Department of Geography

Main Departmental Office 
General Academic Building, 435 
P.O. Box 5277
Denton, TX 76203-0277 
(817) 565-2091

F. Andrew Schoolmaster, Chair

Graduate Faculty: Acevedo, Ferring, Fitzgerald, Hudak, Lyons, McGregor,
Oppong, Schoolmaster, Williams.

     The Department of Geography does not offer a major in the discipline at
the graduate level. However, the Department of Geography, in
conjunction with the Department of Public Administration, offers
graduate specialization in urban and regional planning, a track of the
Master of Public Administration degree. For a more complete description
of the MPA degree, see the listing under the Department of Public
Administration in this catalog.

     Students anticipating a career in regional science and planning should
consider the Master of Science in interdisciplinary studies degree.
Further information about this degree and other cooperative degree
programs can be found under the "Master of Interdisciplinary Studies"
heading in the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies section of this
catalog.

Research

     Faculty in the Department of Geography are engaged in research on
medical geography, geohydrology and ground water, locational conflicts,
urban/economic geography, climatic change, geoarchaeology and water
resources management. Other research interests include spatial modeling
and spatial/environmental aspects of recreation. Livestock ranching,
microclimatology, cultural resources management and natural hazard
assessment are the subjects of additional studies. Research on
environmental impacts resulting from depletion of ground and surface
waters, as well as on earth surface processes with a focus upon
excessive erosion, also is conducted in the department.

     Recent support for research includes grants from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, the Texas Natural Resources Information Service and the
Texas Air Quality Control Board.

     Field research has been carried out recently in the Great Plains, the
Rocky Mountains, Texas, the Midwest, the Southwest and the South. The
department also cooperates with the Institute of Applied Sciences in
the operation of the Center for Remote Sensing and Land Use Analyses
and the Center for Environmental Archaeology. Both facilities are used
for instruction, research and service.

     The Center for Spatial Analysis and Mapping (CSAM) is a new facility
providing instructional and research support in the areas of geographic
information systems (GIS), computer cartography, spatial analysis and
environmental modeling. The facility serves undergraduate and graduate
students majoring in geography and in environmental science.

     CSAM is housed in GAB 440, a newly renovated classroom complete with
state-of-the-art computer equipment. Beyond its immediate instructional
and research mission, CSAM is envisioned as the facility to provide GIS
support for institutional planning and facilities management at UNT.

Admission Requirements

     Applicants for the urban and regional planning track toward the MPA
degree must submit scores on the aptitude test of the Graduate Record
Examination. Admission to the program requires the completion of a
minimum of 6 undergraduate hours in geography and 12 undergraduate
hours in political science.

     Departmental forms for applying for laboratory assistantships and
information concerning evaluation of undergraduate credit in geography
may be obtained from the chair of the Department of Geography.

Degree Programs

     Though no degree program is available in geography, the department does
offer the following:

Urban and Regional Planning Track

     The urban and regional planning track consists of a total of 36 hours
of graduate work, including 15 hours in geography and 21 hours in
public administration. The requirements are as follows:

1. GEOG 5100, 5210; PADM 5300, 5510 and 5800-5810.

2. 9 hours to be selected from GEOG 4120, 4310, 4410, 4420, 4500, 5150,
5170, 5500 and 5600.

3. 9 hours to be selected from PADM 5020, 5060, 5400, 5500, 5550 and
5700.

     The student also is required to pass an oral comprehensive examination
over the graduate work.

Land and Water Resources Assessment and Management Track

     Students interested in land and water resources assessment and
management should consider the Master of Science in environmental
science. The course of study consists of a core of 36 hours offered by
the departments of biological sciences and geography. See the Toulouse
School of Graduate Studies section of this catalog for further
information about the interdisciplinary studies program.

Courses of Instruction

     All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of
this catalog.