1. Academics
  2. Graduate Program

Master’s Degree

Course Requirements

  • GEOG 201: Seminar in Geography (Required every quarter offered; S/U grading only)
  • GEOG 200A, B, and C: Introduction to Geographic Research
  • GEOG 210A, B, and C: Analytical Methods in Geography
  • GEOG 500: T.A. Training (Required for all Teaching Assistants)

 Students must earn a grade of B or higher in GEOG 200A, 200B, 200C, 210A, 210B, and 210C.

Graduate Council Regulations Regarding Committees

  • The master's thesis committee must consist of at least three UC Academic Senate members, with a tenure-track faculty member from Geography serving as chair or co-chair.
  • At least two members of every master’s thesis committee must be tenure-track faculty.
  • The majority of the three members shall be from Geography. Recommendation of additional members to the thesis committee is at the discretion of the Geography department.

Residency Requirement for the M.A. Degree

Students in a Master’s program must spend a minimum of three quarters in full-time residence at UCSB.

Normative Time-to-Degree Standards for the M.A. Degree

The normative time for completion of the Master’s degree in the Department of Geography is 7 quarters. Normative time is the number of years considered to be reasonable for completion of a particular program by a full-time student who enters the program without academic deficiencies.

Files

MA Graduate Student Plans

Plan I: Thesis

A total of 34.0 units are required. At least 20.0 units must be from 200 & 500 level Geography units, exclusive of GEOG 201, 200ABC, 500, 597, 598, and 599. No more than half may be in GEOG 596. The core courses must be passed with a grade of ‘B’ or better with the exception of GEOG 200A and GEOG 201, which must be passed satisfactorily.

Plan II: Examination Plan

A total of 46.0 units are required. At least 24.0 units must be from 200 & 500 level Geography units, exclusive of GEOG 201, 200ABC, 500, 597, 598, and 599. No more than half may be in GEOG 596. The core courses must be passed with a grade of ‘B’ or better with the exception of GEOG 200A and GEOG 201, which must be passed satisfactorily. The M.A. through the Examination Plan II is a terminal degree (no continuation to the Ph.D.).