Graduate Courses

Core Courses:

All of these core courses are normally offered each year.

GEOG 5P01: Theoretical Approaches to the Critical Examination of Geographical Issues
Evaluation of contemporary geographical theory through a brief analysis of philosophies of the mind, and of scientific knowledge, and extended investigation of philosophies of geography, and of geography's core concepts.

GEOG 5P02: Methodologies for the Critical Examination of Geographical Issues
Major research methods used in geography, with a focus on analyzing the epistemological, theoretical and political implications of using these methods for the creation of geographical knowledge.

GEOG 5P03: Quantitative Analysis in Geography
An examination and application of essential steps in quantitative analysis: data collection and quality assurance, selection and application of appropriate techniques for different types of geographical data, and the meaningful interpretation and communication of results.

Elective Courses:

Three of these elective courses are normally offered each year. Students should consult with the Graduate Program Administrative Coordinator or GRaduate Program Director regarding each year's elective course offerings and course selection.

GEOG 5P20: Geographies of the Cultural Economy
Investigation of a range of approaches and perspectives in contemporary economic geography through a focus on the concept of the cultural economy.

GEOG 5P25: Advanced Topics in Geomatics
Geospatial data analyses, statistical analyses, data integration and management, and the emergence of web-based geomatics technologies. The use of a geomatics approach to investigate a geographical research topic.

GEOG 5P30: Sustainability and the Environment
Approaches to evaluating the quality of natural and built environments, the role of planning and policy in promoting environmental sustainability and the value and limitations of strategies proposed for managing environmental issues.

GEOG 5P35: Rural Community Development
Processes, strategies, and techniques associated with rural community organization and development, local and regional planning, and collective action.

GEOG 5P40: Historical Geographies of Culture and Power
Investigation of temporal and spatial manifestations of cultural politics and power relations, emphasizing the contested nature of cultural production at global and local scales.

GEOG 5P50: Critical Geographies of the City
Critical examination of modern urban geographies from various theoretical perspectives, involving empirical case studies from around the world.

GEOG 5P55: Queer Geographies of Gender and Sexuality
Investigation of the spatial organization of gender and sexuality from conceptual perspectives including gay/lesbian studies, women’s studies, queer, feminist and trans theorizing.

GEOG 5P60: Vulnerability, Human Communities and the Environment
Concepts of vulnerability, risk, hazard and disaster; the social and spatial production of vulnerability; relationships among vulnerability and environmental change; social, cultural and political responses and formal mitigation efforts.

GEOG 5P65: Political Ecology and the Global South
Critical examination of relationships among political, economic, ecological and social factors in constituting the Global South, with reference to selected case studies.

GEOG 5P70: Geographies of Inequality and Exclusion
How inequality and social exclusion are spatially constituted and manifested as discursive and material practices, and the ways that exclusionary practices are resisted.

Directed Studies and Special Topics Courses:

GEOG 5V10-5V29: Directed Studies
Specialized study on an individual basis under the direction of a faculty supervisor.

GEOG 5V80-5V89: Selected Topics in Geography
A specialized geographical topic that will vary by instructor.

Research Courses:

Full-time students register in the thesis (5F90) or major essay (5F91) starting in their second term.

GEOG 5F90: MA Thesis
An in-depth research project involving the preparation and defense of a thesis which demonstrates capacity for sustained independent work and original geographical research or thought.

GEOG 5F91: Major Research Paper
An independent research project involving the preparation of a major research paper which demonstrates capacity for independent work and rigorous geographical analysis.

For more information on graduate coursework see the Coursework section of the MA Geography Graduate Student and Faculty Handbook