Master of Arts (MA) in Geography

The program information below was valid for the fall 2018 term (September 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

Students are responsible for reviewing the general information and regulations section of the Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

Fields (areas of research)

  • Environmental and Resource Management
  • Geomatics
  • Human Geography

Program information

  • Admit term(s) 
    • Fall
    • Winter
  • Delivery mode 
    • On-campus
  • Length of program 
    • Thesis option:
      • Full-time: limit of six terms
      • Part-time: limit of twelve terms
    • Master’s Research Paper option:
      • Full-time: limit of three terms
      • Part-time: limit of six terms
  • Program type 
    • Joint
    • Master's
    • Research
  • Registration option(s) 
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
  • Study option(s) 

Admission requirements

  • Minimum requirements 
    • An honours undergraduate degree or equivalent with at least a 75% average. Normally, the undergraduate degree will be in Geography, but applications are welcomed from superior students regardless of background. However, students must demonstrate that they have the necessary background to pursue graduate work in their field of specialization.
  • Application materials 
    • Résumé
    • Supplementary information form
    • Transcript(s)
  • References 
    • Number of references:  3
    • Type of references: 

      academic references are required unless a professional reference is specified.
  • English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Degree requirements

    Thesis option:

    The Thesis option requires the successful completion of 9 units of credit comprised as follows:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • 1 Research Seminar selected from following list (1 unit):
      • GEOG 600 Seminar in Spatial Data Handling
      • GEOG 620 Seminar in Human Geography
      • GEOG 640 Seminar in Physical Geography
      • GEOG 660 Perspectives in Resource and Environmental Management
    • GEOG 691 Graduate Student and Faculty Seminar in Geography (1 unit).
    • 3 electives (3 units).
    • Note: 1 GEOG 675 Selected Topics in Geography course can be taken for credit.
    • Failure to obtain a grade of 70% or better in each course they take means an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the student's advisor, the Program Director, and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Thesis
    • Students will automatically be enrolled in the Master's Thesis (4 units) during the first term of their graduate program.
    • Each student will have a Supervisor and a Committee Member. The student will develop a research proposal for approval by their Supervisor and Committee Member prior to the end of the first term.
  • Other requirements 
    • If a student wishes to switch from the Thesis option to the Master’s Research Paper option or vice versa, the change must receive approval by the Waterloo-Laurier Graduate Program in Geography (W‐LGPIG) Executive Committee by the end of the first term after initial enrollment.

    • Master's Research Paper option:

    The Master’s Research Paper option requires the successful completion of 10 units of credit comprised as follows:

  • Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)
  • Courses 
    • 2 Research Seminars selected from following list (2 units):
      • GEOG 600 Seminar in Spatial Data Handling
      • GEOG 620 Seminar in Human Geography
      • GEOG 640 Seminar in Physical Geography
      • GEOG 660 Perspectives in Resource and Environmental Management
    • GEOG 691 Graduate Student and Faculty Seminar in Geography (1 unit).
    • 5 electives (5 units).
    • Note: 2 GEOG 675 Selected Topics in Geography courses can be taken for credit.
    • Failure to obtain a grade of 70% or better in each course they take means an automatic review of the student's status in the program. The review committee will consist of the student's advisor, the Program Director, and the Graduate Officer. The review committee may require that the student withdraw from the program.
  • Link(s) to courses
  • Master’s Research Paper
    • Students will automatically be enrolled in the Master’s Research Paper (2 units) during the first term of their graduate program.
    • Each student will have a Supervisor and a Committee Member. The student will develop a research proposal for approval by their Supervisor and Committee Member prior to the end of the first term. The research paper will normally be completed in the Spring (third) term. The paper should be approximately 12,000 words/50 pages in length, and include clearly defined sections on 1) problem statement, 2) status of research, 3) research procedure, 4) findings, and 5) conclusions.
    • The Master’s Research Paper must be defended successfully before an Examination Committee composed of the student's Supervisor, Committee Member and one Reader.
  • Other requirements 
    • If a student wishes to switch from the Thesis option to the Master’s Research Paper option or vice versa, the change must receive approval by the Waterloo-Laurier Graduate Program in Geography (W‐LGPIG) Executive Committee by the end of the first term after initial enrollment.
Department of Geography and Environmental Management website
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