Graduate Study in Geography (GEOG)

Department of Environment and Society (ENVS)

College of Natural Resources

 

The Master’s Degree program in Geography is offered in the Department of Environment & Society, College of Natural Resources.  Geography is the study of the relationships between human society and the physical environment.  Geography has a long standing concern with the broadest dimensions of environmental studies, and the human impact on the environment, the availability and location of the earth’s resources, the physical processes that occur at the earth’s surface, and the spatial interaction among the components of human society and the physical environment.  As social scientists, geographers are concerned with the study of observable features resulting from the human occupation of the earth, political decisions, and economic activities.  The M.S., M.A. program in Geography allows for broad geographic training in human-environment interaction development, and geographic education/environmental education, together with a technical training in geographic/information systems, remote sensing, and cartography.

 

Geographic training prepares students for many types of careers with a variety of employers in the private, public, and academic sectors.  In the private sector, geographers may be hired to undertake locational analyses or environmental impact statements for business.  There is a high demand for people trained in geographic information systems and cartography with a socioeconomic background in planning.  In the public sector, at all levels of government (local, state, and federal), geographers are hired to undertake a variety of tasks.  Geographers may work for local and state economic development offices, and conduct research about or map (and use) information from remotely-sensed data.  At the federal level, geographers often work for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, the Defense Mapping Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of State, the U.S. Census Bureau, and Foreign Service.  Geography teaching graduates may teach geography in grades 7-12 in the public schools.

 

The Department of Environment and Society offers both a Master of Science (M.S.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.).  The requirements are the same for both degrees except the M.A. requires at least two years (16 credits) of an approved foreign language or demonstration of a language proficiency.

 

The graduate program in geography allows maximum opportunity for students to design a program of study to fit their professional needs.  Both thesis (Plan A) and non-thesis (Plan B) options are available.  Students pursuing the Plan A or Plan B options must complete a minimum of 30 credits with 12 credits in geography and 18 credits in related fields.  The program of study must be designed in consultation with the major professor.  For the Plan B option students complete a project in lieu of a thesis.  For geography educators wishing to pursue a Master’s emphasis in geographic education, a Plan C is available with a requirement to complete 33 credits with 16 credits in geography and 17 elective credits in related fields.

 

Graduate courses offered within the Geography graduate degree program:

 

Geog 5970.  Classroom Technology in Geography Education.  Design, development, and application of contemporary technologies and multimedia classroom teaching resources for preservice and inservice geography education teachers. (3cr) (F, Su).

 

Geog 6200.  Advanced Regional Geography.  Critical analysis of world’s regions, focusing on analysis and synthesis of a region’s economic, political, population, and cultural themes in the context of physical environment and global processes.  Repeatable for different region. (3cr) (F, Sp, Su). ®

 

Geog 6650 (d5650).  Developing Societies.  Reviews how sociology, cultural geography, and economic anthropology analyze processes of globalization in postcolonial societies.  Examines changing livelihoods, patterns of spatial incorporation and societal evolution, and emergent policy problems associated with rapid socioeconomic change.  Also taught as Anth 6650/5650 and Soc 6650/5650.  (3cr) (F).

 

Geog 6800 (d4800).  Teaching Geography.  Designed specifically for geography education/social studies education students preparing to teach grades K-12.  Exploration of national and state standards and core curriculum, as well as state-of-the-art geography education technology and teaching resources.  Students develop teaching lessons and gain classroom teaching experience with local geography teachers. (3cr) (Sp).

 

Geog 6810 (d5810).  Geography Education Inservice Workshop.  Assists classroom teachers in broadening their perspective of Geography Education through increased knowledge, improving their geographic techniques, methods, and teaching resources for their classrooms. (3cr) (F, Sp, Su).

 

Geog 6900 (d5900).  Geography Field Practicum.  Designed for geography students involved in field research and/or internships.  Provides opportunity for students to gain practical applied experience in their specialized academic emphasis in geography. (1-4cr) (F, Sp, Su). ®

 

EnvS 6540 (d5540).  Land Use and Resource Assessment.  Provides understanding of land use, land capability, techniques and methods of resource assessment, and their role in development planning. (3cr) (F).

 

EnvS 6550 (d5550).  Environment, Resources, and Development Policy.  Environment, natural resources, and development policy in Third World, emphasizing sustainable development, farming systems, agro-pastoralism, desertification, and land use. (3cr) (F).

 

EnvS 6700 (d5700).  History of Geographic Thought.  Acquaints students with aims, methods, and accomplishments of geography as a professional field and a discipline in the past, present, and future. (3cr) (F).

 

EnvS 6800 (d7800).  Environment and Society Departmental Seminar.  (1cr) (F, Sp). ®

 

EnvS 6900.  Graduate Special Topics.  Offers credit for special assignments, reading, and seminars beyond regularly scheduled courses.  (1-6cr) (F, Sp, Su). ®

 

EnvS 6910.  Directed Study.  (1-6cr) (F, Sp, Su). ®

 

FRWS 6750 (d5750).  Applied Remote Sensing.  Covers the application of remote sensing to landcover mapping and resource monitoring at a quantitative level.  Students instructed on the effects of atmosphere and surface interaction on the reflectance collected by electro-optical sensors, as well as on the proper use and interpretation of various calibration and classification algorithms. (3cr) (Sp).

 

® Repeatable for credit.  Check with major department for limitations on number of credits that can be counted for graduation.

 

Core Faculty

Dr. Ted J. Alsop, Associate Professor; Office NR 346; (435-797-1371); Ted.Alsop@usu.edu

Dr. Ann Laudati, Assistant Professor; Office NR 216; (435-797-8701); Ann.Laudati@usu.edu

Dr. Claudia Radel, Assistant professor; Office NR 232; (435-797-0516); Claudia.Radel@usu.edu