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Degree Programs
Our graduate programs recognize the diverse
applications of geography. In consultation with a faculty advisor,
students construct a degree plan based upon their educational
objectives.
Ph.D. Degree
The Department of Geography works closelywith the Institute of Applied Science (IAS)
which coordinates a Ph.D. in Environmental Science. Students
interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in geographical aspects of environmental
science should consult a geography faculty member
with similar research interests. In consultation with the IAS,
this faculty member will identify suitable prerequisite coursework and
help the student assemble an appropriate degree plan.
M.S. Degree
All M.S. degree plans must include certain required courses
(mentioned below). While we do not confine our students to tracks or a
common curriculum, we suggest courses for students who desire to focus on
particular themes (tracks): Applied Geomorphology,
Water Resources Management,
Urban Environmental Management,
Applied GIS, and
Archaeology.
In consultation with their advisor,
students may substitute courses for those currently listed under any of
the above tracks. Alternatively, in consultation with their advisor,
students may construct a degree plan outside of these tracks,
emphasizing some other theme(s) in applied geography. All students must
complete a six credit hour minor. Generally, the six hours come from a
single department outside of Geography.
The M.S. degree has thesis and
non-thesis
options, both requiring a total of 36 semester credit hours. Every
student is required to take the two "core courses" (six semester credit
hours), which
involve education in research design
(GEOG 5110) and advanced quantitative methods (GEOG 5190), and a
one-hour graduate seminar (GEOG 5000).
Forms for Current Graduate Students
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Admission
Requirements
Applications are accepted for Fall and Spring semesters. Relevant due dates can be found on the
Graduate School Web site. The application will require the following items sent to directly to the Graduate School:
Application for admission to the
Toulouse School of Graduate Studies is required. Applications can be made online or by paper copies mailed to the graduate school.
We conduct a holistic review of applicants for evidence of potential
success in our program. In particular, we evaluate an applicant's
preparation and potential based upon the following criteria. Although a
deficiency in one criterion will not deny admission to our program, the
top applicants will demonstrate strong potential in a majority of these
criteria. We seek students who show aptitude as well as motivation for
graduate research.
1. All applicants must submit a 300-500
word essay stating their preparation, specific interests in geography
or related fields, motivation for undertaking graduate study in
applied geography at UNT, and professional plans or career goals and
fill out the Application Data Sheet.
Applicants should attach a current resume to this statement.
2.We carefully examine each applicant's
transcripts in their entirety for evidence of course preparation and
academic success. We do not accept or deny admission based upon
a grade point threshold. Applicants with bachelor's degrees
in geography or related fields generally have sufficient course
background to proceed. Students from other disciplines lacking
adequate topical, technical, or quantitative background, as evident in
previous coursework, may need to take a leveling course in the
deficient area.
3. Though not mandatory, research,
teaching and other work experience may supplement completed coursework
in preparing students for our program. As appropriate, candidates
should describe the nature of such activity, citing any related
publications, presentations, or awards, in their essay or resume.
Applicants should also describe any leadership, volunteer, or other
roles that may attest to their motivation or capability to pursue
advanced studies.
4. As with the GPA, we do not accept or
deny candidates based upon performance on standardized tests. However,
we require GRE scores as part of our holistic appraisal of applicants.
Applicants without high GRE scores should demonstrate strong potential in other
areas, including the GPA.
5. Each applicant must arrange for
three letters of recommendation from
individuals familiar with their academic and/or professional ability.
These letters should not come from relatives or close friends. One
letter may be from a current or past employer (if such experience
exists). Professors or supervisors from previous academic institutions
should author at least two letters.
6. The department and university value
different ideas and perspectives in advancing and enriching knowledge.
Accordingly, we encourage applicants to provide any additional
information that may enhance the intellectual diversity of our
program, the discipline, and the university.
7. At the final stage of the
application process, the graduate advisor will conduct an interview
with promising candidates, to ensure our program aligns with the
background and career goals of the applicant.
Use the departmental checklist (International
Students - U.S.
National Students) to make sure you have submitted all the necessary documentation.
