The Blue Marble: Produced by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD using data from GOES, SeaWiFS and an AVHRR instrument aboard the Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites. |
Program Description and Requirements |
Samuel J. Lefrak Hall houses the Geography Department at College Park, Maryland |
The Department contains several specialized groups including the Laboratory for Global Remote Sensing Studies (LGRSS), the Mid-Atlantic Regional Earth Science Applications Consortium (RESAC), the Global Land Cover Facility, the Geographic Information Science Laboratory, as well as several smaller groupings of research interests.
The Department is housed in over 35,000 sq. ft. on the main College Park campus. Teaching laboratories include facilities for wet analysis, cartography, GIS, and the Turner laboratories dedicated to computer-based instruction. Other facilities needed for virtually any type of investigation are available through collaborations with other departments. There are two primary computer environments, namely UNIX and PC, with 60 machines dedicated to teaching and graduate research. The research laboratories support UNIX, Linux, and high-end PC machines, including very high performance processors and peripherals and large volume RAID arrays. There are a large number of digitizing tables, large format color printers, magnetic disk farms, tape carrousels, etc. An extensive range of software is available, including satellite data processing, image analysis, and ESRI GIS packages. Field research, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and other types of equipment are available. Many opportunities exist for students to participate in externally funded research projects. In 2008 the Department research grant income was over $8 million.
Current externally funded research projects include: NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) studies for MODIS, laser sensing and Landsat, an EOS interdisciplinary hydrology project, the NASA-funded Global Land Cover Facility in association with the University's Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS), the USAID Central Africa Regional Project for the Environment (CARPE), and the MODIS Land Rapid Response System for active fire detection. Other funded projects include studying regional to global scale land cover patterns, coastal wetlands loss, urban expansion, tropical deforestation, biomass burning, African desertification, human health, and NOAA global climate-modeling. Graduate students find this research environment a rich source of ideas for research papers and dissertation studies, as well as providing opportunities to join these projects as paid (including tuition) research assistants. This experience often leads to openings for employment on completion of their studies.
The Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) is a cross-campus research initiative that brings together Geography, Geology, and Meteorology in a shared research institute to further encourage interdisciplinary studies to address contemporary questions in earth system science. The Mid-Atlantic RESAC works with industry, governmental, and non-governmental organizations to apply advanced remote sensing to the Chesapeake Bay catchment and adjacent areas.
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is an exceptional location in which to pursue geographic research.
Many national and international agencies and organizations are within a short distance of the campus. Major national research
laboratories are close by, including the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the USDA Beltsville Agricultural
Research Center, the National Archives, Bureau of the Census, National Institutes of Health, USGS, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA),
NOAA and the Offices of the US Global Change Research Program. International and non-governmental
agencies are located within easy reach, including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, World Bank,
the National Geographic Society, and many others. Corporations, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that use geographical applications
are also well represented, e.g., EOSAT, EarthSat Corporation, Center for Land Oceans and Atmospheres, World Resources Institute, and
Resources for the Future. Libraries on campus and nearby are unrivaled elsewhere in the world. The University of Maryland is also located
in a region of extraordinary geographic diversity, including two major urban centers (Baltimore and Washington, D.C.), the Appalachian
Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Coast.
New landcover maps produced by the Mid-Atlantic RESAC
of the Washington-Baltimore region will
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Cooper, E., "Dynamics of the Nonprofit Sector and Urban Delivery of Services: A Geography of Services In East Baltimore, Maryland." 2007. (Christian)
Dempewolf, J., "Dynamics of Fire and Woody Cover Changes in the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem—A Remote Sensing Approach." 2007. (DeFries)
Fleming, D.,"Effect of Spectral Response Function on Multi-Spectral Measurements and NDVI from Disparate Remote Sensing Systems" 2006. (Goward)
Giglio, L., "Characterization of the Diurnal Cycle of Fire Activity Using Satellite Data" 2006. (Justice)
Groff, E., "Exploring the Geography of Routine Activity Theory: A Spatio-Temporal Test Using Street Robbery." 2006. (Dubayah)
Kearney, B., "Exerting Local Power Over Federal Process: Stakeholder Negotiation Process in the Canyon Forest Village Land Exchange Process 1992-2002" 2006. (Geores)
Kim, H.Y., "Estimation of land surface radiation budget from MODIS data." 2008 (Liang)
Loboda, T.V., "Impact of Climate Change in Wildland Fire Threat to the Amur Tiger and Its Habitat." 2008 (Justice)
