Graduate Catalog  |  School of Graduate Studies  |

• Table of Contents
•  |  Graduate Programs
•  |  Graduate Course Descriptions
•  |  Admissions Information
•  |  Alphabetical Index

Geography Graduate Programs (GEOG)

Offered through the Department of Geography
in the College of Social Sciences
359 Stewart Hall
Phone: 320.308.3160
Fax: 320.308.1660
E-mail: geog@stcloudstate.edu
Web: www.stcloudstate.edu/geog

Department Chairperson: Dr. Lewis Wixon
Department Secretary: Ms. Barb Hartkopf

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Mikhail Blinnikov
Graduate Faculty: Addo, Baker, Blinnikov, Hochmair, Hostovsky, John, Richason, Torguson, Wall, Wixon

Employers

Graduates seek employment in both private and public settings, including State and local agencies.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Program

• Admission decisions are made as completed application files are received.
• Students must have met the requirements for admission to graduate school at St. Cloud State University.
• Students should have completed at least an undergraduate minor in geography.  In some cases, the applicant may be required to complete additional undergraduate work even though they may have completed a minor or major in geography.
• Applicants who do not have at least an undergraduate minor in geography may be admitted conditionally, subject to completion of specific undergraduate courses in geography as determined by the department.
• Teaching applicants will complete the program described below.
• Teaching applicants who do not have a background in teacher education should confer with the department chairperson.

Length of Program — Measured by Semesters

• Part-time student: five semesters taking six credits per semester.
• Full-time student: four semesters taking nine credits per semester.
• The program has been designed to accommodate both part-time and full-time students.
• Full-time students must expect to complete part of their course load in evening classes.

Graduate Assistantship Overview

• Three graduate assistantship positions are generally sponsored each year, and are available both fall and spring semesters.
• Graduate assistants do a variety of activities, including assisting instructors in the SARC lab and in auditorium classes, and working with faculty members on various research projects. Application due dates vary, but assistantship decisions are made before the end of spring semester.

Employers

• Graduates seek employment in both private and public settings, including state and local agencies.

Specializations

Each student may choose one of three specializations.

• Geography
• Geography: Geographic Information Science emphasis
• Geography: Tourism Planning and Development emphasis

Degrees and Plans Offered

• Master of Science: Geography, Plan A (Thesis) at 30 credits
• Master of Science: Geography, Plan B (Starred Paper) at 32 credits
• Master of Science: Geography, Plan C (Portfolio) at 36 credits
• Master of Science: GIS, Plan A (Thesis) at 30 credits
• Master of Science: GIS, Plan B (Starred Paper) at 33 credits
• Master of Science: Geography: Tourism Planning and Development, Plan A (Thesis) at 30 credits
• Master of Science: Geography: Tourism Planning and Development, Plan B (Starred Paper) at 32 credits

Program Overview — Master of Science in Geography

• The Master of Science in Geography prepares individuals for professional employment in both public and private sectors.
• The M.S. is flexible, and students can choose to focus on aspects of physical/environmental geography, or human geography concentrating on urban/regional issues, or a combination of the two (particularly useful for 5-12 teachers seeking an M.S. in a content area).
• The tourism planning and development emphasis provides opportunities for students seeking to further their study of tourism, including eco-tourism development, and destination marketing.

Master of Science — Geography

Plan A, 30 credits; Plan B, 32 credits; Plan C, 36 credits

Research courses
Plan A, 6-12 credit minimum; Plan B or Plan C, 3 credit minimum

• GEOG 610. Research Process in Geography, 3 credits
• GEOG 699. Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A only).

Core courses
Plan A, 12 credit minimum; Plan B or Plan C, 16 credit minimum

• Advanced study in subject matter, methods, materials, and curriculum.

Professional education courses
Plan A or Plan B, 6 credit minimum

• Credits to be chosen with the approval of the professional education adviser.

Elective courses
Plan A, 3-6 credit minimum; Plan B, 6 credits minimum; Plan C, 3 credit minimum

• Credits to be chosen with the approval of the graduate advisor.

Educational foundation courses
3 credit minimum (Plan C only)

• Students will select from a list developed by the College of Education.

Educational applications and implementations
9 credit minimum (Plan C only)

• Workshops, practicums, internships, school curriculum development, special projects related to the teaching
  assignment.  Approval of the graduate adviser is needed.

NOTE: At least one-half of the master of science degree program must be earned in 600-level graduate courses.

Master of Science — Geography: Geographic Information Science Emphasis

Plan A, 30 credits; Plan B, 33 credits

Research courses
Plan A, 9 credit minimum; Plan B, 3 credit minimum

• GEOG 610. Research Process in Geography, 3 credits
• GEOG 699. Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A only)

Core courses
Plan A, 18 credit minimum; Plan B, 18 credit minimum

• GEOG 506. Thematic Cartography, 3 credits
• GEOG 507. Map Design and Presentation, 3 credits
• GEOG 516. Techniques in GIS, 3 credits
• GEOG 550. Digital Image Processing, 3 credits
• GEOG 562. Concepts in Spatial Analysis, 3 credits
• GEOG 605. Spatial Analysis Methods in Geography, 3 credits

Elective courses
Plan A, 3 credit minimum; Plan B, 12 credit minimum

• Students should select electives in collaboration with the graduate advisor.

NOTE: At least one-half of the master of science degree program must be earned in 600-level  graduate courses.

Master of Science — Geography: Tourism Planning and Development Emphasis

Plan A, 30 credits; Plan B, 32 credits

Research courses
Plan A, 6-12 credit minimum; Plan B, 3 credit minimum

• GEOG 610. Research Process in Geography, 3 credits
• GEOG 699. Thesis, 6 credits (Plan A only)

Core courses
Plan A, 12 credit minimum; Plan B, 18 credit minimum

• GEOG 596. Tourism and the Environment, 3 credits
• GEOG 601. Research in Geography (Tourism Emphasis), 1-6 credits
• GEOG 654. Urban, Regional and Resource Planning, 3 credits
• GEOG 630. Seminar (Tourism Emphasis), 3 credits

Elective courses
Plan A, 3-6 credit minimum; Plan B, 3-6 credit minimum

• At least one-half of the master of science degree program must be earned in 600-level graduate courses.