Programs

The Department of Geography offers facilities for research leading to the degrees of Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

In geography, students may undertake research in the following areas: geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, biogeography, pedology, environmental assessment and sustainable natural resource management, international development, industrial innovation, urban and economic geography, cultural and historical geography, gender studies, social geography, regional analysis, the history and philosophy of geography, remote sensing, computer cartography, spatial statistics, topics in land/geographic information systems, and quantitative analysis. The territories of special concern are Canada, the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Northwestern and Central Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and the former Soviet Union.

 

Master's Programs

MA programs are those taken in all fields of human geography. MSc programs are those taken in physical geography, spatial information systems and some areas of environmental studies.  Master’s degree programs usually take one to two calendar years to complete. Students can choose to complete a thesis or a major research paper.

Completion of the Master’s Research Thesis option requires that the student complete 1.5 FCE courses (three half-credit courses) or their equivalent, including the core course. Students are also required to complete a thesis, typically about 100 pages, which must be presented and defended at a departmental oral examination before a committee of at least two geography faculty members in addition to the supervisor(s). For MSc students, the thesis must be science-based.

Completion of the Master’s Research Paper option requires that the student complete 3.0 FCE courses (six half-credit courses) or their equivalent, including the core course. Students are also required to complete a research paper, typically about 40-50 pages, which must be presented and defended at a departmental oral examination before a committee of at least two geography faculty members in addition to the supervisor(s). For MSc students, the research paper must be science-based.

Recent theses topics can be accessed through the University's research repository, T-Space.

 

PhD Program

The PhD program is taken in the following broad fields: physical geography and natural systems, environmental geography and resource management, urban/economic geography, historical/social/cultural geography and spatial information systems. Students may also be required to acquire knowledge of a foreign language necessary to complete their research.

PhD students work closely with a faculty supervisor, who is selected by the student in consultation with the Department’s Graduate Coordinator at the time of admission. The student and the faculty supervisor then select a committee of faculty members with related research interests. Their function is to act as the core committee, which evaluates the research statement, the doctoral exam, the research proposal and the dissertation. The committee’s composition must be approved by the Department’s Graduate Coordinator before the committee holds its first meeting. Subsequent changes in committee membership must be similarly approved.

PhD degrees are expected to be completed within four years of initial registration. The School of Graduate Studies requires that the thesis be submitted within six years of initial registration in the program.

Completion of the PhD program requires students to complete coursework (described below), a PhD comprehensive exam, a research proposal and a final dissertation..

PhD Coursework

All students in the PhD program must take a minimum of 2.0 FCE courses (four half-credit courses) and, depending on their field of specialization, up to and an additional 1.0 FCE courses (two half-credit courses). A minimum of four half-credit courses must be completed at the end of the first year. PhD students who enter the program from a bachelor's degree must complete an additional 1.5 FCE (three half-credit courses) in addition to the normal coursework requirements.Specific requirements for the different fields of geography are described below.

  • Physical Geography and Natural Systems: 2.0 FCE courses (four half-credit courses), one half-credit of which must be the core course (GGR1200H). At least one half-credit course must be taken in other departments.
  • Environmental Geography and Resource Management: 3.0 FCE courses (six half-credit courses), one half-credit of which must be the core course (GGR1110H). At least one half-credit course must be and as many as three half-credit courses may be in other departments.
  • Urban/Economic Geography: 3.0 FCE courses (six half-credit courses), one half-credit of which must be the core course (GGR1110H). At least one half-credit course must be and as many as three half-credit courses may be in other departments.
  • Historical/Social/Cultural Geography: 3.0 FCE courses (six half-credit courses), one half-credit of which must be the core course (GGR1110H). At least one half-credit course must be and as many as three half-credit courses may be in other departments.
  • Spatial Information Systems: 2.0 FCE courses (four half-credit courses), one half-credit of which must be the core course (GGR1200H). At least one half-credit course must be taken in other departments. 

Recent theses topics can be accessed through the University's research repository, T-Space.

 

Collaborative Programs

In addition to degree programs, the department is a participating member of several collaborative programs. These innovative programs emerge from cooperation between several graduate units, providing students with a broader base from which to explore a novel interdisciplinary area or a special development in a particular discipline, to complement their degree studies. 

Collaborative programs provide a structured program of study, including appropriate graduate supervision, courses, and seminars. Program requirements are completed in addition to the regular degree requirements of the geography graduate program. Students may indicate their interest in admission to a Collaborative program on their application for graduate studies, however most collaborative programs require that students submit a separate application and may have additional admission requirements. Please consult the Collaborative program’s website for admission requirements. 

All degree requirements of both the degree program and the Collaborative program must be completed. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for detailed program completion requirements. When the requirements of a Collaborative program have been completed, a notation will be added to the student’s transcript.