Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning

Admission Requirements

The Department's Graduate Admissions Committee requests the following materials from each applicant:

1. An application for admission to the Graduate School;
2. Official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher education;
3. Graduate Record Examination scores;
4. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the candidate's academic abilities and professional potential sent to the MS Program Director.
5. Separate application to the MS Program Director for a graduate assistantship, if desired.  The application for graduate assistantship is available at the Graduate College website.

Since no specific undergraduate major is required, some students may be admitted on a conditional basis if they lack sufficient academic experience to take the required core courses.  In these cases, specific undergraduate courses may be required before full admission is granted.  Undergraduates interested in this program are encouraged to include courses in cartography, aerial photography interpretation, statistics, chemistry, biology and environmental science.  Calculus and physics may be required for studies in some areas of geology.

Advisement

1. Each student should consult with the department's general graduate advisor before registering for the first semester of classes.
2. Each student is also encouraged to identify a general thesis topic as soon as possible.  This will permit the selection of an appropriate faculty advisor who, in consultation with the student, will help to identify a second member of the student's advisory committee.  The third member of this committee will be assigned by the department.
3. Once the membership of the advisory committee has been established, the student should rely upon its members, but especially the chairperson, for assistance in the selection of his/her elective courses, and for advice and direction in the thesis research.
4. Until such time as the advisory committee has been formed, the student should continue to consult with the department's graduate advisor.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 33 hrs with thesis; a minimum of 36 hours for the non-thesis option

1. Required Geospatial Sciences Core (Total 15 hours)
   
   

   Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
   GEO 700	Introduction to Graduate Study in Geospatial Sciences	3 hrs
   GEO 701	Research Methods in Geospatial Sciences	3 hrs
   GEO 651	Remote Sensing	3 hrs
   GEO 661	Intermediate Geographic Information Science	3 hrs
   	One of the following:	3 hrs
   GEO 666	Advanced Geographic Information Science
   GEO 668	Thematic Cartography
   GEO 672	Introduction to Photogrammetry and LiDAR Technology
   GEO 673	Geographic Information Science Programming
   GEO 678	Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing

   
   Students who do not have adequate background in statistical analysis from their undergraduate course work are strongly encouraged to take at least one of the following (3 hours):
   
   MTH 645 Applied Statistics
   
   MTH 646 Analysis of Variance and Design of Experiments
   
   MTH 647 Applied Regression Analysis
   
   MTH 648 Applied Time Series Analysis
2. Research Requirement (complete one).
   1. Thesis Option.  A student can take up to 3 hours of GRY 779 or GLG 779 plus up to 6 hours of GRY 799 or GLG 799.  Successful completion of a thesis and thesis defense is required. 
   2. Non-Thesis Option.  Students choosing the non-thesis option must complete 3 hours of GRY 779 or GLG 779 plus 3 hours of GEO 780.  Successful completion of a research project and scholarly report is required.  The results of the research project must be presented orally at a departmental seminar or at a professional meeting and the student’s advisor and the departmental Graduate Program Director must approve the written report on the research project.  Students in the non-thesis option are not allowed to count thesis hours toward the 36 hour degree requirement.
3. Additional Course Requirements.   Students in the thesis option must complete an additional 18 hours of graduate course work beyond the required 15-hour core.  Students choosing to complete a thesis may count up to 3 credit hours of GRY 779 or GLG 779 and up to 6 credit hours of GRY 799 or GLG 799 toward this 18 hour requirement.  Students in the non-thesis option must complete an additional 21 hours of graduate course work beyond the required 15 hour core.  Students choosing the non-thesis option may count 3 credit hours of GRY 779 or GLG 779 and 3 credit hours of GEO 780 toward this 21 hour requirement.  Students in the thesis option must complete at least 17 credit hours of course work at the 700 level; students in the non-thesis option must complete at least 18 credit hours of course work at the 700 level.  Students must complete a program of study worksheet by the end of their first academic semester.  Before enrolling in the 12th hour of graduate credit, the student, an academic advisor, and the Graduate Program Director must agree upon and sign an Advisor Approved Program of Study.
   
   Students whose undergraduate background does not include the prerequisite material for GEO 651 and/or GEO 561 are required to take Introduction to Geographic Information Science for GRY 697 credit.  This credit does not count toward the additional 18 hours of graduate course work required for the thesis option or toward the additional 21 hours of graduate course work required for the non-thesis option.
4. Comprehensive Examination.  A written comprehensive examination must be taken before the end of the third semester of full-time enrollment in the program.  Students will be provided reading lists and/or study guides specific to their individual program of study.  For students in the thesis option, the examination questions will be provided by the student's advisor and at least two other members of the student's thesis committee; for students in the non-thesis option, the examination questions will be provided by the student's advisor and two other members of the faculty selected by the departmental Graduate Director.  A student may repeat the examination, or section of the examination, upon recommendation of the Graduate Program Director and approval of the Department Head.  Students who have not passed the comprehensive examination upon completion of three academic semesters of full-time study will not be permitted to continue in the program.  If a student opts to change tracks after completing the comprehensive examination, the student must take and pass the examination specific to the new selected track before a degree will be awarded.
   
   The faculty members writing the examination questions shall determine what constitutes a passing mark for the exam.
5. Research Concentrations.  The Department of Geography, Geology and Planning has identified three areas of research concentration for prospective students.  Students are strongly encouraged to select a research topic in one of these concentration areas.

