PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
M.A., M.S. and Ph.D. Programs
The graduate programs in geography focus on a set of research specializations in urban environments. In addition to completing core, methods, specialty and elective courses, students are expected to conduct significant geographical research in independent study, research seminars and dissertation work. Such work will reflect modern geographical thinking at theoretical and empirical levels. Master’s degree programs are designed to develop basic technical and theoretical skills leading to a range of geographical careers. The Ph.D. is directed toward the creation of sophisticated geographical scholars committed to the practice and teaching of geography.Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to graduate standing are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in geography or a related field and a GPA of at least 3.0 (A=4.0), calculated over the last 60 units of credit earned. Exceptions will be made in cases of very high GRE scores or other compelling evidence of potential to excel in graduate studies (e.g., outstanding letters of recommendation). For admission to the Ph.D. program, an M.A. or M.S. degree in geography (or equivalent experience) is desirable but not required.Selection Criteria
Selection for graduate study is based on letters of reference, the student’s previous academic record, the Graduate Record Examinations and a personal statement of purpose for graduate study. Selection is made by committee.Application Procedure
Applicants should examine the departmental Web site (www.usc.edu/dept/geography) or contact the department for an admission package at least two to four months in advance of submission deadlines. Applicants requesting consideration for scholarships or fellowships should return their applications by December 15 (or earlier, if possible). Applicants requesting financial aid from the department (TA or RA) should submit applications by December 15. Applicants not requiring financial assistance should submit their applications as soon as possible thereafter.Advisement
Advisement for the graduate programs is viewed as an ongoing process. Before entering the program and during the first few months in the program, each student should work with the director of graduate programs. As soon as possible, each student should identify a research advisor who agrees to guide the student through his or her program. The department, in consultation with the student and the advisor, will subsequently establish a guidance committee for each student.Degree Requirements
Graduate degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of the catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.Master of Arts and Master of Science in Geography
The department no longer accepts applications for master’s degrees in geography without decanal approval and in the absence of external (non-college) sources of funding. Regulations governing masters’ degrees appear in the 2003-2004 USC Catalogue.Doctor of Philosophy in Geography
Application deadline: January 1Course Requirements
A minimum of 56 units is required, exclusive of GEOG 794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation. The following courses are required:Two 4-unit core courses (GEOG 500 and GEOG 501);
Four units of GEOG 502abcd taken in the first four semesters of enrollment;
Two 4-unit methods courses, including GEOG 583 or its equivalent, and one other quantitative or qualitative methods course approved by the department chair;
Four 4-unit specialty courses in the department consistent with the urban environments theme;
A total of 16 units of elective courses with at least one course taken from outside the department, for breadth; and
At least four, but no more than eight units of GEOG 794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation.
Students with a prior master’s degree may petition to receive transfer credit for up to 20 units based on previous graduate work completed. These transfer credits are only applicable to the methods, specialty and elective course requirements. Approval from the Graduate School and the department chair are required. At least one-half of the total number of units applied toward the Ph.D. degree must be completed at USC (i.e., at least 30 of 60 units beyond the bachelor’s degree). At least two-thirds of the number of units presented for the degree (including transfer work, but not including GEOG 594 or GEOG 794) must be 500-level or higher. Students with Advanced Standing may not apply additional 400-level course work toward the Ph.D. degree.