If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Advisor:
Dr. Donald Lyons
e-mail: dlyons@unt.edu
phone: (940) 565-2721
office: EESAT 310C
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Thesis/Non-Thesis
Options
By the end of the second semester or by the
completion of 18 semester credit hours students must elect to pursue a
thesis or non-thesis option. There are a variety of advantages to
choosing either the thesis or non-thesis option. Students are
encouraged to make this decision in consultation with either their
major professor or the graduate advisor.
Thesis Option
- Students are required to
write and submit and defend a proposal to their committee during the
fall of their 3rd semester or between 18 and 27 semester credit
hours.
- Students must enroll
in 6 semester credit hours of GEOG 5950 - Master's Thesis, which
counts toward the total 36-hour requirement. The comprehensive written
exam requirement is waived for students who elect to pursue the thesis
option. Instead, students are required to present and defend the
results of their thesis. The presentation of the results of the thesis
is open to the public. The defense of the thesis is limited to the
student's thesis committee.
Guidelines
for preparing your M.S. Thesis
Non-Thesis Option
- Non-thesis students are required to
pass a comprehensive written exam, covering a broad scope of
geography. The exam will be administered by the student's major and
minor professor and will cover three areas.
Area 1: Applied research (questions broadly drawn from topics covered in the Research Methods and
Quantitative Techniques classes).
Area 2: Applied techniques or topical specialty (based on at least
three courses the student has taken that share a common theme).
Area 3: Questions drawn from the student's minor field.
- Instead of enrolling in thesis hours (GEOG 5950), non-thesis students must complete
a 3-hour, research-based special problems report under the direction
of their major professor, in addition to taking the comprehensive
exams and additional coursework to attain 36 hours total.
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Financial Aid
A number of competitive Teaching
Assistantships (TAs) are available for full time students. Currently
TAs teach laboratory classes in earth science, geology, geographic
information systems, quantitative methods, and archaeology. Teaching
assistantships are awarded competitively on the basis of departmental
need and the applicant's ability. Teaching assistants receive a
stipend, plus comprehensive health insurance, and an out-of-state
tuition waiver. Tuition rates can be obtained from: http://essc.unt.edu/saucs/tuition.htm
Normally, teaching
assistants are expected to enroll full-time (9 semester credit hours
per semester), and assuming satisfactory performance as a teaching
assistant (defined through teaching evaluations) and in class (defined
as a minimum score of a B in every class), teaching assistants will be
supported for 4 long semesters.
Research assistantships are often available through individual faculty
research grants and are dependent on faculty needs and student
expertise. The length of a research assistantship is dependent upon the
size of the research grant. Numerous internship opportunities are
available with private industry and various local governments also.
Internships are organized through the
Internship coordinator.
Finally, Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the fastest growing metropolitan
regions in the country, so if you are unable to secure an assistantship
upon enrollment or would prefer to enroll part-time, part-time work is
plentiful and relatively easy to find.
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Research Assistantships Available
Time Line
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Upon arrival on campus meet with the graduate advisor,
Dr. Don Lyons.
He will help you select appropriate classes. Students
entering in the fall are required to take in their first semester, GEOG 5000,
other courses in their field of interest, and any required preparatory
coursework for GEOG 5190, to be taken in the following spring.
These students should take GEOG 5110 in the following fall, at the
beginning of their second year. Students entering in the spring should,
if prepared, take GEOG 5190 in their first semester and GEOG 5000 and
5110 in the following fall. If you are employed as a teaching
assistant, expect an initial graduate TA meeting about 1 week before
the beginning of the new semester.
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Familiarize
yourself with the appropriate graduate school requirements for the
Master of Science Degree, which are listed in the graduate catalog. In
particular, you should read and understand the following sections:
admission of continuing students and re-admission of graduate students;
policies; continuous enrollment; probation and suspension; grade
changes; the chapter on Master's degree requirements; and financial aid
and scholarships. Also, check both the main office and your email
account for announcements of upcoming events, deadlines and so on. It
is your responsibility to be aware of the procedures and deadlines that
apply to you.
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Teaching
assistants are expected to enroll full time (9 credit hours) each
semester that they receive a teaching assistantship. Exceptions to this
policy (i.e., taking less hours) may occur during the first semester of
enrollment and when enrolled in thesis hours.