Physical Geography

Students interested in physical geography can select a research topic in fluvial geomorphology, water quality and watershed management, or climatology. Students should integrate geospatial science with physical geography when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project. Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses:

• GRY 625 Environmental Hazards
• GRY 635 Global Climate and Weather Cycles
• GRY 645 Global Environmental Change
• GRY 650 Fluvial Geomorphology
• GRY 731 Environmental Assessment
• GRY 751 Topics in Advanced Physical Geography
• GEO 770 Advanced Field and Laboratory Methods

Human Geography and/or Planning

Students interested in human geography and/or planning can select a research topic in land use assessment, urban design, community and regional planning, neighborhood planning, transportation planning, or tourism planning and development. Students should integrate geospatial science with human geography and/or planning when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project. Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses:

• GRY 610 Applications in Sustainable Geotourism
• GRY 625 Environmental Hazards
• GRY 645 Global Environmental Change
• GRY 731 Environmental Assessment
• PLN 605 Social Planning
• PLN 670 Planning Law
• PLN 671 Land Use Planning
• PLN 673 Urban Design and Preservation
• PLN 674 Open Space Planning

Geology

Students interested in geology can select a research topic in environmental geochemistry, geohydrology, karst systems, stratigraphy, or geophysics. Students should integrate geospatial science with geology when doing either a thesis or non-thesis research project. Students selecting this concentration would normally take at least two of the following courses.

• GLG 670 Principles of Stratigraphy
• GLG 672 Geohydrology
• GLG 673 Engineering Geology
• GLG 680 Geochemistry
• GLG 681 Geochemical Techniques
• GLG 690 Applied Geophysics

Students interested in research topics outside of these three concentrations should consult with the Graduate Program Director and a possible advisor before beginning the program.

Accelerated Master's Degree Option

Eligible Missouri State University undergraduate majors in Geography, Geospatial Sciences, Geology, and Planning may apply for early admission to the Master of Science in Geospatial Sciences.  Once accepted for early admission, students will be able to take up to 12 credit hours that apply to both their undergraduate and graduate program.  This option allows students with advanced course work in Geography, Geospatial Sciences, Geology, or Planning to complete a masters degree in three full semesters and one summer semester.  Students can choose from GEO 651, GEO 666, GEO 668, GLG 690, GLG 672, GLG 673, GLG 680.  Contact the Department of Geography, Geology and Planning for further information and guidelines.

Before enrolling in courses to be counted for both undergraduate and graduate credit, an undergraduate student must be accepted into the accelerated masters program AND receive prior approval from the Graduate Program Director, Department Head of the undergraduate program and the Graduate College Dean (on a Mixed Credit Form).  Acceptance to the program and all approvals must be completed prior to the end of change of schedule period for the course(s).  See the Graduate College for further information.

Admission Requirements 

1. Junior standing, majoring in Geography, Geospatial Sciences, Geology or Planning with an overall GPA of 3.25 or better.
2. Majors in Geology must have completed GLG 333 and have a GPA of 3.25 in all Geology courses.  Majors in Geography and Geospatial Sciences must have completed GEO 561 and have a GPA of 3.25 in all geography and geospatial sciences courses.
3. Acceptance of applicant by a graduate faculty member who agrees to serve as the student’s graduate research advisor.
4. Acceptance of applicant by the graduate faculty in Geography, Geology and Planning under the accelerated master’s option.

Curriculum  (12 hours total) 

It is anticipated that a student will typically complete two courses from those offered by MS&T and two courses from those offered by Missouri State.  Courses will be offered both at off-campus locations (such as at a USGS or NGA facility) and at the respective campuses.  Some courses will be available as on-line distance offerings in the future.  Each university has appointed a program technical coordinator who will serve as primary academic advisor and liaison for student in the program.  Courses should be selected in consultation with and approved by these program coordinators to insure proper prerequisites are satisfied and that duplication is avoided.  A summary of courses tentatively planned to be offered is listed below. 

MS&T courses:

• GE 315 Statistical Methods in Environmental Geology and Engineering
• GE 342 Military Geology
• GE 344 Remote Sensing Technology
• GE 346 Applications of Geographic Information Systems
• GE 446 Advanced Remote Sensing and Image Processing

Missouri State courses:

• GEO 651 Remote Sensing
• GEO 661 Intermediate Geographic Information Science
• GEO 662 Internet Geospatial Science
• GEO 666 Advanced Geographic Information Sciences
• GEO 673 Geographic Information Science Programming
• GEO 678 Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing

Other courses approved by the MS&T and Missouri State faculty may be substituted for any of the above listed courses on a case-by-case basis.  The certificate program technical coordinators must approve the substitution prior to enrolling in any course.

Admission Criteria 

The Geospatial Information Sciences Certificate program is open to all persons holding a B.S., B.A., M.S., or Ph.D. degree.  Students must, of course, satisfy all prerequisites for any courses they take in the program; or they must obtain instructor approval to waive any prerequisites.  Once admitted to the program, the student must take a minimum of four courses as designated and approved by the program director and must have an average cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better to receive the certificate.

Students who complete the four-course requirements for the certificate with a grade of B or better in each course may be admitted directly to the respective M.S. program in each institution if they so choose.  This admission does not waive the necessity for students to take required prerequisites for other required courses that are part of the M.S. program.  The certificate credits taken will count toward the requirement for their M.S. degree.