Geography Department: Overview of Programs

Geographers have an intense curiosity about the world. They ask questions and investigate the "why" and "where" of various social, economic, and environmental phenomena. They contribute to the development of public policy and influence the way society views itself and the world. Not bound by one particular discipline, Geography touches almost every aspect of our lives. From studying the effects of natural and man-made disasters, to using 911 calls to investigate what factors lead to increased crime, to studying international trade practices and policy, geographers use the physical sciences, social sciences, computational sciences, and humanities to analyze and characterize both human and physical phenomena. Geography is a high-technology field that uses large amounts of data, primarily from fieldwork, research, surveys, and databases, to understand spatial relationships and how they affect social and environmental issues.

In recent years, many employers have begun to realize that education in geography establishes a solid record for real-world problem solving. Because so many of these problems have a geographic dimension to them, training in Geography provides the necessary and applicable knowledge. Consequently, obtaining university-level training in Geography has become a significant enhancement, even a requirement, for numerous jobs. Many of these careers are not directly associated with geographic training because they are not frequently designated as geography-specific positions.

Distinguished Faculty

A principal attraction of the department is our distinguished faculty. Our faculty are integrally involved in graduate training, both in the classroom and through daily interaction with graduate students. Students work closely with faculty on research projects, which are frequently presented at national conferences and published in leading journals. Our Friday afternoon colloquia for guest speakers enhance graduate training and provide additional opportunities for faculty-student interaction.

Stories of world hunger, environmental quality, hazardous-waste disposal, crime, urban housing, water management, transportation problems are found in the news each and every day. What is unique is that each of them has a geographic dimension, and who is better equipped to deal with these issues of Geography than geographers who are broadly trained in a variety of relevant matters?

The job market for geographers has grown tremendously in recent years. Opportunities are many and diverse. For example, students have found employment in urban and regional planning offices, with various agencies of the federal government and other levels of government from the United Nations to local municipalities as cartographers, statisticians, information systems specialists, international trade and location specialists, intelligence analysts, map curators, soil conservation officers, and transportation planners, among others. Jobs also exist with location consulting firms, manufacturing and service companies, computer software and geographic information systems (GIS) companies, and within the travel industry too. Opportunities within teaching are also tremendous at all levels of the educational system.

Internationally Renowned Research Centers

Faculty research is organized into two research centers --the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis (NCGIA) and the Canada-United States Trade Center (CUSTAC). NCGIA, set up with funding from the National Science Foundation, is nationally and internationally known for cutting-edge research in GIS and GI Science. Both centers provide phenomenal interdisciplinary research opportunities for our graduate students.

The graduate programs in Geography at UB attract a wide variety of students from the United States and many other countries. More than half have undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than Geography. Our students range in background from recent undergraduates to established professionals. Many are attracted by the field's high employment rates and excellent career opportunities. Some have encountered Geography in their current profession and want to combine Geography with expertise in another area to enhance their marketability or move into a related field, while others want to investigate a particular issue of concern and have discovered that geography will provide them with the skills they need.

The University at Buffalo Department of Geography offers excellent opportunities for students interested in advanced study. Our department is consistently ranked among the best in the country. We have a distinguished faculty that is strongly committed to working closely with graduate students. Our world-class facilities support faculty and student research in a wide variety of areas. And our graduate programs foster interdisciplinary study and incorporate research opportunities and internships for a comprehensive educational background.

We like to rate our success as a department by the success of our students: Most of our graduate students have multiple job offers before they have completed their program, and our overall employment rate is nearly 100 percent. Our alumni occupy strategic positions across Western New York, the United States, and the world. They work in regional planning offices, marketing agencies, export departments of manufacturing companies, various agencies of the federal government (such as the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce), the United Nations, computer software companies, research and consulting firms, and academic departments at universities in the United States and abroad.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Geography offers programs leading to M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in four primary areas of academic concentration: urban and regional analysis, international business and world trade, geographic information systems (GIS) and cartography, and physical geography and environmental systems. In addition, several special masters programs are being offered to meet the specific aspirations of students and the ever-changing demands of the job market.

Students may pursue advanced study in either one area of concentration or a combination of concentrations, depending on their individual interests and career goals. Internships and faculty-directed research are integrally woven into our master's programs to provide students with hands-on experience and give students an opportunity to apply the concepts and theories they are learning in classes and labs. Our doctoral students acquire teaching experience, which gives them an important edge when seeking teaching jobs and makes it easier to begin a faculty career. Masters and doctoral students enter in close mentoring relationships with their academic advisor and have numerous opportunities for interaction with other students and for collaborative research with faculty members.

