Applied Geography

Opportunities for graduate studies

Applied geography distinguishes itself from other forms of geographic inquiry through the use of the scientific method and the emphasis on spatial and environmental problem solving. Many problems facing society today have a geographical dimension.

Finding sites for industries, identifying cost-effective sites for retailing, identifying new sites for public services, identifying pollution plumes and locating acceptable sites for solid waste disposal facilities are examples of applied geographical problems. Understanding and resolving these types of problems are at the core of applied geography.

The U.S. Department of Labor has identified geotechnology as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields. Recent alumni have jobs in the private and public sector doing geoprocessing, geographic information systems (GIS) development, environmental analysis, hydrogeologic analysis, remote sensing analysis, market area analysis and demographic analysis.

The Department of Geography at the University of North Texas offers course work leading to a Master of Science degree in Applied Geography and a 15-semester-hour certification program in GIS. The department also provides opportunities to take graduate-level courses without having to enroll in the degree program. Contact the department for information on this option.

Admission requirements

To enter the M.S. program, you must meet the admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the following program requirements:

• self-statement essay
• resume
• transcripts from other institutions attended
• previous research, teaching or work experience
• GRE scores
• three letters of recommendation
• any evidence related to your potential to enhance the intellectual diversity of the program, the discipline and the university

Your admission to the program is based on a holistic review of your qualifications. More detailed admission information is available at www.geog.unt.edu/grad.

Degree requirements

The M.S. degree has thesis and non-thesis options, both requiring 36 semester hours. You will take two core courses (6 semester hours), involving training in research design and advanced quantitative methods, and a 1-semester-hour graduate seminar. In consultation with your advisor/major professor, you will take an additional 24 hours (thesis option) or 30 hours (non-thesis option) from the departmental course offerings.

Course offerings are clustered around major tracks in applied geomorphology, applied GIS, environmental archaeology, urban environmental management and water resources management. You are required to complete a 6-semester-hour minor as part of each major track.

The GIS certificate program provides the conceptual understanding and technical proficiency necessary to apply GIS in various settings. Fifteen hours of course work are required to complete the certificate. More information on the GIS certification is available from your graduate advisor and at www.geog.unt.edu/grad.

Degree tracks

Applied geomorphology. Focusing on the configuration and evolution of landforms that shape the Earth's surface and their societal significance, you will study hazards such as flooding, expansive soils, landslides and coastal erosion.

Applied GIS. You will develop the foundation needed to play a vital role in planning, policy and implementation in urban geography, economic/business development, environmental science and medical geography.

Environmental archeology. Gaining a broad geographical, geological and archaeological background helps you prepare for cultural resource management positions or doctoral programs in archaeology.

Urban environmental management. In this track, you will be trained to manage the planning and implementation of both compliance and ethical strategies necessary for sustaining the urban environment.

Water resources management. You can prepare for a role in a research or regulatory agency, municipality, water supply district or environmental consulting firm by studying scientific, technical and political aspects of water resources management.

Facilities and Laboratories

The Department of Geography is in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology (EESAT) building and operates specialized laboratories for study in archaeological science, earth science, physical geology, cartography, hydrology and GIS. The department operates or is affiliated with several research centers and labs, which are housed both within the department and within the Institute of Applied Sciences, a center for interdisciplinary research.

The Center for Spatial Analysis and Mapping houses state-of-the-art hardware and software products in support of teaching and research in remote sensing, GIS, visualization, computer cartography, global positioning systems (GPS), spatial analysis, and environmental modeling.

The Center for Environmental Archaeology maintains fully equipped laboratories in archaeology, geoarchaeology and zooarchaeology. Research includes projects of Upper and Middle Paleolithic sites in Portugal and Ukraine, the 1.7 million-year-old site of Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia, environmental impacts resulting from human colonization in New Zealand, and several projects in Texas.

The Center for Remote Sensing and Landuse Analyses provides educational opportunities in computer-aided analyses of remote sensing and spatial information data. Research includes monitoring of land and water environments, developing information management systems to assist in decisions about natural resources, and ecosystem-level analyses for land management questions.

The Environmental Modeling Lab develops mathematical models and computer simulations to assess the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on environmental and ecological systems. Research includes linking environmental models to remote sensing and GIS for landscape and regional dynamics, global change effects on tropical ecosystems, and integration of modeling with optical sensors and data acquisition electronics.

Financial assistance

Several market-competitive teaching assistantships are available. Teaching assistants work in earth science, geology, GIS and archaeology laboratory classes. Research assistantships are often available through faculty research grants. Numerous internship and job opportunities are available with private industry and various local governments. For more information, visit www.unt.edu/finaid.