Luna, Ronald @., "Transforming Espacios Culturales into Cultural Spaces: How the Salvadoran Community is Establishing Evangelical Protestant Churches as Transitional Institutions in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area" 2008 (Geores)
McCarty, J., "Seasonal and Interannual Variability of Emissions from Crop Residue Burning in the Contiguous United States." 2009 (Justice)
Morton, Douglas, "Changes in Amazon Forest Structure from Land-Use Fires: Integrating Satellite Remote Sensing and Ecosystem Modeling" 2008 (DeFries)
Neigh, C.S., "Idenfitying and Understanding North American Carbon Cycle Perturbations from Natural and Anthropogenic Disturbances." 2008 (Townshend)
Read, C.H.K., "Effects of Scale and Spatial Variablility on Hydraulic Geometry in the Potomac River Basin." 2006 (Thompson)
Roa, J.G., "Identifying landslide hazards in a tropical mountain environment, using geomorphologic and probabilistic approaches." 2007 (Kearney)
Robin, J, "Improving Predictive Capabilities of Environmental Changes with GLOBE and Satellite Data." 2006. (Dubayah)
Schroeder, W., "Towards an integrated system for vegetation fire monitoring in the Amazon basin." 2008 (Justice)
Slayback, D., "Correlates of Terrestrial Vertebrate Species Richness: An Evaluation of Environmental Hypotheses Over the Western Continental USA." 2006 (Prince)
Songer, M., "Endangered Dry Deciduous Forests of Upper Myanmar (Burma): A Multi-Scale Approach for Research and Conservation." 2006 (DeFries)
Steele, C.P., "The Emergence of a Local Memorial Landscape in the Aftermath of Violent Tragedy: A Study of Baltimore's Dawson Murders, 2002-2005." 2007 (Geores)
Wang, W., "Estimating High Spatial Resolution Clear-Sky Land Surface Longwave Radiation Budget from MODIS and GOES Data." 2008 (Liang)
Zheng, T., "Mapping Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Usinig Multiple Remote Sensing Data." 2007. (Liang)
Information on courses for Fall 2008 and beyond can be found on the Schedule of Classes.
Requirements:
30-credit hours minimum
21 credits at 600-level or above
Scholarly paper
1. GEOG600 (Fall) and GEOG602 (Spring), Introduction to Geography (6 credits), covering core knowledge in the discipline. B minimum.2. GEOG798 Department Seminar (3 credits spread over 3 semesters, 1 credit/semester). B minimum. Mandatory attendance of the Department seminars for two semesters. Class is structured by faculty member in charge. May include written reports, and additional reading beyond the material presented in required lectures.
3. One course at 600 or 700 level (3 credits) selected from each of the 3 departmental Geography themes. Students should confirm with the Graduate Office that a specific class will satisfy this requirement. B minimum.
Human Dimensions of Global Change: Cultural, population, economic, urban, regional, human dimensions of global change.4. Minimum of 9 credits representing a coherent program of courses in Geography at the 400 level or above.T hese may be courses in one specialty or courses intended to give a broad background. Course may be taken in departments other than Geography with permission of the student's advisor and the Graduate Director. The student's advisor or the Graduate Director must also approve electives.
Environmental and Biological Aspects of Earth System Science: Climatology, geomorphology, biogeography, earth systems science.
Geospatial Information Sciences: GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis, computer cartography, modeling.5. GEOG603 Master's Research Tutorial (3 credits). Taken in third semester under the guidance of the faculty advisor in preparation of the scholarly paper. B minimum.
6. Scholarly Paper
- Scholarly paper focused on student's area of concentration.
- Typically, 5,000-7,500 words, excluding bibliographic references and any footnotes, but including illustrations, figures, and tables. Style and format of the scholarly paper must follow the Campus Style Manual (http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/etd/styleguide/index.htm). Its organization must be appropriate for publication in a scholarly journal (such as the Annals of the Association of American Geographers or Remote Sensing of Environment). Two bound copies to be submitted and an electronic version in .PDF format.
- The paper should address a significant issue.
- Advice available from advisor and other faculty members
- Topic/subject decided early in third semester in conjunction with your advisor in GEOG603.
- Graded by advisor and a second reader approved by the student's advisor. Reviewed by Graduate Director.
- Options of examiners: (a) pass; (b) fail but resubmit: (c) fail do not resubmit
Available by petition. Students should apply through their advisor at the start of their second semester.Requirements are the same as for master's except scholarly paper is replaced by thesis and oral defense.
3.1 GRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Most of the information you will need can be obtained on the Graduate School web site. Please note that the graduate catalog appears only online; there no longer is a printed version. The application is to be made online. If you wish to apply with a paper form, you must print it off the Graduate School web site.
The Department offers courses of study leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. It also offers a Masters and Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies in Geospatial Information Sciences (see MPS GIS Program for degree and admission requirements). Admission is strongly competitive.Requirements for MA (minimum), GPA B (3.0) average in junior and senior year, GRE verbal 600 with a good quantitative score, and three letters of recommendation. For international students, the following additional minimum test scores apply: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, IBT 100). International students who are applicants for teaching assistantships must also pass an International Teaching Assistant Oral Evaluation by the University's Maryland English Institute (MEI).
