University of Minnesota
Department of Geography
geog@umn.edu
612-625-6080


Department of Geography's home page.

Home > Graduate : MA Degree

MA Degree

At Minnesota, the Geography MA is a highly individualized degree. Students work closely with their chosen advisors to design and complete their programs. Many continue on into the PhD program.

MA students in our Department pursue programs in physical geography, human geography, and cartography and geographic information science. The master's degree is "awarded in recognition of academic accomplishment," as stated in the Graduate School Catalog, the source for detailed information about the MA requirements and procedures at the University of Minnesota. Academic accomplishment is demonstrated "by a coherent program of coursework, passing of the required examinations, and preparation of a thesis or projects."

Requirements for the geography MA

MA students select one of two available degree requirement plans. One, "Plan A," involves preparing a thesis. The other, "Plan B," requires two or three major papers in lieu of the master's thesis.

Plan A requires fewer course credits (21) and adds 10 credits of thesis work. Plan B requires 31 course credits and no thesis credits. Typically only courses at the 5xxx-8xxx level earn graduate credit. Up to two 4xxx level courses can be included on the degree program, however, if approved by the student's adviser.

This page summarizes the degree requirements for the MA in geography. More detail about the MA degree requirements and procedures is available in the Graduate School Catalog. A separate page provides MA application and admission information.

Students in both MA plans complete the following:

A minimum of 14 credits in Geography at the 5xxx level or above, including:

  1. Geog 8405, Geog 8001 and Geog 8002, preferably within the first year, AND
  2. Two additional courses at the Geog 81xx and/or Geog 82xx level. The choice of courses should be made in consultation with the student's adviser. Geog 8970 and Geog 8980 courses may be used for Geog 81xx or Geog 82xx level coursework with permission of the adviser.

A minimum of 6 credits at the 5xxx level or above in one or more fields outside of geography. There are two options:

  1. A minor: the credits must be in one field and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in that field. /OR/
  2. Related fields: the credits must be in two or more fields

Certification of expertise in the language(s) and/or techniques(s) necessary for the proposed program. This requirement is set by the advising committee, which must certify that the requirement is met before the MA final exam is scheduled.

Plan A students must also:

Prepare a Master's thesis. This work is done in close consultation with the student's advisor and other faculty members, especially the advising committee.

Pass the final oral examination, which includes a defense of the thesis and may include examination on the academic work that forms the degree program.

Plan B students must also:

Prepare three Plan B papers. These have the quality but not the scope of a Master's thesis, and usually are enhanced versions of research papers done in connection with coursework and seminars.

Pass the final oral examination, which may focus on the Plan B projects and may include examination on the academic work that forms the degree program.

Those students who plan to continue on to the PhD program are strongly encouraged to complete the Plan B option; the three papers can then be further developed into the required comprehensive papers required for the PhD.