Geography, M.A.

(Major Code: 22061) (SIMS Code: 112901)

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

Admission application deadlines for the upcoming fall semester are given at https://geography.sdsu.edu/Study/Masters/m_apply.html.

Satisfaction of the minimum requirements of San Diego State University and of the Department of Geography does not guarantee admission to the master’s program. Department requirements are normally a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 semester units taken as an undergraduate and a satisfactory combined score (minimum 300, old test: 1000) on the verbal and quantitative section of the GRE. International applicants taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must have a score of 213 (Computer-Based Test), 79 (Interne-Based Test), or 550 (Paper-Based Test) or above.

Candidates whose preparation is considered insufficient by the master’s advising committee will be required to complete specified courses in addition to the minimum 30 units required for the degree.

We notify applicants of recommendation on admission to the master’s program after application files in Enrollment Services and in the Department of Geography are complete. Enrollment Services will notify applicants of admission to the College of Graduate Studies.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for candidacy, as stated in Requirements for Master’s Degrees . All students are required to complete a master’s thesis under the supervision of a faculty member.

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the basic requirements for the master’s degree as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete a graduate program of at least 30 units of upper division and graduate courses selected with the approval of the master’s advising committee. The department requires students to complete all degree requirements within six years of the semester that they entered the M.A. program.

The requirements for students electing the Master of Arts degree program are as follows:

1. A minimum of 30 units of courses numbered 500 or above as approved by the geography department master’s advising committee. At least 24 of these units must be from the geography department.
2. A minimum of 18 of the 30 units of coursework must be 600- or 700-level courses.
3. GEOG 700  and GEOG 701 , normally taken during the first two semesters.
4. Completion of GEOG 799A  (Thesis).