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2015-2016 CSU East Bay Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Geography, M.A.
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 Return to: Programs of Study
Program Description
Graduate study is offered leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Geography, with a broad range of potential specialties: cartography, environmental resource management, economic geography, regional planning, historical geography, geographic information systems (G.I.S.), physical geography, regional geography, and sustainable development. The seminars focus on intensive, directed readings interspersed with discussions of the content, principles, methods, and techniques of the selected topic or theme. The intent is to develop a subject to its research frontiers emphasizing an awareness of problems and their significance for the discipline. Seminars are accompanied or followed by directed research yielding oral and written reports. Their purpose is to expand beyond the recognition of problems to the guided investigation of a topic or theme. The seminars are supplemented by independent study and ultimately by research culminating in a University Thesis or a Departmental Thesis or a Project that allows and motivates the student to advance further in a chosen specialty. The candidate is responsible for the fulfillment of the specific requirements of the department stated below.
In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation which are described in the Graduate Degree Information chapter of this catalog. These requirements include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five-year rule on the currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 GPA, and the University Writing Skills requirement.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an M.A. in Geography from Cal State East Bay will be able to:
- demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills;
- independently formulate and conduct thorough and insightful research using a range of literary tools, computer skills, and/or field methods;
- demonstrate advanced research skills leading to the completion of one or more mentored research projects or a research thesis;
- exhibit their substantial expertise concerning a particular geographic problem, process and/or region.
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“Conditionally Classified Graduate” Status
Admission to this university in some category of post-baccalaureate status is the prerequisite for entry into the graduate program. Graduate courses in Geography are open to students who have completed the prerequisites and/or obtained the consent of the instructor. Credit may be given for equivalent courses taken at other accredited institutions; undergraduate deficiencies may be corrected while the student is in “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status.
A student must complete the following requirements to be admitted to the program with “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status:
- File the CSU “Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Application,” which is available from CSUMentor. The student should also submit two copies each of transcripts from all universities or colleges attended. Students should contact department office to learn of additional support materials required for admission into the M.A. degree program in Geography.
- Have a 3.0 or higher GPA in all undergraduate work; and have a 3.3 or higher GPA in all upper division and graduate work in Geography prior to request for entry into the program.
Note: If a student has earned less than a 3.0 grade point average in all undergraduate work, or if (s)he has less than a 3.3 grade point average in upper division and graduate courses in Geography, (s)he must continue coursework in “Unclassified Post-baccalaureate” status until (s)he has removed the deficiencies and demonstrated his/her ability to meet the requirements of the graduate program.
- The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test is not required, but students are strongly encouraged to take this test and submit their scores to the Geography Department prior to application for admission to the M.A. degree program in Geography.
“Classified Graduate” Status
A student must complete the following requirements to be admitted to the program with “Classified Graduate” status:
1. Complete the following undergraduate courses
Complete the following undergraduate courses or their equivalents, or demonstrate a competency by examination in:
Note:
Up to 10 units of undergraduate courses may be taken as electives applicable toward the 45 units for the M.A. degree.
2. File an intended program of study with the departmental Graduate Advisor
3. Complete the upper division course prerequisites
Complete the upper division course prerequisites for the seminars in the intended program of studies
4. Complete at least 12 quarter units
Complete at least 12 quarter units considered applicable by the department toward the M.A. degree requirements, including at least 3 quarter units of graduate-level (6000 series) work in residence at this university
5. Be recommended for “Classified Graduate” status by the department; and
6. Fulfill the University Writing Skills Requirement.
Maintenance of “Classified Graduate” Status
To maintain “Classified Graduate” status a student must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA on all work taken in the approved program of study, whether at Cal State East Bay or at any other college or university. Only courses with grades of “C” and higher are acceptable for courses applicable to degree requirements in Geography.
