Up to date information about the Geography Program can be found on their website at https://sites.google.com/umass.edu/umass-geography

The Geography Program provides graduate education in human geography, environmental geography, remote sensing, and GIS through an MS degree in Geography, a proposed one year MS degree in Geography with a concentration in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST), and a Ph.D in Geosciences with a concentration in Geography.  Students wishing to pursue Ph.D. studies in these areas should apply to the Geosciences Ph.D. program after consultation with a geography faculty member.   Students interested in physical science studies can investigate the Geosciences MS and Ph.D. programs.

Geography faculty supervise advanced studies in human geography (Gaubatz, Stevens, Vogel) focused on urban geography, political geography, political ecology, cultural ecology, sustainability, rivers and river basin management, and environmental history, from social science and humanities theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches.   We also advise students interested in graduate work in environmental geography from both the human geography perspectives listed above and from a physical geography perspective emphasizing carbon cycling (Yu).  Our faculty have strong regional interests in the U.S., Canada, China, Japan, and Nepal.

If you are interested in the MS or Ph.D program, please contact individual Geography core faculty with whom you wish to study.

Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences with a concentration in Geography

Students who wish to pursue Ph.D. studies in human geography, environmental geography, or Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) can undertake studies for the Geosciences Ph.D.  While a planned formal concentration in Geography has not yet been established within the Geosciences Ph.D., in practice students who wish to continue studies in Geography are expected to work closely with a Geography faculty adviser, pass the required course in geographic theory and analysis, complete additional course work in Geography and cognate fields, pass a multi-day written and oral comprehensive exam, and successfully complete and defend a Ph.D. dissertation.  Students whose MA or MS is in another field may need to complete additional course work to develop a background equivalent to that of our Geography MS.

If you are interested in Ph.D. studies in Geography you should correspond directly with a Geography faculty member.

Additional information can be found at https://sites.google.com/umass.edu/umass-geography/graduate-programs

For further assistance please contact the Geography Program Director (Dr. Qian Yu) at [email protected].  (Ph.D. Geosciences - graduate school link)

Master of Science in Geography

We offer an MS degree in Geography for those who wish to study human geography, environmental geography, or Geographic Information Science and Technologies (GIST).  This program is designed to take two years, and involves a set of graduate level Geography courses and either a research-based thesis or a non-thesis option that involves a project and an oral exam.  Students work closely with their advisors, and programs are highly customized.  Students entering without a background in geography may need to do additional coursework to establish a sufficient foundation for MS studies.  All entering students must take a graduate level course on geographic theory and analysis. 

We offer a one year MS degree option for students who already have a strong background in geography, and offer a new one year MS in Geography (concentration in Geographic Information Science and Technology).

Students are encouraged to correspond directly with a Geography faculty member when considering the MS degree program.

Additional information can be found at https://sites.google.com/umass.edu/umass-geography/graduate-programs

For further assistance please contact the Geography Program Director (Dr. Qian Yu) at [email protected].   (M.S. Geography - graduate school link)