Master's of Arts Requirements
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The Master's of Arts (M.A.) Degree
The master's program in geography is designed to enable the student to achieve professional competence in the discipline. These programs are intended to increase substantive and technical proficiency. In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and the College of Social Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.
The minimum number of credits required beyond the Bachelor's for a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is 30, with at least 20 credits in Geography. With the approval of the Advisory Committee, the student may take as many as 10 credits in related courses from other departments or other academic areas. At least 16 credits must be taken at the 800 and 900 levels, permitting the student to take as many as 14 credits from a wide variety of offerings given at the undergraduate 400 level in Geography and cognate disciplines. Courses below the 400 level may not be counted toward the 30 credit requirement for the M.A. degree but may be used to fulfill tool course requirements (see below). Master's students may count no more than four credits of coursework in independent study or research problems toward their degree. These courses include, but are not limited to, GEO 490, 492, 495, 890, and 892.
M.A. applicants must have completed a course in (1) physical, (2) human, and (3) regional Geography, as well as (4) quantitative methods, (5) and a "tool" course (e.g., cartography, remote sensing, or GIS). If these courses have not been taken previously, they must be taken while in the degree program at MSU. In addition students seeking the M.A. in Geography must:
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Complete:
One of the following four seminars:
GEO 871 (Seminar in Physical Geography)
GEO 872 (Seminar in Human Geography)
GEO 873 (Seminar in Human-Environment)
GEO 874 (Seminar in GIScience)3 cr. GEO 886 (Research Design in Geography) 3 cr. At least two advanced-level tool courses at least 6 cr. Electives (may include GEO 825 and GEO 865) at least 6 cr. Thesis credits (GEO 899) 4-6 cr. Total 30 cr. -
Tools (to be determined in consultation with advisor):
Tool Area Recommended Courses Cartography GEO 423, 426 GIS GEO 325, 425, 428, 825 Remote Sensing GEO 324, 424, 827, 494, 824 Foreign Language Second year equivalency, e.g., FRN 202 or 404, GRM 202 or 400 Qualitative Methods RD 812, ANP 429, ANP/GEO/FW/DOC/FOR 859 Quantitative Methods GEO 865, 866 MTH 132, 133, 234, 235, 314, 414, STT 421, 422, 441, 442, 461 Programming CSS 131, 230, 320 Field Methods GEO 495 (if taught as a course; must register for a minimum of 3 credits) Students whose native language is not English may, with the approval of the Advisory Committee, use English as a tool language. Tool courses taken to satisfy deficiencies (see #1 above) may not also be used to fulfill the tool course requirement for the M.A. program. GEO 463 may not be used to fulfill a tool course requirement.
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Present a research paper or poster, approved by the Advisor, at a professional meeting. This requirement must be met prior to the awarding of the degree.
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Complete a minimum of 16 credits at the 800 or 900 level.
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Complete a thesis. The student's Advisory Committee will supervise the research and writing of the thesis. Thesis credits (GEO 899) shall not be less than 4 or more than 8, and are included in the 16 credits required in #7 above. An abstract of the thesis not exceeding 150 words must also be prepared as specified in the Graduate School Guide to the Preparation of Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. Contact the University Committee Involving Human Subjects (UCRIHS) before beginning any research that involves Human Subjects. If you are dealing with Human Subjects in any way you must gain approval from this committee before starting your research.
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Pass the final examination. After completion of departmental requirements 1-6 above, the candidate will be given a final oral examination. The student must be registered during the term in which the examination is taken. The examining committee shall consist, at a minimum, of the student's Advisory Committee. If the Advisory Committee consists of fewer than three people, one other member of the faculty will be selected by the Department Chairperson or the Associate Chairperson to serve as an additional member of the examining committee. The candidate will provide each member of the examining committee with a curriculum vita and a cleanly typed and illustrated copy of the finished thesis at least two weeks prior to the exam. The Graduate Secretary must be notified at least 2 weeks prior to the final examination so that required paperwork can be completed. The final examination will cover the student's declared primary area of study, related theory and methodology, and the thesis research. Successful completion of the examination and approval of the thesis will be determined by a majority vote of the examination committee. Passing the student only on portions of the examination is not permitted. A student who fails the examination may repeat it no sooner than three months from the time of failure and not more than once.
[ M.A. | Calendar | Advising ]
Calendar of Progress Toward the Master's Degree
| Middle of second semester | Advisor chosen |
| End of second semester | Master's Advisory Committee chosen Program of Study on file with Graduate Secretary |
Failure to meet one or more of the above deadlines may be taken as evidence of lack of satisfactory progress toward the Master's degree.
[ M.A. | Calendar | Advising ]
Academic Advising and Committee Structure for Master's Students
The Department of Geography is committed to the policy that graduate students have a right to the best advice regarding program planning, research, selection of courses and faculty, and general degree requirements, with the understanding that students are responsible for consulting their advisors before making program decisions.
Incoming Master's students are assigned to the Graduate Program Coordinator until an advisor is selected by the student. The professor with whom the student works most closely is the major professor or advisor. The student must select an advisor no later than the middle point of the second semester following entry into the program. The thesis advisor must be a member of the regular Geography faculty with a Ph.D. in Geography.
The Master's Advisory Committee consists of at least two persons: the advisor, who chairs the committee, and the person(s) who will be second (or third) reader(s) of the thesis. The composition of the committee must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department and reported to the Graduate Program Coordinator and Department's Graduate Secretary. Persons eligible to serve as Advisory Committee members include all regular Michigan State University faculty and, in some cases, emeritus faculty. Persons who are Specialists and Administrative Professionals may be included on the Committee but do not count toward the minimum of two (or more) members required. They are, in essence, "extras." The Advisory Committee must be formed no later than the end of the second semester following entry into the program.
By the end of the second semester following admission to the graduate program, the student, in consultation with the Master's Advisory Committee, shall formulate an appropriate program of study. The program must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department and reported to the Graduate Supervisor. A completed Master's Program form must be submitted to the Graduate Secretary. Changes in the program must be approved by the Department Chairperson and a Master's Program Changes form submitted to the Graduate Secretary.
Changes in the student's committee, or changes in the program, must be approved by the Department Chairperson. A Master's Program Changes form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Secretary.
Master's students changing from an advisor who has already been officially designated and approved must first convene a meeting of the current and prospective advisors and the Graduate Supervisor to discuss the matter. The student shall be responsible for finding a meeting time and place that is convenient for the above persons. The Department Chairperson shall be notified of this meeting, by the student, at least 5 days in advance.
Additional Information