If a candidate’s GPA drops below 3.0, the department will notify the Graduate Dean to place the student in “Conditionally Classified Graduate” status and the university will place the student on Academic Probation until (s)he has remedied his or her deficiencies and has been recommended by the department for return to “Classified Graduate” status. Failure by a student to return to “Classified Graduate” status in two additional quarters of study (or following completion of 15 additional quarter units) shall result in his or her being academically disqualified from the departmental program.
Advancement to Candidacy
Admission to “Classified Graduate” status does not imply that a student will be Advanced to Candidacy for the M.A. degree. A student with “Classified Graduate” status will be Advanced to Candidacy for the M.A. degree when (s)he has satisfied the following requirements:
- Demonstrated proficiency in either a modern foreign language, or in statistical methods as they apply to geography, or in mathematics.
- Languages which are acceptable without special arrangements are Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Any other modern foreign language may be substituted, provided the thesis advisor, the student, and the graduate advisor agree that the language is an integral part of the projected program of study for the M.A. degree.
“Proficiency” in a foreign language means the completion (with a grade point average of 2.5 or better) of two years of college-level instruction in the language or demonstrating, by written examination, a reading competency at this level.
- Statistical methods may be used to satisfy this requirement provided the thesis advisor, the student, and the graduate advisor agree that such methods form an integral part of the projected program of study for the M.A. degree.
“Proficiency” in statistical methods is defined as satisfactory completion of the equivalent of: STAT 1000 - Elements of Probability and Statistics and STAT 3010 - Statistical Methods in the Social Sciences , plus one 4000-level statistics course (STAT 4601 recommended). The student will also be required to demonstrate by examination the ability to solve a geographic problem using the computer.
- Mathematics may be used to satisfy this requirement provided the thesis advisor, the student, and the graduate advisor agree. “Proficiency” in mathematics is defined as satisfactory completion of the equivalent of Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (MATH 1300 ); Calculus I, II, III (MATH 1304 , MATH 1305 , MATH 2304 ); and either Linear Algebra (MATH 2101 ) or one other upper division mathematics course, except MATH 4021, 4022, 4023.
- Declared an intention to complete either a thesis or a project.
- Been recommended for Advancement to Candidacy by the department.
Degree Requirements
To be eligible for the M.A. degree in Geography a student must:
1. have been Advanced to Candidacy
2. have completed 45 quarter units of graduate work of which:
a. all must have been earned within the five years just preceding the completion of the requirements for the degree
b. not fewer than 32 units must have been completed in residence
c. not fewer than 23 units
not fewer than 23 units must have been in geography courses in the 6000 series, including the thesis or project:
d. not more than 6 units may have been for a University Thesis
not more than 6 units may have been for a University Thesis (GEOG 6910 );nor more than 5 units for a Departmental Thesis (GEOG 6909 ); nor more than 4 for a project (GEOG 6899 ); and
e. not more than 13 units
not more than 13 units may have been for extension and/or transfer course credit, as approved by the department;
3. have completed a satisfactory program of study as approved by the department, to include:
a. Seminar on Research Theory and Philosophy of Geography
b. four graduate seminars in geography (12)
c. elective courses
elective courses (graduate or upper division) in geography taken as a graduate student (12-15)
d. elective courses
elective courses (graduate or upper division) outside of geography in one or more closely related fields (8-13)
Note:
A student with a baccalaureate degree in a closely related field may take these elective courses in geography.
e. a University Thesis or Departmental Thesis or Project (4-6)
4. have obtained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in
- all post-baccalaureate units undertaken;
- all 45 units offered as satisfying the requirements of the M.A. degree program
5. have been recommended for the M.A. degree in Geography by the department.
6. have satisfied the University Writing Skills requirement
have satisfied the University Writing Skills requirement. For information on meeting the University Writing Skills Requirement, see the Testing Office website at www.csueastbay.edu/testing or call 510.885.3661.
Upper Division Courses Acceptable for the Master’s Degree
All upper division Geography courses are acceptable for the M.A. degree program.
Other Degree Requirements
In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation which are described in the Graduate Degree Information chapter in this catalog. These include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five year rule on currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 grade point average, and the University Writing Skills requirement.
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Return to: Programs of Study
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