University General Course Catalog 2025-2026
Geography, M.S.
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 Return to: Programs in the College of Science
The Department of Geography offers an M.S. in Geography. Department of Geography faculty members possess a range of interdisciplinary strengths and expertise in the areas of human, human-environment and physical geography and utilize diverse approaches and methods, including computational technologies such as geographic information systems, remote sensing, modeling and data analytics as well as Q-methodology, ethnography, and community based participatory research (CBPR). The faculty is renowned for its teaching and mentoring, with individual members having garnered university, state and national teaching awards.
Department research specialties span the full range of the discipline, with specific focus on climatology (including paleoclimatology), water resources, snow hydrology, cultural and historical geography, human-environment relations, political ecology, political and feminist geography, paleoecology, GIS and geotechnologies, transportation and urban geography, biogeography, wildlife and landscape ecology, natural resource management and conflict, and conservation science and planning. These specialties in physical and human-environment geography are supported by laboratory facilities for paleoclimate and paleoecologic reconstruction; the Nevada State Climate Office, and geospatial and conservation laboratories that study biodiversity, ecosystems and urban growth patterns and processes using GIS, remote sensing and spatial statistics. The Department has multiple computational and data servers; two computer labs and equipment for field studies focusing on mountain environments, climatology, environmental reconstruction and water resources. Students should read the Graduate School section of the catalog and contact the Department for additional information.
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Program Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to: - Students will maximize their learning experiences by efficiently progressing through the program.
- Students will attain a suitable degree of comfort with advanced-level research in physical or human geography
- Students will demonstrate an advanced level of scholarly research by completing a thesis or applied project.
- Students will link their work and educational experiences.
- Students will link their work and educational experiences / prepare themselves for professional careers in Geography or related fields.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the M.S. program, a baccalaureate degree in Geography or a related discipline is required. Applications for acceptance into the Geography M.S. program are sent to the Graduate School , and must include: - a graduate admission application form, including fees;
- official college transcripts; and
- an official copy of GRE scores (optional)
Applicants must also send to the department a statement of purpose and goals and three recommendation letters. Applications received in full by December 15th will be considered for the Fall semester. Prospective students are urged to contact potential graduate advisors among Department faculty well ahead of application deadlines. Applicants for the M.S. degree in Geography must satisfy the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. I. Program Requirements
Candidates for the M.S. in Geography must satisfy the general requirements of the Graduate School. Candidates must select a M.S. graduate committee consisting of at least three members of the graduate faculty, including the Advisor. At least two members represent the area of specialization; one member serves as the Graduate School Representative. Courses should be selected to complement the student’s fields of interest and enhance their conceptual and research skills. Two degree plans are available: A. Thesis Option (30 credits) includes a thesis on original research; B. Non-Thesis Option (30-31 credits) replaces the thesis with a non-thesis option. No more than 6 credits with an S/U grade may be used toward the degree. Each candidate for the M.S. in Geography is required to make a formal prospectus presentation to their committee. A. Thesis option includes a research thesis: (30 units)
Of these 30 units, at least 9 must be at the 700-level (not including GEOG 797 ) a. Required Courses (15 units)
b. Elective Courses (14 units)
See advisor for list of courses.
*To be taken in the first semester of residence at the university. **To be selected from a list of Geography and non-Geography classes available from the Department. B. Non-Thesis option: (30 units)
Of these 30 units, at least 12 must be at the 700-level (not including GEOG 796 ). a. Required Courses (12 units)
b. Elective Courses (20 units)
See advisor for list of courses.
*To be taken in the first semester of residence at the university. **To be selected from a list of Geography and non-Geography classes available from the Department. II. Total Units
Plan A (Thesis) 30 units
Plan B (Non-thesis) 30 units Notes
- Each graduate course must be completed with a grade of “C” or better for the credit to be acceptable toward the degree. Additionally, students in the program must maintain a 3. 0 (B) or better cumulative grade point average in all graduate credits attempted at the University.
- Students have up to six (6) years to complete all requirements for their degree. Be advised that the six-year clock starts on the date the earliest course on the program of study was taken, even if that course was taken at another institution. If credits are from another institution, the “Graduate Credit Transfer Evaluation Request” must be filed.
- Minimum of 18 of these 30 graduate credits earned at the University of Nevada, Reno
- Maximum of 6 credits may be taken with S/U grading
- Thesis Option Students must enroll in 6 to 10 thesis credits for degree completion. With program director approval, internship/externship experiences can count for thesis credits.
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Return to: Programs in the College of Science
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