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During your
second semester, or between 9 and 18 semester credit hours, you must
file a degree plan (in conjunction with the major professor and the
graduate advisor) and choose either the thesis or non-thesis option.
The degree plan sets out the courses you have completed and those you
will take to satisfy the requirements of the M.S. in Applied Geography
degree. Note that there are different requirements for the thesis or
non-thesis option. Part of that process requires that you choose an
advisor/major professor to guide the remainder of your studies. Your
choice should reflect your area(s) of interest. You may change your
choice of advisor at any time, although it requires some paperwork and
the filing of a new degree plan. Consult with the graduate advisor on
strategies for choosing a major professor.
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During the first
half of the 3rd semester, or after 18 credit hours, the student must
select a Graduate Committee in consultation with their major professor.
Given that the program requires a minor, one member of the graduate
committee should be from the department from which you are obtaining
the minor.
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Students that
elect the thesis option must, by the end of their 3rd semester or
before completing 27 semester hours have completed a thesis proposal to
the satisfaction of their graduate committee.
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Students who elect the non-thesis option must, by the end of their 3rd semester, choose both their topical area(s)
and minor areas for the comprehensive exam. Thesis option students are
not required to take the comprehensive exam. The areas of study are to
be selected by you and your graduate committee. The breadth and depth
of the areas to be examined are determined by your graduate committee
in consultation with your major professor/advisor.
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Students that
elect the thesis option must enroll in at least 6 hours of GEOG 5950
Master's Thesis. In addition, students that elect the thesis option are
required to present and defend the results of their thesis.
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GIS Certificate
Both undergraduate and graduate students may complete the Certificate in
GIS. Graduate students must apply and be admitted to the Graduate
Academic
Certificate (GACT) Program with the Graduate
School before the semester of graduation.
What is GIS?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) uses computer software to capture,
store, manage, manipulate, analyze, and display
geographically-referenced data. A GIS facilitates visualization of data
that may reveal geographic patterns not readily apparent with
traditional maps or database management systems.
Who Uses GIS?
GIS is an essential planning and management tool for city and county
governments, utility companies, and various private sector firms that use maps
and spatial information. Government agencies use GIS for tasks ranging
from highway planning to environmental protection. Businesses use GIS
for such diverse tasks as locating retail outlets, managing real estate,
studying disease patterns, and visualizing subsurface contamination.
The Certificate Program
The certificate program provides
the conceptual understanding and technical proficiency necessary to
apply GIS in a variety of settings. Six courses are
required to complete the certificate. A maximum of two required classes can be
waived (for example, because of prior coursework or relevant work
experience); two other
electives must be taken at UNT instead.
All required classes are available at the undergraduate and graduate
level and can be applied to undergraduate or graduate degree programs at
UNT.
Required Courses
The certificate program includes five required core courses and one
elective. Students must earn a "B" or higher on
each course applied to the certificate.
Core Courses
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GEOG 4500/5500. Introduction to GIS (3 hours) |
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GEOG 4520/5520. Intermediate GIS
(3 hours) |
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GEOG 4550/5550. Advanced GIS (3
hours) |
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GEOG 4560/5560. Intro. GIS Programming (3 hours) |
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GEOG 4570/5570. Special Topics in GIS: Advanced GIS Programming (3 hours) |
Elective
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GEOG 4570/5570. Special Topics in GIS. One additional (elective) topic (3 hours) |
Facilities and Equipment
The Department of Geography is located in the
Environmental Education,
Science and Technology (EESAT) Building
and operates the Center for Spatial Analysis and Mapping (CSAM). This facility is equipped
with leading edge hardware and software products in support of teaching
and research in remote sensing, GIS, visualization, computer cartography
and global positioning systems (GPS). Other allied facilities housed within the EESAT Building include the
Environmental Modeling laboratory, the Center for Environmental
Archaeology, and the Center for Remote Sensing and Landuse Analyses.
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for geographers with GIS training are very
good, especially in regional analysis and planning, retail site
selection and environmental analysis and modeling. Geography majors can
gain valuable practical experience and apply their classroom knowledge
through our internship program that places them with public agencies and
private firms located in the Dallas - Fort Worth area.
Admission
To take any of the above courses, you must be admitted as an
undergraduate or graduate student to UNT.
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