30 credits
This program is designed to provide a solid background in skills such as remote sensing, GIS, and advanced cartography to be applied to various sub-disciplines of geography and allied fields. The demands for skilled work force in these fields continue to expand in industries, business, and government, both locally and nationally. The Internet has paved the way for different types of archived and present data to be available to the public and government in a timely manner. With globalization, employers are looking for people who are skilled in the above fields. An intricate combination of several factors such as growing and changing world economy, changing environment, mobility of multinational corporations, and data availability through various sources have created a major demand for geospatial techniques. The specialized courses in remote sensing, GIS, and advanced cartography are designed for students who are interested in handling various types of spatial data.
The Department of Geography is equipped with leading software in remote sensing, GIS, and cartography. The department’s experienced faculty members can accommodate the needs of students with varied interests.
Degree requirements
Requires 30 credits, including the research requirement. Undergraduate deficiencies must be fulfilled as needed. Specialized programs apply state-of-the-art technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, and cartography in various sub-disciplines of geography, atmospheric science, and allied sciences. The requirements are flexible and allow students to arrange programs of study that will serve as a basis for further graduate study; as preparation for positions in industry, business, and government; or as a way to meet the immediate and changing needs of teachers and educators.
Course requirements
All students must complete 9 credits of core courses, 15 credits of directed electives, and 6 credits of Thesis (THES 698).
Core requirements, 9 credits
| GEOG 610 | History of Geographic Thought | 3 |
| GEOG 615 | Research Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 618 | Quantitative Methods in Environmental Geography | 3 |
Directed electives, 15 credits from
| GEOG 540 | Cartography and Visualization of Spatial Data | 3 |
| GEOG 542 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG 543 | Advanced Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG 544 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG 545 | Geographic Information Systems Applications Design and Development | 3 |
| GEOG 546 | Seminar in Advanced Techniques in Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG 548 | Geographic Information System Design | 3 |
| GEOG 570 | Political Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 614 | Problems in the Teaching of Earth Science | 3 TO 6 |
| GEOG 620 | Seminar in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 625 | GIS for Environmental Science | 3 |
| GEOG 630 | Special Topics in Advanced Cartography | 3 |
| GEOG 635 | Special Topics in Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GEOG 640 | Special Topics in Atmospheric Science | 3 |
| GEOG 680 | Distant Areas Field Studies | 1 TO 6 |
| GEOG 690 | Professional Internship | 1 TO 3 |
| GEOG 695 | Readings and Special Studies in Geography | 1 TO 3 |
| METC 525 | Physical Meteorology | 3 |
| METC 530 | Weather Analysis | 3 |
| METC 531 | Global Climatology | 3 |
| METC 532 | Climate Change and Modification | 3 |
| METC 534 | Atmospheric Hazards | 3 |
| METC 535 | Satellite, Radar, and Forecasting | 3 |
| METC 547 | Thermodynamic Meteorology | 3 |
| METC 549 | Synoptic Meteorology | 3 |
| METC 550 | Mesoscale Meteorology | 3 |
| METC 551 | Dynamic Meteorology | 3 |
| METC 590 | Field Observation of Severe Local Storms | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Thesis requirement
| THES 698 | Thesis | 1 TO 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: 30