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Degree &
Certificate
Programs

Geography B.S.
Extended Geography; Geographic Education; Geographic Information Management (GIS);
Remote Sensing

Public Planning B.S.
Land Use Planning;
Environmental Planning; Tourism & Recreation Planning; GIS & Planning; American Indian Planning

Parks & Recreation Management
B.S. & Certificate

MA in Rural Geography

MS in Applied Geographic Infomation Science

GIS Graduate Certificate

Park Ranger Training Program

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Program Requirements effective Fall 2003 - Spring 2005

(program revisions will occur in Fall 2005)

Introduction

Our M.A. in rural geography provides an advanced degree for geographers wishing to work in the areas of regional, environmental and small town planning and analysis.  Students in our program may pursue one of four emphasis areas: human geography, physical geography, community planning and technical geography (geographic information systems and remote sensing).  Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.  These emphasis areas highlight the strengths of the department and its location in rural northern Arizona.

Degrees Offered

• M.A. in Rural Geography (thesis and non-thesis options)
  • Human Geography Emphasis
  • Physical Geography Emphasis
  • Community Planning Emphasis

Program Description & Degree Requirements

Our master's degree is offered through either a thesis and non-thesis option.  The thesis option is intended for students who seek solid academic and scholarly education, with possible advancement to a doctoral program. The non-thesis option is for students who seek an advanced applied education, without intentions of continuing to a doctoral program.  The non-thesis option requires a professional paper in place of the thesis.  For admission to our degree program, students must indicate the emphasis area they wish to pursue and identify a full-time faculty member in the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation who is willing to be their initial advisor. Students who have not majored or minored in geography for their undergraduate degree may be required to take supplemental deficiency courses. All students who have not taken a statistics course within three years of entering our program will be required to do so within their first year of study.

The submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) results are required as part of the application. A combined score on the verbal and quantitative portions of 1000 or above is preferred. Applicants with less than 1000 points may be required to take additional courses to address verbal and/or quantitative defficiencies.

All of our emphasis areas in this master's degree require 36  hours, plus any deficiency courses that may be required. A common core of 4 hours is required for all Rural Geography M.A. students consisting of GGR 681 and GGR 687. In addition to this core, the emphasis areas require the following.  All elective courses are to be chosen with the advisor's consent.

Human Geography Thesis Emphasis - The Human Geography emphasis is for students who want to understand and explore our human world from cultural, social and economic geography perspectives. Specific requirements are:

• the human geography core (7 hours): GGR 642, 681 and 687 
• 6 hours of human geography graduate seminar electives, such as GGR 546, 574 and 576; plus 6 hours selected from other human geography courses 
• a 3 hours physical geography graduate seminar elective, such as GGR 545, 547, 557, 582 and 655 - 6 hours of GGR 699 - Thesis 
• additional hours of electives from geography, public planning, and other social sciences and humanities courses to a total of at least 36 credit hours 

The Non-Thesis Emphasis in Human Geography will begin in Fall 2005.

Physical Geography Thesis Emphasis - The Physical Geography emphasis is for students who want to understand and explore our physical environment, with emphasis on geomorphology and landforms, climatology and biogeography.  Specific requirements are:

• the physical geography core (7 hours): GGR 655, 681 and 687
• 6 hours of physical geography seminar electives, such as GGR 582, 545, 547 and 557; plus 6 hours selected from other physical geography courses 
• a 3 hour human geography or planning graduate seminar elective, such as GGR 546, 574, 576, 642 and PL 501 
• 6 hours of GGR 699 - Thesis 
• additional hours of electives from geography, public planning, and physical and environmental science courses to a total of at least 36 credit hours

The Non-Thesis Emphasis in Physical Geography will begin in Fall 2005.

Community Planning Thesis Emphasis - The Community Planning thesis emphasis is for student who want to pursue a career in understanding and shaping the human built environment and communities in which we live, including cities, town, neighborhoods, and rural places. Planning professionals desiring an advance professional degree are also encouraged to pursue this emphasis. Specific requirements are:

• the community planning core (11 hours): GGR 681, 687, PL 501 and 531 
• 6 hours of public planning electives, such as PL 506, 532, 599, 685, 697 and 698 (planning courses may be substituted depending on prior professional work experience in planning)
• 6 hours of human geography graduate seminar electives, such as GGR 546, 574, 576 and 642 
• 4 hours of PL 608 (internship; may be substituted by coursework depending on professional work experience) 
• 6 hours of GGR 699 - Thesis 
• additional hours of electives from public planning, geography, applied indigenous studies, economics, liberal studies, park and recreation management, political science, and public administration to a total of at least 36 credit hours

Community Planning Non-Thesis Emphasis - The Community Planning non-thesis emphasis is for student who want to pursue a career in understanding and shaping the human built environment and communities in which we live, including cities, town, neighborhoods, and rural places. The non-thesis option requires a professional applied paper that is overseen by the student's practicum committee. This emphasis area is generally not intended for practicing professional planners.  Specific requirements are:

• the community planning core (11 hours): GGR 681, 687, PL 501 and 531
• 7 hours of public planning electives, such as PL 506, 532, 599, 685, 697 and 698 (planning courses may be substituted depending on prior professional work experience in planning) 
• 3 hours of human geography graduate seminar electives, such as GGR 546, 574, 576 and 642 - 6 hours of PL 608 (internship; may be substituted by coursework depending on professional work experience) 
• 6 hours of PL 689 - Professional Practicum 
• additional hours of electives from public planning, geography, applied indigenous studies, economics, liberal studies, park and recreation management, political science, and public administration to a total of at least 36 credit hours

NAU Rural Geography Program Introduction, Applications & Course Descriptions

NAU Graduate Certificate Program in GIS

Graduate Courses in Rural Geography and GIS

Links for Current Grad Students