MSc in Geography

The objective of the program is to provide a Masters of Science program and degree to students interested in developing expertise in the science sub-disciplines of Geography, with an emphasis on earth surface processes and geomatics. This will be accomplished through the following specific objectives:

1. To prepare candidates for careers in particular areas of the environmental sciences and in science-oriented fields of geomatics within the government and the private sector
2. To provide graduates with competence in conducting research and preparing scholarly publications.

These objectives will be achieved by requiring study of scientific knowledge, skills and perspectives, primarily in geography, through a combination of formal course work, research and teaching assistant positions, field and laboratory experimentation, and independent research leading to the completion of a dissertation. The proposed Fields are strongly interdisciplinary, and as such a learning environment will be cultivated that develops integrative knowledge of pertinent issues primarily from the core disciplines of hydrology, climatology, geomorphology, remote sensing, geographic information science, and spatial analysis; but also draws on biogeochemistry, biology, ecology and chemistry.

Admission

• Successful candidates must normally hold an Honours BSc degree. Applicants with an Honours BES or BA degree in Physical Geography, Environmental or Earth Science, Geomatics, or the equivalent, will also be considered.
• Applicants must demonstrate that they have the necessary science background to pursue graduate work in their field of specialization.
• Successful applicants will have completed the undergraduate degree with an overall average of at least 75%.
• Applicants must forward three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from academic sources.
• A Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) will be required of any applicant who has not completed three or more years of post-secondary work at a Canadian institution, or at an institution where English was the language of instruction, or has been employed for a similar period of time in a position where English was the language of business. Normally, this evidence is an acceptable score on one of the following: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency (MELAB), or the Carleton Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment. Minimum TOEFL scores are as follows: TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 90, with minimum skill scores of 25 in each of speaking and writing; * Paper-based- TOEFL: with a minimum of 600 overall, 5.0 in the TWE and 50 in the TSE * Computer-based TOEFL: with a minimum of 250 overall, 50 in the TSE and 5.0 in the essay. Other tests of English language proficiency accepted include IELTS (minimum score of 7.5), Michigan Test (minimum score of 90) and Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) (minimum score of 70 is required). See the Wilfrid Laurier University Graduate Student Calendar Admission Regulations and the University of Waterloo Graduate Student Calendar Admission Regulations for further details.

Degree Requirements

Normally, the formal requirements of the MSc program are to be completed in two years. Students must: 1) complete 4 one term (.50 unit weight) credit courses; 2) complete a programwide seminar course; 3) complete an approved thesis proposal; and 4) write and defend a master's thesis.

The MSc requires the successful completion of nine (9) units of credit, (1 unit = .5 credit course), as follows:

• Geography 691 (1 unit)
• Research Seminar (1 unit); selected from either Geography 600, or Geography 640
• One elective (1 unit) from either Environmental Science or Geomatics courses depending on whether Geography 640 or Geography 600 is taken.
• Two electives (2 units); two courses selected from among Environmental Science, Geomatics, or other science courses relevant to their program of study.
• Thesis (4 units)

Notes: 1) A maximum of one Geography 675 course can be taken for credit. 2) For Master’s students, failure to obtain a grade of B- (70%) in each course they take means an automatic review of the student’s status in the Program.

Coursework

The coursework part of the MSC is designed to develop advanced understanding of issues relating to environmental science and geomatics, and also to prepare students for thesis research and its defence. Students are required to complete the 4 one-term courses during their first year, in addition to a program-wide seminar course (GG691).

Fieldwork

Many MSc students will engage in fieldwork as part of their research. Several courses provide experience and training, to complement what most students will have obtained in their undergraduate degrees. Individual faculty also provide specialized training before and during fieldwork activity. Fieldwork is subject to environmental and other impact assessment through NSERC funding reviews, as well as research permit applications in many jurisdictions where students work, e.g., in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut.

Thesis Proposal

During the first year, students develop a thesis proposal that will normally be presented to a supervisor at the end of the first year. Upon approval of the proposal, students will then proceed to the research and writing of the thesis. Normally, students should complete and defend the thesis within two years of starting the program.

Part-time studies

This program will not normally be offered on a part-time basis. In exceptional circumstances, students may assume part-time status after their formal course work has been completed.