The Department admits students to our doctoral program who have already completed a Masters degree and exceptionally well-qualified students who have only completed a bachelor’s degree. In all cases, admitted students are required to either possess or shall develop a strong foundation in the discipline of Geography. Admission to the doctoral program is also dependent on the support of two tenured/tenured-track faculty. In addition to the GRE scores and the three letters of recommendation, Ph.D. applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.3 and must provide a clear statement of goals and experience.
Closing date for the MA and PhD applications is January 15. Applications are reviewed from September to February for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry. The Graduate School will accept applications up to May 1. However, applications received by the department after January 15 stand only a small chance of being considered for fall entry, since all offers of admission and financial aid are usually made by the end of March.
Admission to the graduate program is not limited to students with a Geography-first degree. Those with a good GPA in degrees in related disciplines such as environmental, physical or biological science, anthropology, economics, history and social science are encouraged to apply but may be required to undertake additional background study not for credit. Some knowledge of data processing and statistics is necessary for all applicants. Ph.D. applicants' programs must draw on the research strengths of existing faculty members.
Students must maintain a B grade level on all required courses. Award of degrees is granted only on sufficient evidence of high attainment, not simply for completion of course requirements.
3.2 How to Apply
You must apply online at the Graduate School web site (Graduate Admission Application.), following the Graduate School's instructions, particularly where you will need to send documents. If you wish to apply with a paper form, you must print it off the Graduate School web site and send it to:
- Enrollment Services Operations-Graduate Programs
University of Maryland
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742
If you have questions concerning your application to the geography graduate programs, contact:
- Robert Crossgrove
Graduate Office
Department of Geography
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
voice: (301) 405-8085
fax: (301) 314-9299
email: crossgro@umd.eduSuggestions for filling out an application:
- Remember, for M.A. a minimum GPA of 3.0 is necessary; for Ph.D a minimum GPA of 3.3 is required.
- The three letters of recommendation should be requested from referees able to comment on your academic potential, that is someone who is able to assess your scholarly ability and your potential for success in a graduate program. Professors with whom you have studied are the best referees. Strong letters of support are necessary.
- Send official academic transcripts for all previously taken undergraduate and graduate work as directed.
- Send official scores of your Graduate Record Examination (GRE). More than 600 on the verbal section is essential as directed.
- Include a 300-500 word two-part statement of your (1) goals and research interests and (2) experiences. Part 1 should be a realistic and well-informed statement of your study plans. For the Ph.D. program, this statement is the basis on which the admissions committee will assign your initial advisor. For the Ph.D., there must be a close match between individual faculty research specializations and your interests. Part 2 might include how you became interested in the field of Geography, your community and family background, or any other factors that you feel would contribute to the diversity of our academic community. Include examples of your determination to pursue your goals, and your initiative and ability to develop ideas and work through problems independently.
- Be sure to describe any appropriate work experience.
- (International students only) Official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are needed for most students. For unconditional admission, a TOEFL (IBT) score of 100 total, 22 speaking, 26 listening, 26 reading, and 26 writing is required. Applicants with scores less than these will have to take tests on arrival at the university in areas in which they did not receive the required score. A satisfactory evaluation by the Maryland English Institute is required for international students applying for teaching assistantships. Applicants whose first language is not English but who have received a degree from an institution in the U.S., United Kingdom, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or the Commonwealth Caribbean countries are exempt from presenting TOEFL scores.
- A graduate application fee of $60 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international applicants must be included.
- The application deadline is January 15 for Fall admission. Applications are reviewed from September to February for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry. The Graduate School has initiated a "Priority Processing Date" of December 1 for applications for the following fall, and will accept applications up to May 1. Applications received in December receive earlier attention and processing. Applications received by the department after January 15 stand only a small chance of being considered for fall entry, since all offers of admission and financial aid are usually made by the end of March.
- We can only act on your application when all of the above documents have been received. The department's tenure/tenure track faculty evaluate the entire package as the basis for admission.
3.3 Financial Support.
Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and various Fellowships are available.Salary range: $16,148 (start) to $17,475 for 9.5 month assignments (as of August 2009), plus full tuition remission.
Assistants' duties are 20 hours per week. Renewal for a second year (M.A. and Ph.D.) or third year (Ph.D. only) is contingent on maintenance of satisfactory academic progress and a 3.0 GPA or better.
Ph.D. students are required to be advanced to candidacy by the end of their second year in order to receive a third year of support. Applications for financial aid are made on the University Graduate Admission Application.
Applicants should ensure all their application materials are received by the Graduate School and the Department by January 15, since decisions are made in February.
Graduate Catalog and Other Information
Last Update: 11/17/2009 by crossgro@umd.edu
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