Geography
Advance your career and expand your impact. ECU’s MS in geography equips you with the research training, practical skills, and geospatial perspective to shape solutions to environmental and social challenges.
Geography Program Overview
The Master of Science (MS) in geography at ECU offers you the chance to deepen your expertise by applying a geospatial perspective to better understand human and environmental systems. You will work closely with our world-class faculty and draw from our department’s expertise in areas such as geographic information science, hazards and resilience, coastal and environmental change, and climate and atmospheric dynamics. Whether you want to conduct research, inform policy, or advance your career in the public or private sector, the MS program prepares you with advanced analytical, technical and spatial skills to address environmental, societal, and climate-related challenges locally and globally.
ECU Advantage
ECU's geography MS stands out for its integration of strong research, real-world relevance and technical sophistication. Students will find a welcoming atmosphere, active mentoring, and opportunities to develop skills that support career advancement. Students can choose from thesis and non-thesis options, or a professional science master’s track focused on GIS applications. Program graduates have found success in a wide range of career fields and in pursuing doctoral study. Graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis.
What You Will Study
Program Coordinator: Anuradha Mukherji (211-A Brewster Building; 252-328-5357; mukherjia@ecu.edu)
The Geography, MS offers two concentrations - Geography and a Professional Science Master's (PSM) in Geographic Information Science (GIS). Students may choose either a thesis or nonthesis/internship option in the geography concentration. The PSM GIS area of study offers only the nonthesis/internship option.
The Professional Science Master's in GIS allows students to pursue advanced training in logistics, management information systems, marketing, or public administration while simultaneously developing professional skills valued by employers and is modeled on recommendations by the National Professional Science Master's Association (NPSMA).
There are several major areas of study in the department from which students can choose: environmental, human, atmospheric science, and geospatial techniques.
Minimum degree requirement is 30 s.h. or 36 s.h. as follows:
Core Requirements:
1. Core - 6 s.h.
- GEOG 6100 - History and Philosophy of Geography
- GEOG 6110 - Research Design in Geography
2. Research skills - 3 s.h.
(Choose a research skills/methods course related to the major area of study and intended research.)
- ANTH 5015 - Advanced Ethnographic Methods and Theory
- GEOG 6150 - Quantitative Methods in Geography
- GEOG 6160 - Field Geography
- HIST 5960 - Introduction to Oral History
- Other course selected in consultation with advisor.
3. Concentrations - 6-15 s.h.
(Choose one.)
a. Geography concentration - 6-12 s.h.
Thesis option (6 s.h.)
Choose a minimum of 6 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000- and 6000-levels. Students are encouraged to take at least one course outside their selected major area of study. Courses in other departments may be selected in consultation with student's advisor.
Nonthesis/internship option (12 s.h.)
Choose a minimum of 12 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000- and 6000-levels in the major field areas. Students are encouraged to take at least one course outside their selected major area of study. Courses in other departments may be selected in consultation with student's advisor.
b. Professional science master's in geographic information science concentration - 15 s.h.
Choose 12 s.h. from the following:
- GEOG 6410 - Advanced Cartography
- GEOG 6420 - Advanced Remote Sensing
- GEOG 6430 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 6440 - Spatial Analysis of Coastal Environments
- GEOG 6460 - Advanced Digital Terrain Analysis
4. Electives - 9 s.h.
(Choose electives according to concentration area.)
a. Geography concentration
Choose a minimum of 9 s.h. in the major area of study at the 5000- or 6000-levels.
b. Professional science master's in geographic information science concentration
Choose a minimum of 9 s.h. of courses in one of the following: logistics, management information systems, marketing, or public administration.
Logistics
- IDIS 6515 - Logistical Security and Safety Management
- IDIS 6525 - Transportation Logistics Management
- IDIS 6535 - Supply Chain Logistics Management
- IDIS 6545 - Global Logistics Management
Managment information systems
- MIS 6713 - Delivering Business Value through Information Systems
- MIS 6873 - Data Management
- MIS 6883 - Web Technologies for Business
- MIS 6903 - Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
Marketing
- MKTG 6162 - Marketing Management
- MKTG 6752 - Integrated Marketing Communications
- MKTG 6762 - Business-to-Business Marketing
- MKTG 6842 - Consumer Behavior
Public administration
- PADM 6100 - Politics and Management in Public Agencies
- PADM 6101 - Analysis for the Public Sector
- PADM 6160 - Public Policy Formulation and Implementation
- PADM 6161 - Applied Policy Analysis
- PADM 6170 - Intergovernmental/Interagency Relations
- PADM 6220 - Leadership and Ethics in the Public Sector
- PADM 6260 - Management of Public Information Technology
5. Thesis or nonthesis/internship option - 3-6 s.h.
a. Geography - 3-6 s.h.
Thesis option
- GEOG 7000 - Thesis (3-6 s.h.)
Note:
Students must pass the thesis defense.
Nonthesis/internship option
- GEOG 6801 - Internship in Geography
- GEOG 6802 - Internship in Geography and/or
- GEOG 6803 - Internship in Geography
Note:
Students must complete internship for minimum of 3 s.h. or maximum of 6 s.h. Students must present professional report and pass report defense.
b. Professional science master's in geographic information science - 3 s.h.
Nonthesis/internship option
(Choose 3 s.h. from the following.)
- GEOG 6801 - Internship in Geography
- GEOG 6802 - Internship in Geography
- GEOG 6803 - Internship in Geography
Note:
Students must present professional report and pass report defense.
Comprehensive Assessment Requirement
All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. This program requires the following:
- Geography concentration:
- Thesis option: Successful completion of the thesis (GEOG 7000) and oral defense of thesis
- Nonthesis/Internship option: Successful presentation of a professional report and defense of report
- Professional science master's in geographic information sciences concentration: Successful presentation of a professional report and defense of report
For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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