Geography
Phone: 703-993-1210
Web: geog.gmu.edu
Faculty
Professors:Falconer (chair), Haack, Haynes (dean, School of Public Policy), Stough (School of Public Policy), Wong
Associate professors: Andronikov, Beach, Pilon
Assistant professors: Kronenfeld, Parker, Schintler (School of Public Policy), Zolnik
Instructors:Boudinot, Dillon, Grymes, Hallden, Hirsch, Kim, Sheers, Ward, Wheeler, Young
Adjuncts:Allen, DeCola, Hosek, Mobley, Salamonowicz, Self, Shipley, Wheeler, Zinn
Course Work
This department offers all course work designated GEOG in the Course “Descriptions” chapter of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
Geography, BA
In addition to university-wide general education requirements and requirements for a BA degree in COS, candidates for a degree in geography must complete 28 credits in geography with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Requirements are as follows:
- Core courses (16 credits): GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415 (GEOG 103 fulfills the university requirement in social science)
- 12 credits of systematic (GEOG 301, 303, 304, or 305), geographical applications (GEOG 308, 311, 412, 416, or 463), and regional courses at the 300 level or above (some regional courses fulfill the college-level, non-Western culture requirement)
- 18 or more credits consisting of an approved double major, disciplinary minor, interdisciplinary minor, or certificate, or any other coherent 18-credit (minimum) package of courses approved by the advisor and the department chair. No more than 7 credits used to meet the 28-credit requirement may be used to meet this requirement. (Some of these courses may fulfill university-wide general education or college-level requirements.)
Geography, BS
In addition to the university-wide general education requirements, candidates for a BS degree in geography must complete the following with a minimum GPA of 2.00 for courses that fulfill requirements under the first two bullet items.
- 28 credits in geography, including 16 credits of core courses GEOG 102, 103, 300, 310, and 415 (GEOG 103 fulfills the university requirement in social science); and 12 credits of systematic (GEOG 301, 303, 304, or 305) and regional courses at the 300 level or above. (Some of the regional courses fulfill the college-level, non-Western culture requirement.)
- 18 or more credits as a sequence of geographical applications courses, including GEOG 311, 411, 412, 416 or 463; and 6 additional credits of geography electives, which may also include an internship (GEOG 480) approved by the program advisor before enrollment.
- 25 or 26 credits of required science, mathematics, statistics, and computer science courses, including GEOL 101, 102, and 317 (12 credits); or BIOL 103, 104, and 377 (11 credits, fulfills the university general education requirement in natural science); MATH 113 and 114 (8 credits, fulfills the university quantitative reasoning requirement); STAT 250 (3 credits); and IT 103 (3 credits, fulfills the university information technology proficiency requirement).
Minor in Geography
To receive the minor, students must complete 18 credits in geography with a minimum GPA of 2.00, distributed as follows:
- 6 credits of GEOG 101 (fulfills the university requirement in global understanding); or GEOG 103 (fulfills the university requirement in social science) and GEOG 102 (non-lab natural science credit)
- Four courses (12 credits) at the 300 and 400 level, including one systematic course (GEOG 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, or 309) and one regional course (GEOG 315, 316, 320, 325, 330, or 380)
Minor in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
To receive this minor, students must complete 18 or 19 credits in geography beyond the prerequisite of GEOG 102 or 103, with a minimum GPA of 2.00:
- Four required courses (12 credits): GEOG 110, 300, 311, 463
- Two elective courses (6 to 7 credits) chosen from GEOG 310, 411, 412, 416
With departmental permission, one course with significant GIS content may be substituted for one of the above.
For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated as writing intensive in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in geography fulfill this requirement by successfully completing GEOG 415.
Teacher Licensure
Students who wish to become teachers should consult the CEHD chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2892, e-mail gseadmit@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.
Graduate Programs
Earth Systems Science, MS
The interdisciplinary ESS program is offered jointly by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, the Department of Geography, and Department of Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences. The program addresses the growing national and regional demand for trained professionals in Earth systems science and applications. The degree emphasizes a research-oriented, global systems approach to studying the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, including their interrelationships and interactions with the biosphere. Emphasis is on the observation and quantitative analysis of Earth systems. Students completing the program are qualified to pursue careers that require knowledge of the basics of Earth systems science and the requisite tools. Students are encouraged to undertake either an optional master’s thesis for more in-depth studies, or a research project. In the latter case, students will have to pass a qualifying exam.
Degree Requirements
Candidates must successfully complete 30 credits as follows:
- Earth science core (9 credits): CSI 655; EOS 656/EVPP 652/GEOG 570; and EOS 657/GEOL 601/GEOG 671
- Earth observation courses (3 credits): EOS 753 or GEOG 579
- Quantitative techniques courses (3 credits): EOS 754 or GEOG 585
- Human and biological perspectives courses (3 credits):
- 3 credits of EOS 704; EOS 721; EVPP 577, 636, 741; GEOG 575, 590, 670 (see advisor for complete list)
- 3 credits of colloquium/seminar: EOS 900/EVPP 791/GEOG 791 and EOS 792/ EVPP 792/GEOG 792
- 3 to 6 credits of research: EOS 798/EVPP 798/GEOG 750, or EOS 799/EVPP 799/GEOG 799
- General electives (see advisor for course options)
Geographic and Cartographic Sciences, MS
This program provides courses for students interested in the techniques of collection, analysis, and display of spatial data. Students are prepared for careers in geography, GIS, and remote sensing; and cartography with federal agencies, state and local government agencies, private corporations, and educational institutions.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting all admission requirements for graduate study at Mason, applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in geography, cartography, or equivalent. Applicants without an undergraduate degree in geography may be required to take one course in each of the following: physical geography, human geography, and cartography. All applicants must have a course in statistics. The program also requires GRE aptitude scores, three letters of recommendation, transcripts of all college course work, and a statement of interest in the degree.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete 30 graduate credits to include 3 to 6 credits of thesis, or 36 graduate credits without a thesis. If the non-thesis option is selected, students are required to pass a comprehensive exam.
- Four required courses (12 credits)
- GEOG 553 Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 579 Remote Sensing
- GEOG 585 Quantitative Methods
- GEOG 680 Seminar in Thought and Methodology
- 12-15 credits (thesis option), or 24 credits (non-thesis option) of elective courses in geography
- 3 to 6 credits of thesis (thesis option)
- Comprehensive exam (non-thesis option)
Electives should be selected in consultation with an advisor. With departmental approval, up to 9 credits from closely related disciplines may be applied to the degree.
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Sciences
Admission Requirements
Applicants should submit an application for graduate studies, and must meet all requirements for graduate study at Mason. GRE scores and letters of recommendation are not required.
Applicants should have a working knowledge of or prior education or training in computer technology. Knowledge of GIS, remote sensing technology, and cartography are preferred. Students from any discipline are welcome to apply, but students with a background in one of the physical sciences (atmospheric science, hydrology, or geology), geography, environmental science, or engineering are particularly well-suited to undertake this program.
Students with no knowledge of geospatial technology are required to take GEOG 550 prior to admission to the program.
Requirements
Students must successfully complete 15 graduate credits, distributed as follows:
- 9 credits of required core courses: GEOG 553 or CEIE 510, GEOG 563 or EOS 771, GEOG 653
- 6 credits of electives chosen from: EOS 772, 773; CEIE 685; INFS 614, 755, 795
Other courses may be used as electives with prior written approval of the department.