Graduate Programs

Explore our Graduate Programs

The Department of Geography offers graduate programs leading to degrees in the Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The department’s graduate programs emphasize Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Geographic Information Science. Because of the small size of the faculty, most students follow an individualized program that includes courses and seminars in related disciplines. Although the department requires knowledge of the fundamentals of Geography, we welcome students whose undergraduate work has been in other disciplines and who can apply their training to geographic problems.

All graduate students should frequently consult the Geography Graduate Student Handbook. This document contains information about your curriculum requirements, progress meetings, the comprehensive exam process, how satisfactory progress is determined, resources available to you. and much, much more. Please be familiar with the contents and use it as a reference for programmatic questions you may have.

Geography Graduate Handbook 23-24


 

three students smiling while studying

Master’s Degree

Our master’s students are free to pursue a more generalized study of cultural, physical, or environmental geography.

Master’s Requirements


student studying in library

Doctorate Degree

Our Ph.D. program closely follows the research interests of the Geography faculty.


James Lamping and another person in front of a snowy mountain

Researching Forest Management

“In the TEEL lab, we work with ecosystem models at landscape scales to project how our forested lands will develop into the future and use scenario analysis driven by stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of different forest management strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. My research focuses of the perhumid region of southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia, where newly implemented forest management plans have shifted towards preserving old-growth by harvesting only in areas that have been historically harvested in the past. My goal is to understand how this shift in forest management will affect the carbon trajectories of these forests under different climate change scenarios. I am also developing a new module of LANDIS-II that will better simulate the cyclical storms found in this region and the resulting tree mortality due to windthrow.”

—James Lamping, Geography doctoral candidate, '25


Graduate Courses

The department’s graduate programs emphasize Human Geography, Physical Geography, and Geographic Information Science.

Courses


Funding your Graduate Studies

The Department of Geography offers multiple awards to help fund graduate student research.

Funding and Research Support


Prepare for the Professional World

The UO Teaching Engagement Program’s Graduate Teaching Initiative offers UO graduate students structured and rigorous, yet flexible, pathways to develop as college teachers.

Career and Professional Development


Our Graduate Students

Our graduate students pursue their academic research within a vibrant community of engaged and inquisitive peers.

Resources for the Graduate Community


Events

Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr15
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 15 McKenzie Hall
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together
Apr15
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together Apr 15 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
New Faculty Roundtable - Latinx Studies
Apr15
New Faculty Roundtable - Latinx Studies Apr 15 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Curious about Resumes? (Workshop)
Apr15
Curious about Resumes? (Workshop) Apr 15 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Your Future in Tech + Connect (Industry Panel + Networking Night)
Apr15
Your Future in Tech + Connect (Industry Panel + Networking Night) Apr 15 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Introduction to Zotero (Workshop)
Apr16
Introduction to Zotero (Workshop) Apr 16 Allan Price Science Commons & Research Library
Environmental Connect
Apr16
Environmental Connect Apr 16 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Research opportunities in France
Apr17
Research opportunities in France Apr 17 Gerlinger Hall
gradCONNECT: International Graduate Student Time Together
Apr17
gradCONNECT: International Graduate Student Time Together Apr 17 Mills International Center
Spring Career & Internship Expo
Apr17
Spring Career & Internship Expo Apr 17 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)