Programs of Study
The MA and PhD in Geography and Urban Studies focus on the themes of globalization, sustainability, social justice and geographic methods. Our faculty have expertise in critical geography, spatial analysis, program evaluation and feminist geography. Our Professional Science Master’s and Graduate Certificate in GIS are rigorous, technical programs focused on cutting-edge spatial analysis software. Our faculty have expertise in GIS, remote sensing, cartography and geovisualization.
Master of Arts graduate students in Geography and Urban Studies emphasize research in environmental issues, gender and race, geographic methods, international development, social and spatial theory and urban development. The MA degree is designed to prepare students for further graduate study as well as for professional positions related to urban and economic development, environmental sustainability and social justice. Students in the MA have the option to pursue a Graduate Certificate in GIS with no additional coursework.
We offer an integrative doctoral program in Geography and Urban Studies that gives students a strong analytical foundation and stresses spatial relations, scale transitions, place and context and societal relations. Graduates of our PhD program in Geography and Urban Studies are prepared for faculty positions in a range of academic disciplines; they work in programs and departments that range from traditional geography to more interdisciplinary ones like development studies and urban planning. They also work in NGOs, private sector firms and think tanks that deal with relevant issues.
We place emphasis on the following issues:
- Globalization: Capital and labor flows, welfare state restructuring, identity, culture and concepts of citizenship
- Social Justice: Increasing inequalities in terms of economics, gender and inequalities
- Sustainability: Urban ecology, environmental justice, land use and sprawled development patterns
- Geographic Methods: Spatial analysis, remote sensing, qualitative research
Full-time students can complete our Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in as soon as a year. This means you can return or enter the workforce quickly. We produce competitive and skilled GIS technicians who easily pass the GISP certification exam. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is one of the 10 most employable skills of 2017 on LinkedIn, and the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the geospatial technology market is growing at an annual rate of 35 percent. We are affiliated with the National Professional Science Master’s Association and work with an advisory board of professionals in the field ensures that we teach the skills employers seek.
Professional Science Master’s in Geospatial Data Science students will learn to process, and analyze spatial data through in-demand technical skills including programming, statistics, big data analytics, application development, machine learning, and interactive and exploratory data visualization. Graduates may be expected to work in contexts outside the realm of traditional GIS jobs, including in corporate environments. With increasing access to geospatial data, the demand for organizations to undertake projects that require geospatial skills and a spatial perspective will increase.
Full-time students can complete the Professional Science Master’s in Geospatial Data Science in as little as one-year, returning quickly to the workforce. The program curriculum is informed by an advisory board of industry professionals and incorporates real-world experiences through project-based learning and an internship capstone requirement.
