Geography - Master of Applied Geography

General Information

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) at NMSU offers students two options for earning a Master of Applied Geography (MAG): a thesis option and a non-thesis option. The thesis option (30 credits) represents the traditional path for earning a MAG degree and entails the completion of coursework and the writing and defense of a master’s thesis. The master’s thesis is a piece of original scholarship developed under the direction of an advisor and typically two thesis committee members. The non-thesis option (30 credits) is an alternative path for earning a MAG degree and requires the completion of coursework, the writing of a residency report, and the passing of a final exam. The residency report is a document developed during an internship or residency under the direction of a field supervisor at an agency or firm.

Undergraduate Preparation

An undergraduate geography degree is not required for entry into the MAG program. However, applicants who lack the equivalent of GEOG 1110G Physical Geography, GEOG 1130G Human Geography, and/or GEOG 2130 Map Use and Analysis may be required to take these or similar courses to prepare for the graduate-level work in geography. Applicants without an undergraduate geography degree are strongly encouraged to contact the GES Graduate Program Director and their Graduate Advisor to identify optimal strategies for satisfying basic course requirements.

Prefix Title Credits
GEOG 1110GPhysical Geography4
GEOG 1130GHuman Geography3
GEOG 2130Map Use and Analysis3

Credit, Course, and Grade Requirements

The MAG program aims at offering students flexibility in designing their desired course of graduate study while at the same time ensuring that all students have graduate-level core competencies in geographic concepts and methods. To that end, all students pursuing the MAG degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits, including 9 core course credits, 6 thesis credits (thesis option) or 6 residency credits (non-thesis option), and 15 elective credits. Of the 30 graduate credits, at least 15 credits must be in geography and at least 15 credits must be at the 500-level or above. All MAG students must earn a grade of B- or better in the 3 core courses (GEOG 501 Introduction to Geographic Theory and Application, GEOG 502 Integrative Research Design, and GEOG 584 Critical Methodologies or GEOG 585 Spatial Analysis and Modeling). All candidates are moreover required to maintain an overall GPA or 3.00 or higher.

Prefix Title Credits
Core Geography Courses 19
GEOG 501Introduction to Geographic Theory and Application3
GEOG 502Integrative Research Design3
GEOG 584Critical Methodologies3
or GEOG 585 Spatial Analysis and Modeling
Elective Courses 215
Select additional courses in geography and/or other disciplines.
At least 6 of the elective credits must be in geography.
At least 6 of the elective credits must be at the 500-level or above.
Thesis / Residency Credits 36
GEOG 599Master's Thesis6
or GEOG 596 Residency
1

Students must earn a grade of B- or better in all 3 core courses.

2

Students may be required to take additional courses that their committee deems necessary for the successful completion of the thesis research.

3

For more information regarding the master’s thesis requirement, please visit this GES website.

A Suggested Plan of Study

The following road map is a guide for full-time students (9 credits/semester for graduate assistants and/or graduate students receiving financial aid) to earn the Master of Applied Geography (MAG) degree and achieve the following MAG program learning outcomes:

  1. Think spatially, geographically, and geospatially.
  2. Identify and describe geographic epistemologies, ontologies, and methodologies, and evaluate their suitability for answering different research questions.
  3. Analyze and interpret the social and biophysical processes that produce human-environment interactions, and make reasonable predictions about the impacts of changes in socio-ecological system components across space and through time.
  4. Solve real-world problems by acquiring, analyzing, interpreting, evaluating, and visualizing geographic data.
  5. Conduct all stages of an independent research project, including conceptualization, planning, implementation, management, and communication through a thesis or residency report.

The road map assumes that each student will create a customized plan for degree completion in consultation with their graduate faculty committee. We realize that students may deviate from the road map for various reasons but expect that they diligently attempt to meet the milestones outlined below.

First Year, Fall Semester

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
GEOG 501 Introduction to Geographic Theory and Application 3
GEOG 584 Critical Methodologies 3
or GEOG TBD Elective Course
Elective Course 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits9

Non- Curricular Recommendations


  • Select your Graduate Faculty Advisor.
  • Clarify your academic and professional goals and align your curricular path with the MAG program learning outcomes noted above.
  • Establish a preliminary thesis / residency topic.
  • Identify extracurricular service and outreach opportunities such as leadership in student organizations, community engagement, or peer mentoring. 
  • Identify professional development opportunities such as conference attendance, workshop participation, or internships.

First Year, Spring Semester

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
SpringCredits
GEOG 502 Integrative Research Design 3
GEOG 585 Spatial Analysis and Modeling 3
or GEOG TBD Elective Course
Elective Course 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits9

Non- Curricular Recommendations


  • Finalize your Graduate Faculty Committee and file the Graduate Research Committee form.
  • Propose your thesis / residency project to the Graduate Faculty Committee. 
  • File the “Thesis / Residency Proposal Form.”
  • File the “Program of Study for Masters Students Form.”
  • Discuss opportunities for disseminating your scholarly and creative activities via presentations, publications, and other strategies.
  • Engage in extracurricular service and outreach activities.
  • Take advantage of professional development opportunities.
  • Plan for fieldwork, internships, or other activities during the summer.

First Year, Summer Semester

Non- Curricular Recommendations


  • Conduct field, archive, and other data collection work for your thesis or residency. 
  • Conduct data analyses for your thesis or residency.
  • Begin writing your thesis or residency report.
     

Second Year, Fall Semester

Plan of Study Grid
Second Year
FallCredits
Elective Course 3
Elective Course 3
GEOG 599
or GEOG 596
 Master's Thesis
or Residency
 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits9

Non- Curricular Recommendations


  • Finish your data collection and analysis.
  • Continue writing your thesis or residency report.
  • Disseminate your scholarly and creative activities via presentations, publications, and other strategies.
  • Engage in extracurricular service and outreach activities.
  • Take advantage of professional development opportunities.

Second Year, Spring Semester

Plan of Study Grid
Second Year
SpringCredits
Elective Course 3
Elective Course 3
GEOG 599
or GEOG 596
 Master's Thesis
or Residency
 3
 Credits9
 Total Credits9

Non- Curricular Recommendations

  • Finish writing your thesis or residency report.
  • Study the NMSU Graduate School webpages and make sure you meet all deadlines for degree application, form submissions, etc..
  • Schedule and hold your thesis defense or oral exam.
  • Share your final thesis or residency report as well as all thesis / residency data and metadata with your Graduate Faculty Advisor.
  • Disseminate your scholarly and creative activities via presentations, publications, and other strategies.
  • Engage in extracurricular service and outreach activities.
  • Take advantage of professional development opportunities.