AAG

encouraged to gain experience in multiple areas and to design
programs of study and research that reflect their interests, background,
and goals. Each student works closely with their advisor to design this
program and active participation in research is a critical component of
the graduate experience in the department. Faculty and graduate
students frequently collaborate on research and students are
encouraged to participate in regional and national professional
meetings, seminars, reading groups, and a departmental colloquium
that foster community and intellectual exchange.
The university and the city of Iowa City provide a stimulating social,
cultural, and academic environment. Excellent bookstores, galleries,
and the Iowa Center for the Performing Arts provide big city
advantages without the high costs and inconveniences of big city
living. Academically, the University of Iowa is highly ranked
nationally and includes a medical school and the world-renowned
Iowa Writers Workshop. Faculty and students participate in a variety
of interdisciplinary research and teaching programs through key
research centers and groups at the University. These include the
Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research (CGRER),
Environmental Modeling and Exposure Assessment Facility, Center
for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, Public Policy
Center, International Programs, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in
Informatics, Quaternary Studies Group, College of Public Health,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and IIHR—
Hydroscience & Engineering. Members of the faculty maintain close
working relations with faculty from many disciplines across campus,
and students are encouraged to explore such opportunities.
A B.A. or B.S. degree in geography is not a prerequisite for entry into
the program, but students are expected to have an undergraduate
background relevant to pursuing graduate work in their specialty
within geography. Depending on the strength and suitability of their
prior training students may be required to take courses that are
prerequisites for courses in their elected areas.
The department houses and maintains two computer facilities: the
Geographic Information Systems Instructional Laboratory (GISIL)
and a departmental research laboratory. The GISIL, which is the
teaching facility for GIS and GIS applications courses, is equipped
with 26 workstations. Additional equipment includes GPS receivers,
terrestrial LiDAR and hyperspectral imaging scanners, UAV,
equipment for field-based biogeographical and ecological studies, and
a wide variety of software for mapping, statistical analysis, and GIS.
The department also participates in an advanced GIS facility housed in
CGRER and has access to high performance computing clusters
maintained by the university.
ACADEMIC PLANS, ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND
FINANCIAL AID:
UNDERGRADUATE: The University is on the semester system. To
qualify for admission as an undergraduate major in the department, a
student must meet the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts.
Questions concerning financial aid should be addressed to the
University Student Financial Aid Office in Room 208 Calvin Hall.
GRADUATE: Admission: In determining the admission of a student to
its graduate program, the department considers the total record of each
student individually, including: (1) undergraduate grade point average,
especially from the junior and senior years; (2) scores on the Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) Aptitude Test; (3) at least three letters of
recommendation; (4) an essay in which the applicant sets forth the
reasons for wanting to pursue the study of geography at The
University of Iowa. Application instructions:
http://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu//academics/geography-ma-or-phd
M.A. Degree Requirements: The M.A. is designed to be completed in
four semesters. It requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of
graduate work, of which 18 semester hours must be in graduate-only
courses. Competence in a specific area of geography, across the
breadth of geography, and in geographical methods is demonstrated
by the completion of appropriate course work and a M.A. thesis. A
two-year coursework M.A., including a M.A. with specialization in
GIScience, is offered.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements: The Ph.D. is a four- to five-year,
postbaccalaureate program. While students typically enter the program
after completing a MA or MS degree, exceptions can be made for
highly qualified and motivated individuals who wish to enter the
program directly from an undergraduate program. Competence in a
specific area of geography, across the breadth of geography, and in
geographical methods is demonstrated by the passing of
comprehensive examinations and completion and defense of a
dissertation.
Financial Aid: Many admitted students are supported through
graduate assistantships. Regular departmental Teaching and Research
Assistantships carry stipends of $18,816 for the two semester
academic year of 2016-17, plus a full tuition scholarship and
healthcare benefits. External research grants also provide for research
assistants.
The 2016-17 tuition and fees rate for in-state graduate students is
$10,057 for the academic year. Out-of-state students pay $27,561. All
half-time and quarter-time Teaching and Research Assistants are
charged at in-state rates, and are provided with a tuition scholarship of
$8,556 for full registration for an academic year. All half-time and
quarter-time Teaching and Research Assistants are also provided with
a 25% fee reduction. Deadline for applicants who wish to be
considered for financial aid awards is December 31.
FACULTY:
Marc P. Armstrong, Ph.D., Illinois, 1986, Professor, Collegiate
Fellow, and Associate Dean — geographic information science,
computational geography
David A. Bennett, Ph.D., Iowa, 1994, Professor and Chair —
geographic information science, sustainability, environmental
modeling, land use/land cover change
Margaret Carrel, Ph.D., North Carolina, 2011, Assistant Professor —
health, infectious disease ecology, landscape genetics,
population
Caglar Koylu, Ph.D., South Carolina, 2014, Assistant Professor —
geographic information science, geo-social networks, big data,
visualization
Marc Linderman, Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2002, Associate
Professor — remote sensing, environmental modeling, land
use/land cover
George P. Malanson, Ph.D., UCLA, 1983, Coleman-Miller Professor
— ecological modeling, biogeography, landscape ecology, land
use/land cover
Claire E. Pavlik, Ph.D., Minnesota, 1990, Lecturer — economic,
healthcare, qualitative research methods
Tyler Priest, Ph.D., Wisconsin-Madison, 1996, Associate Professor —
energy and environmental policy
R. Rajagopal, Ph.D., Michigan, 1973, Professor — environmental
measurements, methods, monitoring, modeling and
management, information systems, regulation, policy
Heather A. Sander, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 2009, Assistant
Professor — geographic information science, land use/land
cover, environmental modeling, ecosystem services
James D. Tamerius, Ph.D., University of Arizona, 2011, Assistant
Professor — environmental determinants of health, infectious
disease, climate
Eric Tate, Ph.D., South Carolina, 2011, Assistant Professor —
hazards, vulnerability and resilience, uncertainty analysis
ADJUNCT FACULTY:
Marian V. Muste, Ph.D., Iowa, 1995 — cyberinfrastructure platforms,
digital watersheds, sensors and sensing networks for integrated
watershed research
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