Screening Procedure
Ph.D. students must undergo a screening procedure administered by the department at the end of the spring semester of their first year of full-time enrollment and prior to receipt of 25 units of graduate credit at USC. This procedure consists of a review of the student’s progress to date and a decision on the student’s continuation in the program.Guidance Committee
A doctoral guidance committee is formed after the student has passed the screening procedure. The committee is appointed in consultation with the student’s research advisor and the student. It is composed of five people, including the advisor, at least two other members of the geography faculty, and at least one person from outside the department. The committee consults with the student, advises the student on the program of study and administers the qualifying examination.Qualifying Examination
A qualifying examination is administered in the third year of full-time enrollment upon completion of all course requirements specific to the department. The written part of the examination comprises questions submitted by the guidance committee on current geographical theory and practice, as well as on the student’s research specialization. The subsequent oral portion of the examination may expand on those questions or may include additional questions of a similar nature. The oral portion assesses the candidates’ readiness to commence dissertation research. Students who fail the qualifying examination and who do not hold a master’s degree from another institution may be eligible for a Master of Arts degree, upon the recommendation of the guidance committee, presuming at least 36 units of graduate-level courses at USC have been completed.Dissertation
Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, a dissertation committee (three-person minimum) is appointed by the research advisor in consultation with the student. A dissertation proposal must be written and presented to the department in a public lecture and defended immediately afterward in closed session with the dissertation committee. The candidate then embarks on doctoral dissertation research. Upon completion of an approved draft of the dissertation, the committee administers the final defense of the dissertation. The defense takes place upon unanimous approval of the dissertation committee. It is conducted in the form of a public presentation, followed by a closed question and answer session with the dissertation committee, after which an evaluation by the committee is made.Sustainable Cities Program
Director: Jennifer Wolch (Geography)
- the research requirement will be removed;
- the course requirements will be: ARCH 519 (3), CE 654 or ENE 535 or ENE 510 (3), GEOG 601 or GEOG 615 (4), PPD 619 or PPD 692 (4) and 2 units of Directed Research 590 or 790 from an approved academic unit focused on area of specialized interest;
- each academic unit, department or program will determine the number of units completed that may be applied to the student's master's or doctoral degree.
Sustainable Cities Graduate Certificate Program
The Sustainable Cities Graduate Certificate program is a multidisciplinary doctoral certificate program open to USC students pursuing Ph.D. programs in many disciplines including anthropology, architecture, biology, chemistry, communication, earth sciences, economics, education, engineering, geography, international relations, political science, public policy, sociology, urban planning and others.Creating sustainable cities for the 21st century is a major challenge for society. The growth of cities, caused by natural population increase and massive rural-to-urban population flows, poses critical environmental problems that reach far beyond municipal boundaries and transcend national borders. Resolving such problems requires contributions from natural scientists, engineers, behavioral scientists and policy experts. To solve problems of national concern, such scientists must work productively with public administrators, political decision-makers and diverse interest groups.
This program seeks to equip graduate students with both the requisite knowledge of other fields and the political, interpersonal and communication skills necessary to succeed in research and practical contexts.
Required Courses
Sixteen units of graduate work are required.| Core Courses (8 units) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CE 564 | Methods for Assessment and Protection of Environmental Quality | 3 |
| COMM 646 | Negotiating Boundaries in Environmental Research | 2 |
| GEOG 611 | Sustainable Cities: Problems and Policies | 3 |
Research (8 units)
Students complete 8 units of directed research in their home departments over the course of three semesters (2 units in semesters two and three of the program and 4 units in the fourth semester).The first two directed research courses are devoted to an individual research project related to their dissertation, supervised by at least two faculty members from different fields.
The third directed research course is a semester-long collaborative project involving professors and students from at least three different disciplines.
Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
Students must be currently matriculated in a USC graduate degree program or be prospective USC students applying for admission to such a program. Prospective USC students may obtain an application from the USC Graduate School or their intended home department. To apply for admission to the certificate program, prospective students should send a copy of their graduate application package and a letter of interest to the Center for Sustainable Cities, KAP 413, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0255. The letter of interest should: (1) describe the student's field of interest and how it contributes to the study of urban sustainability; (2) provide contact information, including address, phone number, email address and the primary academic unit. Students already enrolled in a USC graduate program who wish to apply to the program should also submit copies of their official undergraduate and graduate grades, results from the General Test of the GRE and a letter of reference from their graduate advisor.Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science
The graduate certificate program in geographic information science uses a variety of learning strategies delivered through distance education to provide an increased knowledge of geographic information system technologies and the geographic concepts and methods embedded in them.Admission Requirements
Candidates for admission must have: (1) a B.A. or B.S. degree or its international equivalent, and (2) a minimum 3.0 GPA (A = 4.0) for all undergraduate work. Preference will be given to candidates with significant professional experience working with geographic information systems and related geospatial technologies. International students must submit TOEFL scores and are expected to achieve a minimum score of 600 on this exam.The courses in this program are open to students living and/or working anywhere, including students at USC’s Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. campuses. The program can be completed in one calendar year by taking one course in each of the fall, spring and summer semesters.