The Ph.D. in Geography is a specialized, research-focused degree that prepares students for professional careers in academia, government, private industry and non-profit sectors – with alumni represented in each of these. The program trains students to design and carry out original research under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students complete a minimum of 72 credits, of which a maximum of 24 can be transferred from the master’s degree. In the first two years of the program students generally take coursework in their area of specialty and prepare for the comprehensive examination. Students then research, write, and defend their dissertation, enrolling in a minimum of 24 dissertation credits.

Dissertation

Each PhD student will need to enroll for a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation credits. These credit hours are given a satisfactory or unsatisfactory (S/U) grade. Graduate students should meet with their advisor prior to registering for dissertation credits and gain a clear understanding of what is required to receive a passing (S) grade. In general, inadequate or lack of progress on a dissertation will result in a non-passing (U) grade. Dissertation credits may NOT be taken during the summer semester, except under special circumstances.