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University of Maryland
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Geography (GEOG)
Faculty
Acting Chair
Goward, Samuel N.,
Associate Chair
Cirrincione, Joseph M.,
Professor
Dubayah, Ralph O.,
Goward, Samuel N.,
Justice, Chrisopher O.,
Kasischke, Eric S.,
Kearney, Michael S.,
Liang, Shunlin,
Prince, Stephen D.,
Associate Professor
Cirrincione, Joseph M.,
Geores, Martha E.,
Assistant Professor
Yeo, In-Young,
Zhou, Naijun,
Abstract
The Department of Geography offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Professional Studies in Geospatial Information Sciences.
The specific geographic research specializations represented by the faculty include:
Human Dimensions of Global Change: Demographic, social, cultural, and economic aspects of human systems with particular emphasis on human dimensions of global change and integration with physical systems. Population, minorities (African-American), women, transportation, health, urban and regional systems, geographical education. Global, regional (Africa and Latin America), mid-Atlantic, southern portion of Megalopolis, and Chesapeake Bay.
Environmental and Biological Aspects of Global Change: Biogeographical, climatological, hydrological, and geomorphological aspects of earth system science. Global vegetation dynamics, land use and land cover change, fire, sea level rise, climate variability, biodiversity, and biospheric processes in global climate modeling. Special attention to the global scale, and regionally to North America, Africa, Boreal Forests, Eurasia, and Latin America. Integration with human dimensions of global change.
Geospatial Information Sciences: Observation, processing, and analysis of geographic data. Remote sensing, geographic information systems, digital cartography, spatial analysis, and numerical modeling. Particular emphasis on remote sensing (e.g. Landsat, AVHRR, MODIS, LIDAR), regional to global scale data systems, scaling theory, and spatial variance. Applications to human and physical aspects of Geography.
The Department contains several specialized groups including the Mid-Atlantic Regional Earth Science Applications Consortium (RESAC), the Global Land Cover Facility, as well as several smaller groupings of research interests. The Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) is a cross-campus research initiative that bringing together the Departments of Geography, Geology and Atmosphere and Ocean Science in a research Institute to further encourage interdisciplinary studies to address contemporary questions in Earth Systems Science. This provides additional resources for research and funding opportunities to graduate students in the Geography Department.
Admissions Information
The Department offers courses of study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. Admission is strongly competitive. Requirements (minimum), GPA B (3.0) average in junior and senior year, GRE verbal 600 with a good quantitative score, and three letters of recommendation. For international students, the following additional minimum test scores apply: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) [paper test 600, written portion 5; computer-based test 250; internet-based test 100]. International students who are applicants for teaching assistantships must also pass an International Teaching Assistant Oral Evaluation by the University's Maryland English Institute (MEI).
The Master's Degree and Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Sciences offers comprehensive training in the key areas of GIS, including geographic information sciences, remote sensing techniques, spatial analytical methods, modeling and specialized computer programming tailored to GIS needs. Applicants can choose between a 31-credit Masters Degree and a 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Professional Studies. Degree and Certificate requirements, as well as admission requirements and application forms, are posted on the OPS website at: http://www.geog.umd.edu/gis/.
Closing date for applications the M.A. and Ph.D programs is January 15. Applications are reviewed from September to February for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry. The Graduate School will accept applications up to May 1. However, applications received by the department after January 15 stand only a small chance of being considered for fall entry, since all offers of admission and financial aid are usually made by the end of March.
The Department admits students to our doctoral program who have already completed a Masters degree and exceptionally well qualified students who have only completed a bachelor's degree. In all cases, admitted students are required to either possess or shall develop a strong foundation in the discipline of Geography. Admission to the doctoral program is also dependent on the support of two tenured/tenured-track faculty.
Applications are reviewed from September to February for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry.
Admission to the graduate program is not limited to students with a Geography-first degree. Those with a good GPA in degrees in related disciplines such as environmental, physical or biological science, anthropology, economics, history and social science are encouraged to apply but may be required to undertake additional background study not for credit. Some knowledge of data processing and statistics is necessary for all applicants. Ph.D. applicants' programs must draw on the research strengths of existing faculty members.
Students must maintain a B grade level on all required courses. Award of degrees is granted only on sufficient evidence of high attainment, not s imply for completion of course requirements.
Application Deadlines
Fall
Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent ResidentsDomestic Applicant Deadlines
Applications must be received by January 15 (December 15 preferred) .
There is no spring entry, unless unpredictable circumstances preclude fall entry. Graduate director must approve it. .
