Mar 29, 2024  
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Applied Geography & Geospatial Science MA


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs

 ►  Graduate School Rules apply to this program 

Interim Associate Program Director: Christy Briles
Office: North Classroom, 3621A
Telephone: 303.556.4520
Fax: 303.556.6197
E-mail:  Christy.Briles@ucdenver.edu
Web site: Applied Geography & Geospatial Science MA

Faculty Affiliates

Professors:
Anne Chin, PhD, Arizona State University
Pamela Jansma, PhD, Northwestern University (CLAS Dean)

Professors Emeritus:
Wesley E. LeMasurier, PhD, Stanford University
Martin Lockley, PhD, University of Birmingham, England

Associate Professors:
Frederick B. Chambers, PhD, Arizona State University
Rafael Moreno-Sanchez, PhD, Colorado State University
Brian Page, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Deborah S. K. Thomas, PhD, University of South Carolina
Bryan S. Wee, PhD, Purdue University
John W. Wyckoff, PhD, University of Utah

Associate Professors- Clinical Teaching Track:
Rudi Hartmann, PhD, Technical University of Munich

Assistant Professors:
Casey Allen, PhD, Arizona State University
Peter Anthamatten, PhD, University of Minnesota
Christy Briles, PhD, University of Oregon
Gregory Simon, PhD, University of Washington

Senior Instructors:
Amanda Weaver, PhD, University of Denver

Instructors:
Ryan Sincavage, MS, University of Colorado

Lecturers:
Richard Ashmore
Kirsten Christensen
Tim Connors
Matthew Cross
Richard DeGrandchamp
James Fleming
Michael Hinke
Jeanne Mayne
Eric Ross
Peter Timm
James Tindall

In the United States and around the world, balancing the preservation of the natural environment with the imperatives of economic development and concomitant concerns for social well-being has led to a growing demand for broadly trained individuals who can identify and understand pressing social and environmental issues, collect and analyze relevant data, and develop and implement innovative solutions.  Graduates of the proposed M.A program in Applied Geography and Geospatial Science will have the knowledge, training, and tools to become leaders in this rapidly growing field. 

The program’s research focus is human-environment interaction, a longstanding hallmark of the discipline of Geography.  Within this area of critical geographic inquiry, the program emphasizes geospatial science, a federally recognized STEM subject area that includes geographic information systems (GIS) as well as computer cartography, remotely sensed image analysis, and spatial statistics.  Students apply their geospatial research skills in the context of hands-on, faculty-led research projects that stress professional development through community engagement and interactive service learning. 

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

The University of Colorado Denver has a minimum requirement of 2.50 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) for applicants to the graduate school.  The number of applicants admitted to the MA in Applied Geography & Geospatial Science in any year depends, in part, on space availability.  The program is competitive, and we generally discourage applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.  Notification of acceptance or refusal for admission into the program is mailed to the applicant four to six weeks after the deadline for submission of applications.

Application Process

We accept applications once per year, before or on March 1st, for admission in the following fall. As part of the admission review process, applicants are required to submit: a graduate application, statement of purpose, a minimum of three letters of recommendation (academic references are preferred), official transcripts from all institutions previously attended, and GRE scores will be required from: domestic students with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 and all international students.

Financial Aid

There are three types of financial aid available: tuition assistance; research assistantship positions funded by grants to specific program faculty; and the regular package of financial aid (primarily loans) available through the financial aid office on the Denver campus. Incoming students will be automatically considered for program-distributed tuition assistance at the time of admission to the program. Continuing students will be regularly apprised of available aid and positions. Students interested in research assistantships should consult individual faculty with whom they wish to work regarding potential assistantship positions. All other aid should be requested through the CU Denver Financial Aid Office, North Classroom, 1030, Campus Box 125, P.O. Box 173364, Denver, CO 80217-3364. Telephone: 303-556-2886.

Internships

Students in the Applied Geography & Geospatial Science MA program are strongly encouraged to contact the Experiential Learning Center for internships and paid positions related to geographical sciences. The Experiential Learning Center is located in the Tivoli Student Union, Suite 260. Telephone: 303-556-2250. Many students have had internships in federal agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Degree Requirements


The program is offered by the faculty of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  Students undertake 36 credit hours over a two-year period.  These 36 hours include required core classes (9 credit hours), a required service learning studio (6 credit hours), and required geo-spatial science coursework (12 credit hours). Students can elect to undertake either of two tracks: the first “coursework” track involves a further 9 hours of elective courses, whereas the second “thesis” track involves 6 hours of electives, and preparation of a written thesis (3 credits).

Thesis Option


33 hours of coursework + 3 thesis hours:

Non-thesis Option


36 hours of coursework:

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs