Geography, MS
Advancing your academic pursuits in geography with a Master of Science degree allows you to deepen your knowledge, refine your skills, and position yourself as a leader in addressing today’s most complex global challenges. Whether you’re passionate about tackling climate change, advancing geospatial technologies, or analyzing urban systems, our Geography MS program teaches the skills to push boundaries and turn your curiosity into impactful solutions. Learn how you can help shape a more sustainable and informed future.
Program Overview
The Geography MS program builds expert geographic and methodological skills, preparing students to contribute to research in academia, industry, or government.
This program is ideal for students who want to gain specialized knowledge in areas such as geographic information science (GIS), sustainability, or even human and physical geography. You will learn about topics such as climatology, geospatial analysis, urban and economic geography, biogeography, and more.
Plus, our two available concentrations, thesis and non-thesis options, as well as our accelerated combined BA/MS allows students to tailor their degree, giving them unique paths to choose from, whether they want to pursue doctoral study or enter the workforce.
Concentrations
Whether you’re interested in learning more about the environment and advocating for sustainable solutions, or you want to hone your data visualization, geospatial mapping, and spatial thinking skills, our concentrations offer opportunities for just that.
Our currently available concentrations include:
- Sustainability
- Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
Our flexible thesis and non-thesis options allow students to choose the path that best fits their career aspirations. If you’re interested in pursuing doctoral study, our thesis track will help prepare you for that. You will conduct research in the form of a thesis and present and defend that research.
Our non-thesis option allows students to complete a project and write a research paper. This track benefits students who are interested in pursuing careers in either industry or government.
Accelerated Combined BA / MS
Our program also offers an accelerated combined BA/MS program that allows students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in geography in five years. Undergraduate students take up to 9 credit hours of graduate coursework that counts towards both their BA and MS degrees.
Students interested in this option can choose from five concentrations in the BA: climate and climate change; geospatial science and technology; landscapes and environment; space, society, and culture; and urban studies.
Why Study Geography?
A Master of Science in geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville gives you access to globally experienced faculty who are eager to share their knowledge with you. You will also benefit from hands-on research opportunities in some of our advanced research facilities and from our local partnerships with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Faculty with Global Experience
Our faculty have geographic research experience in countries like Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and more. With global experience that stands out, you will receive one-on-mentorship on research topics like biogeography, geomorphology, location analysis, and even economics and urban planning.
Engage in Hands-On Research
With three research facilities available for student use—the GIS Outreach and Engagement Lab, the Geographic Information Science (GIS) Lab, and the Laboratory for Paleoenvironmental Research—you will conduct hands-on research in geospatial mapping, remote sensing, and even sediments, fossils, and tree rings.
Extensive Community Partnerships
Students in our program benefit from local partnerships and faculty with joint appointments in the closely located Oak Ridge National Laboratory, giving them the opportunity to obtain internships and employment in their world-renowned labs.
What Can You Do with an MS in Geography After Graduation?
Studying Geography at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville means developing an expansive knowledge of global geography, while also getting a more specialized education in your concentration. Through coursework in GIS, physical geography, and human geography, students learn about human-environment interactions, sustainability, and more to prepare them with the skills needed for a career in research and professional roles.
Alumni of the geography program have gone on to work in physical geography as geomorphologists, oceanographists, hydrologists, or conservation scientists. Others go into environmental management, emergency management, outdoor recreation, or public health/epidemiology. On the other hand, many graduates go into planning, such as housing development, transportation planning, or regional planning. In technology, many geography majors become GIS analysts, remote sensing analysts, or cartographers. In business, you could even be a demographer or location analyst. You could also go into cultural and human geography, as a cultural resource specialist, cultural site manager, sustainability manager, or population analyst. Whether you decide to go into more environment-related, technological, or urban fields, this program gives students a solid foundation to pursue geographical careers or further education.
Featured Courses
GEOG 510 Geographic Software Design
In this course, students will learn algorithms for spatial analysis, software design, and program implementation in standalone and distributed computing environments.
GEOG 513 Advanced Remote Sensing
In this course, students will learn applied research using imagery for interpretation and mapping of geographic data.
GEOG 532 Topics in Global Change
This course covers emerging trends, anticipated problems and methods in global change research and response.
GEOG 534 Topics in Climatology
This course covers trends, problems and methods in areas of climatology.
Complementary Minors and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Computational Science (IGMCS)
- Environmental Policy Minor
Looking For More Options?
The College of Arts and Sciences offers students the broadest range of academic programs and opportunities for research and creative activities at the University of Tennessee, powered by faculty expertise across every discipline.
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