The Department of Geography has two MA degree options; an accelerated one-year, non-thesis program, and a two-year, thesis program. The MA non-thesis program has been structured primarily for students who have an undergraduate degree in geography and who desire to enter the job market upon completion of a masters program. The MA thesis program is recommended for students who wish to continue graduate work in a PhD program. The MA thesis program also may be appropriate for students who do not have an adequate background in geography and who wish to take additional course work over a longer time period (2 years). Candidates for the Masters of Arts degree are expected to show broad mastery of the field, with a focus on the areas of departmental strength, including economic, urban and historical-cultural geography. Also available is a concentration in physical geography, with slightly different requirements and options. Students are expected

1. to complete satisfactorily certain required courses and seminars,
2. to complete additional work in areas related to their special interests (either within or outside the department) and
3. to write a thesis and defend it successfully, or write a research paper and successfully conclude a field problem (non-thesis option).

Curriculum

MA Geography 

Core Course Requirements
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
GEOG6075C    Quantitative Geography and Spatial Statistics I (C min)    3
GEOG7004    Geography Staff Seminar (C min)    1
GEOG7009    Seminar: History and Philosophy of Geography (C min)    3
GEOG7015    Graduate Geography (C min)    3
Second Methods Course-Choose 1 course from the below. Substitutions may be allowed as approved by Graduate Program Director
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
GEOG6085C    Quantitative Geography and Spatial Statistics II (C min)    3
GEOG6079C    Qualitative Methods in Geography (C min)    3

Non-Thesis MA Program
Concentration Requirements
Each student should select one of the following concentrations
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
6XXX+    Human/Economic Concentration
1 additional computer techniques course GEOG 6000C+ 5 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    18 - 21
6XXX+    Physical/Environment Geography Concentration
1 additional computer techniques course GEOG 6000C+ 5 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    18 - 21
6XXX+    GIScience Concentration
4 minimum computer techniques courses GEOG 6000C+ 2 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    18 - 21
Writing and Research
Student must complete both a field project (time-limited research report) and extended research paper (non-time-limited)
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
GEOG6001    Field Projects in Geography (C min)    3
Other Experience    Extended Research Paper: review requirements with adviser and Graduate Program Director    0

Thesis MA Program
Concentration Requirements
Each student should select one of the following concentrations
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
6XXX+    Human/Economic Concentration
1 additional computer techniques course GEOG 6000C+ 6 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    21
6XXX+    Physical/Environment Geography
1 additional computer techniques course GEOG 6000C+ 6 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    21
6XXX+    GIScience Concentration
4 minimum computer techniques courses GEOG 6000C+ 3 additional seminars or approved courses GEOG 6000+ (non-GEOG 6000+ courses must be approved by Advisor and Graduate Program Director) (C min)    21
Writing and Research
Students have the option of completing either a traditional MA thesis or an approved peer-reviewed article manuscript. Both options include a formal defense.
Course    Title/Desc    Credit
Thesis
Write and successfully defend a MA thesis    0
GEOG8071    Thesis Research (B min)    1 - 12
Submit and defend at least one manuscript for a peer-reviewed journal
meet requirements of journal with adviser approval    

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Admission Requirements

To apply for our graduate programs, you must complete an on-line application through the UC Graduate School’s Application website.

The application requires the following documents:

1. Unofficial transcripts are submitted online as part of the admission application process. Official transcripts of the student’s academic record of all undergraduate and graduate studies are submitted directly to the department, to the attention of the Geography Graduate Program Director. Applicants must have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or foreign equivalent.
2. Three letters of recommendation, commenting upon the student’s aptitude and potential for graduate studies and research.
3. Official GRE scores (verbal ability, quantitative ability, and analytic ability), which need to be sent to the University of Cincinnati (institution code 1833) directly from ETS. The Department of Geography requires minimum score of 300 (verbal + quantitative) or 1080 as regarding to prior scale.
4. A short essay (no longer than 2 pages in length) that briefly and cogently describes your educational background, past research experience, anticipated research project and topic, and explains your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in geography at the University of Cincinnati. Your statement of purpose should also name up to two potential mentors from the faculty members with whom you have already been in contact and/or with whom you share research interests.
5. Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume.
6. Academic/professional writing samples, which are encouraged but not mandatory.

Tuition fee-2.5 years$90,000