Thank you for your interest in the Master of Science degree in Geography from Northern Illinois University. The M.S. program develops professional competence as a geographer and spatial scientist. The degree requires 30-36 hours of graduate credits, consisting of three core courses, coursework in the student’s field of specialization, and either a thesis or two Masters research papers. The M.S. in Geography can be pursued full-time or part-time and is suitable for students wishing to advance in a profession or those intending to pursue a Ph.D. degree.
Students may pursue the degree with a specialization in:
Physical & Environmental Geography: soils and landscape evolution, climate change, biogeography and forest ecology, environmental management, and hydrology
Climatology: severe & hazardous weather, climate impacts, synoptic climatology, climate change, microclimatology, and agro-meteorology
Urban & Economic Geography: urban geography, comparative urban studies, health geography, industrial geography, transportation, technical hazards, and land use change
GIS/Spatial Analysis: geovisualization, spatial analysis, GIS and database design, spatial modeling, remote sensing, and cartography
The department’s Graduate Certificate in GIA can also be earned while enrolled in a graduate degree program at NIU.
We welcome applications from those with the equivalent of a B.S. or B.A. degree in geography, agronomy, biology, business, civil engineering, earth science, environmental engineering, economics, geomatics, meteorology, planning, or soil science. Prospective students should have analytical skills and background equivalent to at least 1 semester of calculus and a course in probability and statistics. For those intending to focus their studies in physical geography a 1-year sequence in biology, chemistry, and/or physics is recommended. If you are unsure whether your background qualifies you for graduate study in Geography at Northern Illinois University or if our program meets your interests, please feel free to call, e-mail or visit the department’s Graduate Coordinator: Michael Konen (mkonen@niu.edu), 815-753-6849.
For more information on the M.S. in Geography, please see the Graduate Catalog or our Graduate Student Handbook