Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Geography at Maxwell equips graduates with expertise in spatial dynamics and critical thinking for careers in public service, research, business, and academia. The program emphasizes mentorship, classroom teaching experience, and access to career resources, preparing students to excel in various fields.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Arts (M.A.) program in geography is designed to equip graduates with the expertise and experience to excel in various fields, including public service, research, business, and academia. The program emphasizes the critical examination of spatial dynamics in social and environmental processes, enabling graduates to better understand and influence policies for positive change.
Outline:
Coursework:
The M.A. in geography requires the completion of 30 graduate credits, with at least half at the 600 level or above. Students can choose to write a master's thesis or two master's papers, both of which can count as 6 thesis credits towards the required total.
Sample Coursework:
- The Urban Condition: Focuses on contemporary cities, their economic growth and decline, social polarization, the construction of the built environment, and case studies from around the world.
- The Geography of Capital: Explores Karl Marx's "Capital" to understand the relationship between political economy and the geographical landscape, as well as the role of capital and capitalism in contemporary geographic theory.
- Water: Environment, Society, and Politics: Analyzes the role of water in environment, society, politics, and the economy globally, examining water-society relationships, water governance, policies, crises, struggles, controversies, conflicts, and justice.
- Geographic Information and Society: Examines the effects of geographic information technologies on governments, communities, and individuals, including mapping as an information industry, political process, surveillance technology, communications medium, and related issues of copyright, access, hazard management, defense, public participation, and privacy.
- Development and Sustainability: Critically analyzes international development and sustainability, focusing on the complex political, economic, cultural, and ecological processes involved in development discourse and practice, with readings and case studies from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Teaching:
Mentorship:
Maxwell emphasizes graduate student mentoring in both scholarship and teaching. Faculty members work closely with students at each step of the program, from individualized coursework to research design and fieldwork to the presentation and publication of results.
Classroom Teaching Experience:
Graduate students are prioritized for classroom teaching experience, particularly through their work with faculty as teaching assistants.
Careers:
Graduates of the M.A. in geography are prepared for careers in various fields, including:
- Public service
- Research
- Business
- Academia
Career Resources:
In addition to faculty mentorship, Maxwell graduate students have access to career tools and resources, including:
- Online job and internship portal
- Alumni directories
- Networking treks
- Skill-building resources
- Career advisors
