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Program
Requirements
Geography,
MA
(Concentration: Thesis)
Campus
Location:
Main Campus
Full-time/Part-time
Status
Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m.
General
Program Requirements:
Number of Didactic credits
required beyond the Baccalaureate:
36
Required Courses:
GUS 406, Geographic Methodology; and GUS 482, Field Methods in Geography.
Two Practical Skills courses in Geography taken from the following: GUS 462, 465, 467, or 468, or other Skills course approved by Graduate Chair;
5 elective courses;
a basic statistics course (if statistics has not been taken as an undergraduate);
6 credits of Thesis research.
Internship:
False
Language Examination:
False
Culminating
Events:
Culminating Exam
Comprehensive Exam Description - The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate a
breadth and depth of knowledge in the concepts of geography. The examination evaluates the student's ability to utilize, integrate, and apply geographic principles.Comprehensive Exam Subject - The examination may be composed of two parts: written and oral. The written examination is normally tailored to the coursework and research of the individual student. The written exam requires answers to three questions selected from a choice of six.Comprehensive Exam Complete - The Comprehensive Examination is generally administered during the beginning of the second semester of the second year.
Comprehensive Exam Write - The graduate secretary makes copies of the written answers available to the committee members who grade them Pass or Fail. Within one week, the committee chair polls committee members and
passes the results on to the graduate secretary and the student.
The oral exam is generally a follow-up to the written answers. Not all students are required to sit for an oral exam.
Comprehensive Exam Grade - The examination members look for: (a) an understanding of core concepts, (b) the application of principles, and (c) an ability to write a coherent and well-constructed essay.
Comprehensive Exam Pass - A student must satisfy all three examiners to pass the MA Exam requirement.
Comprehensive Exam Schedule - The student is given a specific time to take the examination home. Usually, the student takes the exam home on a Friday and submits it on the following Monday. The exam normally asks the student to write on three questions selected from a list of six - one from each pair of questions.Thesis
Thesis 1 - The Master's thesis is an original empirical study that demonstrates the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest. The thesis topic should be rigorously investigated under the direct supervision of a thesis advisor selected by the student.
A graduate student who elects to write a thesis should choose a topic as soon as possible in the first year of study. After consultation with the department graduate advisor, the student should select a thesis advisor from the department faculty. The student and his/her advisor may select a thesis committee. The
committee should consist of the faculty advisor as Chair and two other faculty members.
The thesis must meet the requirements stipulated by the Graduate School of Temple University. Thesis requirements can be downloaded at www.temple.edu/grad/handbook.html. Deadlines for submission of the completed thesis are November 1 for the fall semester and March 1 for the spring.
Thesis 2 - A student preparing to defend a thesis should confirm a time and date with the Master's Committee.Thesis 3 - The Thesis Advisor and Committee will evaluate the student's ability to express his or her research question, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications.
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