Program Overview

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Overview of the Online Master of Arts in Geography

The online Master of Arts in geography at Arizona State University provides specialized academic and professional training in geography, allowing students to deepen their knowledge of the world and prepare for further specialization or immediate employment. This program focuses on location, specifically the heart of geography, urban planning, climatology, and GIS, to develop research projects and solutions to geographical problems.

Program Details

• The program consists of 10 classes, each lasting 7.5 weeks, and totals 30 credit hours.
• The next start date is 01/12/2026.
• The program culminates with a capstone project or thesis, allowing students to dive deeper into specific areas of geography most relevant to their career goals.

Skills Developed

Students in this program will develop valuable, versatile skills for their careers, including:

• A deepened understanding of the relationship between people and their environments
• Enhanced expertise in research, teamwork, and communication
• Practical experience through hands-on projects, including opportunities to contribute to faculty-led, grant-funded research
• Sharpened problem-solving, adaptability, and leadership skills

Ideal Candidates

This program is a great fit for individuals from diverse backgrounds who want to expand their understanding of the Earth and its systems. Ideal candidates may be mid-career professionals looking to build new skills or those exploring a career change, particularly in fields such as sustainability, teaching, the military, foreign services, or mission work.

Comparison to Geographic Information Science (GIS) Master’s

The key distinction between this program and a geographic information science (GIS) master’s is the level of specialization. This geography master’s offers a comprehensive understanding of geography topics, including politics, culture, and human-environment interactions, with only introductory GIS content.

Online Geography Master’s Courses

The program includes a diverse range of courses designed to prepare students for various roles in geography, such as:

• Geodesign and Urban Planning
• Geographic Research Methods
• Geography Problems and Context
• GIS Methods for Non-Majors
• Multivariate Statistics for Social Sciences
• Seminar: Geography Colloquium
• Spatial Statistics for Geography and Planning

Course Descriptions

Geodesign and Urban Planning

This course studies geodesign, a design and planning method that tightly couples the creation of design proposals with impact simulations informed by geographic contexts, systems thinking, and digital technology.

Geographic Research Methods

This course teaches scientific techniques used to study problems in the field of geography, covering critical reading and analysis of peer-reviewed research, types of research methodologies, and elements of research design.

Geography Problems and Context

This course investigates different forms of geographic problem-solving and contemporary trends in geographic research, emphasizing applied research and questions at the forefront of the field.

GIS Methods for Non-Majors

This course teaches how to collect, analyze, and present spatial data to help reveal patterns and trends to better understand communities, environments, health, and more.

Multivariate Statistics for Social Sciences

This course focuses on multivariate techniques and how statistical techniques can lead to a better understanding of substantive issues, covering topics such as data visualization, correlation, simple regression, multiple regression, logistic regression, multinomial regression, ordinal regression, and principal component analysis.

Seminar: Geography Colloquium

This course involves discussion, student presentations, and written research papers.

Spatial Statistics for Geography and Planning

This course focuses on descriptive and inferential spatial statistics, covering the conceptual foundations of spatial statistics, computing spatial statistics using software, and applying spatial statistical testing to a variety of research problems.

Career Opportunities

Upon graduation, students will be prepared for a wide range of career opportunities in both public and private sectors, including education, government agencies, and research facilities. Many graduates also choose to pursue doctoral degrees. Career examples include:

• Cartographer
• Environmental economist
• Environmental scientist
• Geographer
• GIS analyst
• Professor
• Sociologist

Faculty and Accreditation

The School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning is home to nationally and internationally recognized thought leaders and innovators within the disciplines of geography and geographic information science. The faculty includes members of the Academia Europea, American Association of Geographers Fellows, Fulbright American Scholars, and U.S. National Academy of Sciences Members.

Application Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, including:

• A minimum of a 3.00 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of a student's first bachelor's degree program or in an applicable master's degree program
• Graduate admission application and application fee
• One letter of recommendation
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume
• Official transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose native language is not English
• A personal statement addressing specific questions related to the applicant's interests and goals in geography

Tuition and Financial Aid

Students can estimate their full-time or part-time tuition fees using the tuition calculator. Most students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers various degrees in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, with a vast spectrum of research opportunities and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary education.