Page 228 of San José State University Fall 2006 - Spring 2008 Catalog by San José State University

228 MA Geography Advisor: Richard Taketa Admission to the graduate program is flexible, and potential students are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A strong record based on either undergraduate performance or employment experience is expected. Graduate students without a geography degree can expect added course work in geographic literature and theory. Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing Basic requirements for admission to the Graduate Division are outlined in the Admissions section of this catalog. In addition, the department requires the following for admission to classified standing: 1. An undergraduate degree in geography or a reasonably related field from an accredited institution. 2. A 3.0 B overall grade point average for the last 60 semester units of academic study. 3. The capability, in the opinion of the Department Graduate Committee, of successfully completing the degree requirements. 4. The removal of deficiencies if preparation differs markedly from the BA Geography at San Jos State University. Requirements for Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing If not accepted into classified standing, the applicant may qualify for conditionally classified status for which the following will be required: 1. The ability, in the opinion of the Department Graduate Committee, to remove deficiencies which do not exceed the equivalent of one full-time semester of course work. 2. The qualifications to be accepted to classified standing within a reasonable length of time, and the background to conduct studies at the graduate level. Requirements for Admission to Candidacy for the Masters Degree The student may be admitted to candidacy for the MA Geography by complying with requirements of the university as outlined in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog. The University requires that all graduate students demonstrate competency in written English as a condition for advancement to candidacy. Please refer to the SJSU catalog section titled Competency in Written English for details. For graduate courses that meet the competency in written English requirement, please refer to the Graduate Studies and Research website at www.sjsu. edu/gradstudies. In addition, students must obtain their thesis advisors approval for their thesis proposal. Students will complete a course of study designed to prepare them for professional work in their chosen subfield. Accordingly, they will need to take specific courses to support research and project work in that field. Completing Requirements for the Masters Degree In consultation with the department advisor, the candidate will develop and pursue a program of study outlined in Plan A or Plan B. The candidate must successfully complete all requirements of the selected plan including the course work specified in the Masters Degree Approved Program. Plan A (with Thesis) 1. A minimum of eighteen units in geography. 2. The thesis, based on independent research, is to be conducted under the direction of a thesis advisor and must be acceptable to and approved by the Thesis Committee. The Committee consists of the thesis advisor (committee chair), an additional member from the university faculty, and an additional member who may be from outside the university. The thesis topic shall be developed within the departmental foci in consultation with the thesis advisor. The thesis must conform to the university standards of style and form. 3. Final Examination: The thesis must be successfully defended orally before the thesis committee. Plan B (without Thesis) 1. A minimum of twenty-one units in geography. 2. Comprehensive Examination: The final written comprehensive examination covering the fundamentals of geography and the candidates primary area or field of study must be satisfactory. This normally consists of three separate examinations. 4. Project: The student shall present the results of a project in one of the areas of departmental focus. Appropriate projects include research completed for a geography graduate seminar or an independent study conducted under supervision of a faculty advisor. The results will be reported in a written paper and other materials submitted to the department, and will be presented formally to a geography faculty and student colloquium for acceptance. Semester Units Plan A (with Thesis) .........................................30 Core Seminar ...............................................3 GEOG 290 Geography Seminars...................................6 Complete two courses from: GEOG 239, GEOG 279, GEOG 282 Thesis ...........................................................6 GEOG 299 Electives .....................................................15 100 or 200-level courses in geography or related fields selected with advisors approval. Students should take the following courses, depending on their area of focus: Geog 282, Geog 195, and at least three units selected from Geog 173, Geog 175, or Geog 183. Plan B (without Thesis) ...................................30 Core Seminar ...............................................3 GEOG 290 Geography Seminars...................................9 Complete three courses from: GEOG 239, GEOG 279, GEOG 282 Electives .....................................................18 100 or 200-level courses in geography or related fields selected with advisors approval. Students should take the following courses, depending on their area of focus: Geog 282, Geog 195, and at least three units selected from Geog 173, Geog 175, or Geog 183. Total Units Required............................................30 Courses Geography Lower Division GEOG 001. Geography of Natural Environments Atmospheric, biologic and geologic processes that create the natural environments of the world. Discovery of local, regional and global patterns in the location and distribution of environmental phenomena, and the human modifications of natural environments. CAN GEOG 2 GE: B1 3 units GEOG 010. Cultural Geography The human population studied through the perspective of cultural groups, their institutions and geographic distributions, how different people occupy, use, and modify their environment, and the interaction of individuals from one group with those of another. CAN GEOG 4 GE: D1 3 units Upper Division GEOG 101. Global Geography Comparative geography of our world: regions and countries, natural environments and resources, settlements and land use, cultural diversity, economic and political patterns. Prerequisite: Sophomore or upper division standing. GE: D2 3 units GEOG 105. Urban Geography Spatial patterns in the urban environment: City function and morphology; population patterns and functional zonation; analysis of recent changes. Prerequisite: Upper division standing or instructor consent. 3 units GEOG 112. Nations, Cultures, and Territorial Disputes In a world with rapidly diminishing resources new conflicts are emerging based on factors such as ethnicity, economic opportunity, religion, and nationalism. Explore global circumstances leading to conflict. Prerequisite: Completion of core GE, satisfaction of Writing Skills Test and upper division standing. For students who begin continuous enrollment at a CCC or a CSU in Fall 2005 or later, completion of, or corequisite in a 100W course is required. GE: V 3 units GEOG 115. Geography of the Global Economy Exploration of contemporary global economy using variety of analytical approaches developed by geographers. Provides geographic perspective on world economy and environmental issues within a spatial context. Prerequisite: Geog 101 and Econ 1A or 1B. 3 units

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