Geography and Sustainable Development - Master of Arts

Geography integrates social and natural sciences through geospatial and other techniques to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. The MA in Geography and Sustainable Development prepares students with advanced geographical thinking and methods for solving tomorrow’s social and environmental problems today. A flexible and personalized curriculum builds foundational understanding of space, place, and environment, applied through specialized approaches to global development, urbanization and planning, environmental management, or geospatial. All students undertake Individualized inquiry -- research thesis or internship/practicum -- that develops specialized expertise and research-management skills, which they communicate in a high-quality manuscript or report.

This academic program emphasizes intellectual growth, critical analysis and communication, and professional development. Our students are prepared to engage linked social-environmental problems in real-world decision making, positioning them for leadership in mapping a more sustainable future. Alumni have found impactful public, non-profit, and private-sector careers in sustainable development, conservation, geospatial technology, business analytics, and more, as well as admission/funding in top Ph.D. programs and jobs in academia.

Requirements: Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree has both a thesis and internship option. Both options require a minimum of 37 hours.

Before the end of the first year, a formal oral presentation of the thesis/internship proposal is required. This program culminates in the defense of a thesis or non-thesis (internship/practicum) report.