Program of Study for the Master of Arts in Geography (Thesis Option)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree* from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School ; official general GRE exam scores, unless waived; cover letter (not to exceed two pages) stating reasons why applicant wishes to enter the program.

*Students entering the graduate program without a baccalaureate degree in geography are required to make up deficiencies in the areas of physical geography, human geography, and geographic techniques in consultation with the graduate committee.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School . Meeting these criteria does not guarantee admission.

Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility: The standardized exam (GRE) requirement may be waived for applicants with five or more years of relevant professional work experience and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and who submit a two-page written statement describing their long-term career goals.

Location: On Campus

Additional Standardized Exam Waiver Eligibility Information

Standardized exam (GRE, GMAT, MAT) waiver eligibility for graduate degree programs at Appalachian State varies by program, but requires that applicants hold a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher in their last earned bachelor’s degree or 3.3 or higher in an earned graduate degree. No exam waiver is automatic but will require review and approval by the program and by the Graduate School upon submission of a complete application. An approved waiver request does not guarantee acceptance into the program. A denied waiver request does not mean that a candidate is denied admission to the program, only that a standardized exam score is needed to more fully evaluate the application.  More complete information about standardized exam waivers can be found in the Admissions Requirements section of this Bulletin .

Accelerated Master’s Program

This program offers an Accelerated Master’s  option for undergraduate students currently enrolled at Appalachian State University.

Course Requirements for the Master of Arts in Geography (Thesis Option)

Other Requirements for the MA in Geography (Thesis Option)

• Thesis: Required
• Proficiency: Not required
• Candidacy: Required; awarded upon approval of thesis committee and prospectus
• Comprehensive: Required
• Product of Learning: Not required