International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials
IMPORTANT: International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas
February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants
May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1
October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials
May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15
October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31Application Requirements
- GRE General
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Goals and Research Intertests and Statement of Experiences
- International applicants: TOEFL (also MEI oral exam for TAs)
Degree Requirements
Master of Professional Studies in Geospatial Information Sciences (M.P.S.G.I.S.)
The Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Sciences offers comprehensive training in the key areas of GIS, including geographic information sciences, remote sensing techniques, spatial analytical methods, modeling and specialized computer programming tailored to GIS needs. Applicants can choose between a 31-credit Masters Degree and a 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Professional Studies. Degree and Certificate requirements, as well as admission requirements and application forms, are posted on the OPS website at: http://www.geog.umd.edu/gis/.
Master of Arts (M.A.)
A minimum of 30 credits with a "B" (3.0) average grade. Two introductory courses (6 cr) and Research Tutorial (3 cr), Departmental Seminars (3 cr), one course each from Human Dimensions, Earth Systems Science and Geographical Data Science (9 cr total), 9 credits worth of electives, a scholarly paper. Internships are encouraged for all students. At least 21 credits must be at the 600- level or above. Award of degrees is granted only upon demonstration of a high level of scholastic achievement, not simply for completion of course requirements.
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
The study program is individually designed by the student and a faculty committee. Two introductory courses (6 cr) (unless taken in Master's program), Research Tutorial (3 cr) (or equivalent credits of Independent Readings when more appropriate), attendance at Departmental Seminars (3 cr), optional elective courses, a dissertation proposal defense, a minimum of 12 dissertation credits after advancement to candidacy, and a dissertation. Normally the Ph.D. is completed in 3 years; part-time study takes longer, but at least 1 year full-time attendance is required.
Facilities and Special Resources
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is an exceptional location in which to pursue geographic research. Many national and international agencies are within a short distance of the campus, including the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, the National Archives, Bureau of the Census, National Institutes of Health, USGS, National Geospatial Imaging Agency, Smithsonian Institution, and NOAA. International and non-governmental agencies are located within easy reach, including the National Geographic Society, the Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, World Bank, and many others. Corporations, businesses and nonprofit organizations that use geographical applications are also well represented. Libraries on campus and nearby are unrivaled elsewhere in the world. The University is also located in a region of extraordinary geographic diversity, including two major urban centers (Baltimore and Washington, D.C.), and the superb, continuous section from the Appalachian mountains, through the Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and Chesapeake Bay to the Atlantic Coast.
Many opportunities exist for students to participate in externally funded research projects. Graduate students find these research programs a rich source of ideas for dissertations as well as providing opportunities to join projects as paid research assistants and, often, identifying openings for employment on completion of their studies.
The Department is housed in over 35,000 sq. ft. on the main College Park campus. Teaching laboratories include facilities for wet analysis, cartography, GIS, and the Turner laboratories dedicated to computer-based instruction, while other facilities needed for virtually any type of investigation are available through collaborations with other departments. There are two primary computer environments, namely PC and UNIX, with over 100 machines dedicated to teaching and graduate research. The research laboratories support UNIX, Linux, and high-end PC machines, including very high performance processors and peripherals and large volume RAID arrays. There are a large number of printers, magnetic disk farms, tape carrousels, etc. An extensive range of software is available, including satellite data processing, image analysis, and ESRI GIS packages. Field research, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and other types of equipment are available. Many opportunities exist f
Financial Assistance
Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and various Fellowships are available. Salary is for 9.5 months per year. Assistants work 20 hours per week. Fellowship recipients have no work assignment. Renewal for a second (M.A. and Ph.D.) or third year (Ph.D. only) is contingent on maintenance of satisfactory academic progress and a 3.5 GPA. Ph.D. students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of their second year in order to receive a third year of support. Applications are made on the University Graduate Admission Application and further information about Financial Aid is given in the Application. All application materials must be received by the University and the Department before January 15 since awards are made in February. Note, residents of certain Southern States without equivalent Geography graduate programs may be eligible to receive tuition at the lower, in-state fee rates.
Contact Information
More detailed information on the M.A. and Ph.D. programs can be obtained by reviewing the Department's Graduate Progams Web Site. Call or e-mail Assistant Director of Academic Programs for more information. To arrange consultations with the Graduate Director and individual faculty, call the Department at (301)-405-8085.
Assistant Director of Academic Programs
2181 LeFrak Hall
MD
20742
Telephone: (301) 405-8085 or (301) 405-4050
Fax: (301) 314-9299
crossgro@umd.edu
http://www.geog.umd.edu/
current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=111
Copyright
2001 University of Maryland