The master’s degree emphasizes development of professional competence as a geographer and offers opportunities to gain substantial depth in a concentration or a major technique. An emphasis in Geographic Information Science (GIS) is available for students who have appropriate backgrounds in mathematics and computer science. The faculty is qualified to direct students from a variety of approaches ranging from historical, qualitative, and social theoretical to quantitative, computational, and geospatial. The department is particularly well-qualified to direct graduate research in geography of the natural environment (especially biogeography, climatology, and geomorphology), spatial analysis (especially location analysis, environmental modeling, and geographic information science), and human geography (especially economic, urban, transportation, population, and cultural). 

Options Available

Thesis
Course Only with Comprehensive Exam

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• Although new graduate students may begin during any term, they are strongly recommended to apply for the Fall semester.
• The application deadline for Fall term is February 1.
  • However, to be assured consideration for first-round departmental funding offers for Fall semester, all application materials for domestic and international applicants must be received by December 15.
• A 3.00 (4.00 scale) or higher undergraduate grade point average is normally required for admission to a graduate degree program.
• Official transcripts of all previous college work, a minimum of three letters of recommendation, and Graduate Record Examination scores are required.
• No single criterion will dominate but the aggregate should provide strong evidence of ability and potential.
• Foreign students without degrees from an accredited U.S. institution must submit TOEFL scores (minimum of 550 PBT or 95 iBT required for admission) or IELTS (minimum of 7.0 required for admission). Official scores required prior to admission.
• Admission to the geography graduate program is subject to the availability of space and faculty advisors.

Credit Hours Required

Minimum of 30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• At least two-thirds of the total credit hours in the degree program must be at or above the 500-level
• Include GEOG 415 , GEOG 501  (at each offering during residency), and GEOG 504  
• 3 credit hours at the 600-level
• Option Requirements
  • Thesis Option: GEOG 500 , 6 credit hours

Additional Course Requirements

• Additional courses are selected in consultation with the major professor and/or guidance committee
• The department participates in the Watershed Minor , Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Computational Science , and Environmental Policy Minor . For more details, visit the Department of Geography website.

Non-Course Requirements

• Thesis Option: Defense of the thesis research
• Course Only with Comprehensive Exam Option: A final examination is required