Program Advisor: Dr. David A. Rossiter, Arntzen Hall 232, (360-650-3603)
Program Goals
The program prepares students in the development and management of environmental resources for careers in business, government, planning, consulting, teaching and research.
The focus of the MS degree in geography is on the development and management of environmental resources. The program is designed to allow students to develop and integrate social and natural science course work in a regional context. Students are provided with an opportunity to understand the spatial, ethical and societal (cultural) basis for the protection and management of resources.
MS Specializations
- Resource Conservation and Management: Study of biophysical and socioeconomic processes in natural systems; a variety of perspectives and techniques are used to investigate and assess management and development policies.
- Regional Development and Environmental Policy: Study of regional economic development processes in the context of development and planning; environmental elements — natural and human — are examined in framing development plans and policies toward improving regional community service
- Earth Surface Processes: Study of physical processes occurring at the earth/atmosphere interface; coastal, glacial, hillslope, eolian, fluvial and soil environments are examples of the complex and dynamic systems which are examined under conditions of alteration by human or natural forces
Prerequisites
Students with a degree in geography or allied fields, who meet the requirements of the Graduate School and who show evidence of superior scholarship, are particularly encouraged to apply. Students with degrees in fields other than geography will be considered but must acquire background, under advisement, through course work or other approved methods, in introductory human or cultural geography, introductory physical geography, regional geography, a GIS course, and two upper-division courses or equivalent in physical geography/geographic information systems or urban/economic geography. Knowledge of intermediate-level statistics is required of all students as evidenced by satisfactorily completing course work or as assessed by the program advisor. A plan for completion of any outstanding prerequisites must be described in the statement of purpose and approved by the Department of
Environmental Studies Graduate Program Committee prior to admission.
Admissions Information
Deadline: Students generally will be admitted into the MS in geography fall quarter only. Admission for subsequent quarters will be considered on a space-available basis. The Graduate Program Committee will begin reviewing application materials until the enrollment limit is reached or on June 1, whichever comes first. Because maximum student enrollment is limited, all applicants are strongly encouraged to submit application materials by February 1.
TA Deadline: To be considered for a graduate teaching assistantship, applicants must submit their application materials by February 1.
Specific Test Requirements: Graduate Record Exam, General Test; applicants with advanced degrees are not required to submit GRE scores.
Supporting Materials: An application for admission into the MS program in geography must include a one- to twopage statement of purpose indicating which specialization the applicant is most interested in, explaining why the applicant wishes to pursue graduate studies in geography, and what future expectations she or he has for the MS degree. The statement may indicate a preferred faculty advisor; students are encouraged to review faculty research interests as described on the Huxley website, www.wwu.edu/depts/huxley, prior to contacting potential advisors; students are admitted to the program only upon agreement of potential faculty advisors.
