Program Overview

Overview of the New Mexico Doctoral Program in Geography

The New Mexico Doctoral Program in Geography is a collaborative effort between New Mexico State University and The University of New Mexico, offering a unique opportunity for doctoral study in the diverse landscapes of New Mexico. This program combines the strengths of both institutions, providing students with access to a wide range of faculty expertise and institutional resources.

Program Description

The program is designed to build both theoretical and applied knowledge in geography, enabling students to pursue a wide range of career pathways. It focuses on environmental change, dryland resource management, complex cultural landscapes, and the methods needed to understand them. Students will learn qualitative and quantitative research methods and how to use them in combination to create a mixed-methods approach to geographic research.

Program Requirements

• At least 48 credit hours of graduate coursework.
• At least 18 credit hours of graduate coursework after completion of the Master's degree.
• At least 24 credit hours of graduate coursework at the home university.
• At least 18 credit hours of graduate coursework in UNM or NMSU courses numbered 500 or above.
• At least 18 hours of dissertation credits, which are in addition to other coursework requirements.
• At least three hours of graduate credit in the semester in which the comprehensive examination is taken.
• At least one hour of graduate credit in the semester in which they complete degree requirements.

Research Areas and Faculty Expertise

The program has three main specialty areas, with faculty from both universities contributing their expertise. The NMSU faculty specializes in applied geographic research and teaching, particularly in geographic information science, physical geography, cultural geography, and natural resource management. The UNM department specializes in basic research, with faculty expertise in geographic information science, political ecology, historical geography, health geography, and data science.

Program Structure

Students will develop an individualized program of study in consultation with their dissertation committee, based on existing expertise and future career goals. The program includes a first-year sequence of core courses, taken on both campuses, which provides familiarity with two distinct communities and environments. Each student works with faculty advisors to develop a dissertation research project within the program's specialty areas, using appropriate research methodologies. Being a joint doctoral program, all students must have faculty from both campuses on their dissertation committee.

Unique Aspects of the Program

The New Mexico Doctoral Program in Geography is unique because it is a consortium between two universities, offering students the opportunity to work with faculty from both institutions. The program's main regional foci are New Mexico and the broader Southwest region, the Mexico-U.S. borderlands, and Latin America. Students will travel to both campuses and experience field trips to other locations, gaining familiarity with diverse geographic features and communities.

Conclusion

The New Mexico Doctoral Program in Geography provides a rigorous, research-based education that prepares students for professional careers in higher education, private industry, and government. With its unique collaborative structure, diverse research areas, and emphasis on both theoretical and applied knowledge, this program offers a distinctive opportunity for doctoral study in geography.