch from the Geography Graduate Director and Geology and Geography Department Chair.

Advisement

Graduate students are advised by their program. Graduate students should reach out to their graduate program director for information regarding the structures in place to facilitate advisement. For more information visit Graduate Academic Advisement .

Graduate students can also contact the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies for more information about their program director.
Phone: 912-478-COGS (2647)
Email: gradschool@georgiasouthern.edu