Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctoral Program in Geography

The Doctoral Program in Geography (DG) at the University of Minho aims to provide advanced training in the scientific area of Geography, responding to the current demand for qualified professionals in this field. The program's primary objective is to create an environment conducive to the development of original research, contributing significantly to the advancement of conceptual and methodological knowledge in Geography and the broader context of Social Sciences.

Program Objectives

The Doctoral Program in Geography is designed to stimulate and support students' ability to conduct autonomous research in specialized areas of geographical knowledge. The program's objectives include:

• Enabling students to critically reflect on the state of the art in Geography, focusing on a specific research theme
• Applying conceptual and methodological frameworks to reinforce the interdisciplinary dimension of Geography in original and relevant research
• Generating empirical, innovative, and renewing knowledge
• Addressing and interpreting social, economic, cultural, environmental, political, and scientific-technological problems, as well as those related to planning, territorial planning, regional and local development
• Contributing to the advancement of conceptual, methodological, and technical aspects of geographical science
• Critically analyzing and discussing themes and issues related to the domain of Geography in academic and professional contexts

Teaching Methodologies

As a third-cycle course, all program units prioritize independent work methodologies, encouraging autonomous research and analysis, as well as the application of theoretical, methodological, and technical knowledge acquired. In semester-long units (specialization area in a face-to-face regime), critical reviews and/or scientific articles are developed, which can be published. All teaching methodologies adopted in the course aim to include students in scientific activities. Additionally, some theses are integrated into research projects led by the students' scientific advisors. Doctoral students also have the opportunity to disseminate and discuss their research work in events organized by the Geography Department, such as the Doctoral Meetings/Workshops and the Symposium on Geography Research: Portugal/Brazil.

Specialization Areas

The program offers specialization in the following areas:

• Geografia Física e Estudos Ambientais (Tutorial Regime)
• Geografia Humana (Tutorial Regime)
• Geografia e Planeamento Regional (Tutorial Regime)
• Estudos da Paisagem (Presential Regime not available in the 2021/2022 academic year)

Program Details

• Location: University of Minho, Campus of Azurém, Guimarăes
• Duration: 3 years / 6 semesters
• Course Direction: Prof.Ş Doutora Paula Remoaldo

Notes

The specialization areas in an exclusively tutorial regime are directed towards the realization of the thesis and its accompanying supervision by one of the teachers from the Geography Department (DGEO) of the University of Minho. Proposals for these specialization areas are submitted to the Scientific Council of the ICS, under the proposal of the Coordinating Commission of the DGEO Council. The specialization in Estudos da Paisagem functions in a presential course regime but was not available in the 2020/2021 academic year.