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THE Geography Program
Graduate Coordinator – Bandana Kar
The Master's of Science Program in Geography offers a wide choice of curricula and research opportunities, which ultimately lead to an M.S. in Geography once a student has demonstrated a professional competence in at least one geography subfield and completed an original research project. The following are the specific requirements for the degree: 1. A minimum of thirty-six (36) semester hours in graduate-level geography courses with at least eighteen (18) hours of work in courses at the 600-level (or higher). With the approval of the major professor, the student has an option of taking (outside the department) up to twelve (12) semester hours of cognate courses within the minimum hourly requirements. 2. Geography 610 and 680. These courses are required of all students. 3. Demonstrated proficiency in cartography and statistical/quantitative methods. Proficiency is generally established (on an individual basis) by evidence of satisfactory completion of coursework in these areas sometime in a student’s academic career, at either the graduate or undergraduate level. 4. A thesis or a paper of professional quality. The thesis will confer six (6) semester hours credit to be counted as part of the total minimum hourly requirement for the degree. The paper, which will normally be the end product of work begun in a seminar, will confer no credit hours toward the minimum required for the degree. 5. Successful completion of an oral and written comprehensive examination on the student’s academic program. Students writing a thesis will take an oral defense of the thesis. Students choosing the option of preparing a paper of professional quality will have the paper reviewed by the department faculty and will present it orally before the combined faculty. 6. A 3.0 GPA required for graduation 7. Students must meet the requirement for continuous enrollment specified in the USM Graduate Bulletin. To help students achieve these
goals, the department maintains areas of research emphases that offer
graduate students a variety of opportunities to develop specializations
in different areas of geography. The department maintains collaborative
relationships with a number of different academic units at the university
as well as a number of outside agencies, including a cooperative relationship
with the John C. Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis. All concentrations
emphasize fieldwork, the application of technical skills, and the development
of research capability in a particular emphasis area in Geography.
The graduate program is well balanced by faculty specialties in a variety of systematic and regional areas. Areas of research emphases among geography faculty include cultural geography; cultural biogeography; landscape study; human-environment relationships; earth science; landscape ecology, biogeography and palynology; remote sensing and GIS; and regional specializations in North America, the U.S. South, and Latin America. Faculty members are also closely associated with the graduate programs in: history, anthropology, biology, coastal science, marine science and geology. The M.S. program provides the full range of geographical instruction appropriate to a globally literate education. The graduate student handbook includes more details on the requirements for the completion of the M.S. in Geography.
A Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography is conferred upon a student who produces a dissertation that makes a significant and original contribution to the discipline of geography and completes the following requirements: 1. A minimum of eighty-four (84) graduate hours beyond the bachelor's degree or a minimum of fifty-four (54) graduate hours beyond the master's degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. 2. Geography 710 and 780. These courses are required of all students. 3. Geography 715 and 755 or their equivalent will be required of all doctoral students. 4. Gain approval of a written prospectus from a five-member doctoral committee by the end of the third semester. 5. Provide an annual research progress report to the doctoral committee after completion of the prospectus. 6. Pass a comprehensive examination (oral and written). 7. Fulfill the Research Tools requirement as specified by the student's doctoral committee and approved by the chair of the department. 8. Gain approval of a dissertation and successfully defend the dissertation at an advertised research seminar open to the public. 9. Continuous enrollment must be maintained as stated in the USM Graduate Bulletin. 10. Students must also meet residency requirements as stated in the USM Graduate Bulletin. To help students achieve these goals, the department maintains areas of research emphases that offer graduate students a variety of opportunities to develop specializations in different areas of geography. The department maintains collaborative relationships with a number of different academic units at the university as well as a number of outside agencies, including a cooperative relationship with the John C. Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis. All concentrations emphasize fieldwork, the application of technical skills, and the development of research capability in a particular emphasis area in Geography. The graduate program is well balanced by faculty specialties in a variety of systematic and regional areas. Areas of research emphases among geography faculty include cultural geography; cultural biogeography; landscape study; human-environment relationships; earth science; landscape ecology, biogeography and palynology; remote sensing and GIS; and regional specializations in North America, the U.S. South, and Latin America. The graduate student handbook includes more details on the requirements for the completion of the Ph.D. in Geography. Faculty members are also closely
associated with the graduate programs in: history, anthropology, biology,
coastal science, marine science and geology. The Ph.D. program provides
the full range of geographical instruction appropriate to a globally literate
education. Most graduate students complete the M.S.
degree in 2 years, and the Ph.D in 4 years, though our flexible program
allows students to design their own program and professional goals in
cooperation with a faculty advisor. Few students fail to complete the
degree. Annually the Geography Department offers several teaching and research assistantships, internships, and cooperative work-study programs. Assistantship stipends vary, but provide a salary for nine months and include a waiver of all tuition fees. For information on financial aid and assistantships, visit the University of Southern Mississippi's financial aid web page. For information on Departmental assistantships, see the "How to Apply" section below. Graduate Admission Requirements Admission to the program is based on a range of factors. No single factor will guarantee or preclude acceptance, provided that applicants meet the minimum 3.0 GPA set by the University Office of Graduate Admissions. Candidates must be accepted by the University Office of Graduate Admissions before they can be considered for admission to the Geography program. Departmental considerations are based upon GPA for the student's last two years of undergraduate coursework, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, the experience record of the student, and compatibility of interests with those of the faculty as stated in the applicants Statement of Purpose. Application to our graduate program is a
two-step process, though both steps usually proceed simultaniously. You
must apply to both the University Office of Graduate
Admissions and to the Department of Geography and Geology.
To apply to Department of Geography and Geology: please send the following materials to: Dr. Bandana Kar, Graduate Coordinator, Department of Geography and Geology, University of Southern Mississippi, Box #5051, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.
Deadlines: Applicants wishing to enroll for the fall semester of a specific year (e.g. 2009) must have all material in by May 1st of the corresponding year (e.g. 2009). Applicants wishing to enroll for the spring semester of the following year (e.g. 2010) must have all materials in by December 1st of the previous year (e.g. 2009). Applicants seeking Departmental Teaching Assistantships for an academic year (e.g. 2009 - 2010) should submit their application materials before February 28th of 2009. The department will begin reviewing the completed applications on March 1. Late applications (for assistantships) may be considered after this deadline, only if space and departmental resources allow. For questions or comments, please contact the Geography Graduate Coordinator or Department Chair. Bandana Kar, PhD |
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Updated 10/14/09