The complementary interests of faculty members within each concentration provide a stimulating atmosphere for advanced study and research. Although our programs are rather quantitatively oriented, they do not assume prior advanced experience in mathematics or statistics. Students are welcome to satisfy any identified deficiencies in these areas during their graduate tenure at UB, and must realize this may extend the time to completion of their degree.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Our department is committed to providing an intellectually challenging environment that is equipped to support that challenge. Students have access to excellent computer facilities housed in the department's Geographic Information and Analysis Laboratory (GIAL) and well-equipped physical geography laboratories and field equipment for research in biogeography, soils, and geomorphology.In addition to departmental resources, our graduate students benefit from the resources available within the larger University at Buffalo community. The university's many research centers and extensive library collections and online databases support both faculty and student research on any level and in virtually any area. Ranked as one of the most wired universities in the nation, the University at Buffalo's computer facilities, including its new Center for Computational Research --one of the top supercomputing locations in the country--augment the department's facilities and provide additional technical support to our graduate students.

Master of Arts

The M.A. program, which is the terminal degree in geography for many career choices, is primarily designed to prepare students for employment in government, business, and education. The career-oriented M.A. program provides the opportunity for students to gain a strong background in both the theoretical and applied aspects of geography, with special emphasis on geographical applications to current societal problems. The program also provides a firm theoretical and methodological foundation for those who wish to continue in a doctoral program.

Depending of the area of specialization chosen, students complete a minimum of 30 to 39 credit hours and either a research project (thesis) or a competency portfolio. Throughout their studies, students work closely with two faculty members who provide guidance and supervision. The program typically requires one to two years of full-time study, although students can pursue the degree on a part-time basis. Admission to the program is open to students who hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

Several areas of academic concentration are available in the Geography M.A. program, reflecting expertise available in the Department and the demands of the job market. A student may either choose one area of concentration or design a more individual program in consultation with his/her advisor.

Concentrations requiring the completion of a competency portfolio are:

Concentrations requiring the completion of a research project (thesis) are:

Doctor of Philosophy

The doctoral program, which is primarily intended for those interested in careers in research and academia, provides in-depth research and technical training. The University at Buffalo is the only institution in the State University of New York system awarding Ph.D. degrees in Geography.

The minimum residence requirement for the Ph.D. is one year (24 credit hours). This includes two semesters of continuous full-time residence taken under the auspices of this institution and not already applied to the residence requirement for the Master's degree. Credits earned in fulfilling the M.A. requirements in this Department may be applied toward the Ph.D. requirements. In many cases, graduate hours earned at other institutions may also be applied toward the Ph.D. requirements. Approval of such transfer credits will be granted only after the student's preliminary program has been outlined and approved by the student's advisor. Also, a minimum of twelve hours of coursework must be taken in fields other than geography. The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 72 credits of coursework and completion of a doctoral dissertation.

Ph.D. students are required to complete a diagnostic examination near the end of their first year of doctoral work, take a preliminary examination after completion of formal coursework, and prepare and defend a dissertation.

Interdisciplinary Study

Our graduate curricula encourage interdisciplinary study. We constantly review our programs and develop courses with an interdisciplinary focus as the field of geography develops and changes. We work closely with many academic and professional units, including the School of Management, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Architecture and Planning, and various academic departments, including biology, sociology, economics, political science, computer science, geology, social and preventive medicine, and anthropology. We also have established relationships --through joint research interests, affiliated faculty, and student interests-- with the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy, the Asian Studies Program, the Center for Cognitive Science, the Center for Computational Research, the Center for Applied Public Affairs, and the Great Lakes Program.

Admission to the doctoral program generally requires an M.A. in geography or a cognate field of study. However, the department will consider outstanding students holding only a Bachelor's degree for admission directly to the doctoral program.

Students work closely with their major professor and two other members of their supervisory committee to design a program that meet their individual and career goals. Program design for the Ph.D. depends very largely on the individual student's interest, and will be structured by the student and his/her advisor. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential advisors on the faculty and confirm the basis for a program of mutual interest.

Graduate course offerings fall loosely into the four areas of concentration listed below:

Department of Geography, 105 Wilkeson Quad, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14261 Phone: (716) 645-2722