The Geography Program's greatest strength lies in its pragmatic, applied approach to the advanced study of geography. Students who seek comprehensive training in applying geographic concepts and techniques to real-world issues will find very few places to achieve that goal as well as at Oregon State.

Areas of concentration in OSU's Geography Program are resource geography (integrated minor), physical geography (integrated minor), geographic information science (graduate certificate), and ecosystem informatics (minor). Each represents a specialization for graduate study, but there is overlap between the specialties and every student is exposed to aspects of all three areas of concentration. There is opportunity to include course work from other disciplines in programs of study (which may also be incorporated into an integrated minor). Students from our department regularly take complementary classes in the Colleges of Forestry, Agriculture, Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, Science, and Liberal Arts.

Resource geography examines human use of resources. It includes studies in environmental impact analysis, biotic resources, water resources, environmental quality, recreation resources, mineral and energy resources, agriculture, policy analysis of natural resource management and planning, and land use planning and management. Faculty who commonly supervise students in resource geography include Becker, Doel, Gosnell, Jones, Matzke, Santelmann, and Wolf.

Physical geography addresses systematic analysis of the characteristics, classifications, distributions, and spatial-temporal relations of the subsystems of the natural environment. It includes the study of biogeography, geomorphology, hydrology, surface processes, and climatology. Faculty who commonly supervise students in physical geography include Clark, Daly, Grant, Jones, Lancaster, Matzke, Nolin, Santelmann, and Wright (on sabbatical in 2008).

Geographic information science addresses fundamental issues in the use of digital technology to handle geographic information; namely, information about places, activities, and phenomena on and near the surface of the Earth that are stored in maps or images. Geographic information science includes questions of data structures, analysis, accuracy, meaning, cognition, visualization, and many more, and thus overlaps with the domains of many traditional disciplines (e.g., earth science, mathematics, computer science, physics, cognitive science, and ethics). However, it is not central to any of these, representing instead a new kind of scientific collaborative that is defined by researchers from many distinct backgrounds working together on particular sets of interrelated problems. The geographic information science emphasis at OSU prepares students in cartography, remote sensing, photo interpretation, spatial analysis, computer cartography, global positioning systems, and geographic information systems. Faculty who commonly supervise students in geographic information science include Jones, Kimerling, Nolin, Santelmann, White, and Wright (on sabbatical in 2008). See information on the graduate certificate at geo.oregonstate.edu/gcert.

Ecosystem informatics applies the tools and concepts of mathematics and computer science to the ecosystem sciences for the purpose of deriving knowledge. At OSU students integrate four ecosystem science areas: (1) diversity, stability, and invasion in communities; (2) carbon and nitrogen fluxes in watersheds and airsheds; (3) disturbance dynamics in landscapes, oceans, and coastal zones; and (4) fluxes of material and energy through physical networks, with five areas of informatics: (a) software engineering for model construction, experimentation, and replication; (b) representation and modeling of complex ecosystems; (c) information management and access; (d) spatio-temporal database systems; and (5) data mining and pattern recognition. Faculty who commonly supervise students in ecosystem informatics include Jones, Lancaster, Santelmann, Swanson, and Wright (on sabbatical in 2008). For more information on ecoystem informatics, please contact Dr. Jones or see ecoinformatics.oregonstate.edu.

Departmental faculty members take an ongoing interest in their students, regarding each as an individual with unique experiences, abilities, and aspirations. The quality of instruction is reflected in the students themselves, who regularly publish their research, go on to successful careers, and have won some of the most prestigious awards in the field.

Geography Program Admission and Degree Requirements

Admission to the graduate program in Geography at OSU is open to applicants with a Bachelors Degree and strong academic credentials from many different disciplines. Requirements for the MA, MS, and PhD degrees are tailored to reflect the diversity of backgrounds of incoming students and to assure that everyone exits the program with a common core of geographic knowledge beyond their particular specialization. This is accomplished through the use of background requirements, exit requirements, and program requirements. Background and exit requirements are determined by an audit of the student records prior to first term enrollment. Program requirements include a set of core classes and additional classes selected in consultation with the students' supervisory committee.

Master Degree Background Requirements (MS and MA)

Students entering the graduate program must have a background including a minimum of at least one course in physical geography/earth system science, natural resources/conservation, cartography, and statistics. Prior to enrollment, transcripts are audited by the Program Director or potential major advisor to determine missing background courses. Missing background courses are taken at the undergraduate level concurrently with enrollment in the graduate program.

PhD Background Requirements

In addition to the requirements for the Master degree (including an audit of transcripts), PhD students are expected to have a Master degree or equivalent prior to admission.

Requirements for the MA, MS & PhD Degress in Geography

Students completing the MA, MS, or PhD degrees in the Geography program must have experience in field work, image processing, geographic information systems, statistics, resource geography, and physical geography beyond the level of the minimum background requirements. PhD students are also required to have a mastery of a foreign language prior to completion of the degree. When previous academic experience is deficient in any of these areas, student graduate programs are constructed to eliminate these deficiencies. Prior to enrollment, transcripts are audited by the Program Director or potential major advisor to determine the exit requirements that must be met in the program of study at OSU. These courses are usually taken at the graduate level.

Requirements Specific to the MA & MS Degrees in Geography

Students enroll in a set of core program requirements, as well as elective courses tailored to meet the interests of individuals. The core requirements are GEO 507 Seminar: Geographic Research (3 credits), GEO 515 History and Philosophy of Geography (3 credits), GEO 518 Geoscience Communication (3 credits), GEO 548 Field Research in Geomorphology and Landscape Ecology, and a research endeavor [GEO 501 Research Paper (3 credits) or GEO 503 Thesis (6 credits)]. GEO 534 The Geography of Oregon (Field Research in Physical Geography) is recommended but not required.

Internship credits (3 cr. GEO 510) may be used in graduate programs when students elect the GEO 501 Research Paper option.

Students complete a major program of study, with an optional minor, if desired. The recognized major areas of study are geographic information science, physical geography, and resource geography. The minor area of study must be different from the major area of study. As part of an integrated minor of 15 credits, a student may pursue physical geography or resource geography. Many other minors are available on the OSU campus, including integrated minors that combine other fields around a student-designated theme. (Check the Graduate School web page for a list of minors available at OSU.)

A geography grad student may also elect to complete a graduate certificate in geographic information science, which consists of 19 credits. Courses satisfying the certificate requirements should be listed on the LEFT side of the Graduate School's graduate program form, under MAJOR courses.

Requirements Specific to the PhD Degree in Geography

The recognized majors are physical geography, resource geography, and geographic information science. Optional minors may include these same fields, as well as other minors listed on the Graduate School website. Check the Guidelines and Checklist for Doctoral Degree Students for more information.

See also Destination Dissertation: A Traveler's Guide to a Done Dissertation.

MS/MA Geography Graduate Handbook | Doctoral Geography Graduate Handbook