2007-09 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

Graduate Catalog: Section 6.9http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/16000.htmlTHE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOGTable of Contents > College of Arts & Sciences6.9 DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY (GY)Chairperson: Professor Luoheng Han, Office: 202 Farrah HallThe department offers a program leading to the master of science degree in geography. Study in geography preparesstudents to work in a broad range of positions related to foreign area analysis, land-use management, planning,urban and economic development, environmental analysis, and geographic techniques including computercartography, geographic information systems, and remote sensing. These positions are found in federal, state, andlocal governments, as well as in private industry.Among several close associations with other disciplines, the graduate program in geography has traditionally beenclosely related to regional and urban planning. The program has assisted various city and regional planning agenciesthroughout the state, providing expertise in computer graphics, geographic information systems, remote sensing,land-use planning, redistricting, and urban-industrial location analysis.Admission RequirementsApplicants must submit an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination in support of the application.General admission requirements are outlined in the "Academic Policies" section of this catalog.Degree RequirementsThe graduate program in geography includes a thesis or a nonthesis option. Under both options, the student hasconsiderable latitude to design a program to fit particular needs. All entering students must specify one of the twooptions during the second semester of academic work. Both options have prerequisite courses, including twointroductory courses in physical geography, an introductory course in human geography, a course in world regionalgeography, a course in map interpretation, and a basic statistics course.All graduate geography students are required to pass a comprehensive examination for admission to candidacy (afterhaving taken a minimum of 18 hours of graduate-level courses).M.S. in geography, thesis option. This option requires a total of 30 credit hours including 3 of programrequirements and 6 for thesis research. A minimum of 12 credit hours must be taken from coursework in humangeography, physical geography, and/or planning. The remaining 9 credit hours may consist of courses from any areaof departmental offerings including geographic techniques, planning, human geography, and physical geography, orbe selected from those courses offered in other disciplines with departmental approval.M.S. in applied geography, nonthesis option. This option requires a total of 39 credit hours including 3 ofprogram requirements and 3 for nonthesis projects. Students selecting this option must take a minimum of 8 hoursof geographic techniques, but may count up to 15 credit hours of such coursework toward their programs. Aminimum of 18 credit hours must be taken in physical geography, human geography, and/or planning. Withdepartmental approval, this option allows students to include up to 6 hours of coursework in other disciplines or 6hours of experiential courses in their programs.Course DescriptionsGY 500 Research Traditions and Methodology in Geography. Three hours.An investigation of the historical development of geography, including its changing philosophies and prominentcontributors. Students are also introduced to various approaches for conducting research in geography and mustdevelop a written research proposal in an area of their interest.GY 504 Physical Geography of the Southeastern United States. Three hours.A study of the physical landscapes in the southeastern United States. Emphasis is on the geological setting,geomorphic features, climate, soils, and vegetation, and the interrelationships of these conditions that shape thelandscape in this region.GY 505 Directed Research: Physical Geography. Variable credit.GY 506 Directed Research: Human Geography. Variable credit.GY 507 Boundary Layer Climates. Three hours.