Geography, MS

The mission of the geography graduate program is to provide quality graduate education in physical geography, human geography and spatial analysis (GIS, cartography and remote sensing). The department offers a rich learning environment for students with close interaction between faculty and students, technology-enhanced instruction, and opportunities for fieldwork. Courses enhance student’s perception and appreciation of the earth’s human and physical environments as well as geography’s essential role in both understanding and navigating our increasingly interconnected world. The department, an active participant in its community, has ties throughout the city and state, leading to a wide variety of internship opportunities. The department is committed to providing students with the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed, be it in professional employment or further graduate education.

Program Related Information

Program Contact

Christina Dando, PhD, Graduate Program Chair
402.554.3134
cdando@unomaha.edu

Program Website

Fast Track Program

The Department of Geography/Geology has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to nine graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program.

Program Specifics:

• This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing a BA/BS in geography or BS in environmental science (geography & planning option) desiring to pursue an MS in geography.
• Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours.
• Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• Students must have a graduate faculty member in the department of Geography/Geology provide a short letter of support for their application to Fast Track as a faculty sponsor/mentor.
• Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form and obtain all signatures and submit to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
• Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate coursework is required to remain in good standing.
• Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
• Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. The application fee will be waived; the applicant will need to contact the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code.
  • Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program. 
  • The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.

The Department of Geography/Geology offers graduate assistantships. Applications should be directed to the department and are due April 1 for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester. The assistantship requires 20 hours per week of teaching or similar duties. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for the next available opening.

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Application Deadlines

• Spring 2027: December 1
• Summer 2027: May 1
• Fall 2027: July 1

Other Requirements

• Applicants must have a GPA in geography of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• It is recommended that applicants present a minimum of 15 undergraduate semester hours of geography including physical and human geography and cartography, plus at least three hours in spatial analysis, quantitative methods or statistics;

• English Language Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission.

  • Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume
• Letters of Recommendation: Two are required

Degree Requirements

Thesis Option

Non-Thesis Option

¹

GEOG 8026: or an approved graduate level statistics course from another department

Exit Requirements

• Thesis Option- 6 hours GEOG 8990
• Non-Thesis Option - Comprehensive Examination or Professional Conference
  • As an alternative to the oral and written non-thesis exams, students pursuing the non-thesis option can instead present a paper or a poster at a professional conference. The poster or paper must be based on the student’s original research. Students must create a three-person committee and defend a research proposal first. The committee must be approved by the graduate studies coordinator. Once their research is complete, their paper and poster or Powerpoint must be reviewed and approved by their committee. Once approved, the presentation or poster must be presented to the department before the conference and the poster/presentation non-thesis option form completed. Students must then present at the conference and write up a one-page reflection of their experience presenting, giving the form and the reflection to the graduate studies coordinator.