M.A. in Geography

Information for Prospective Students

M.A. in Geography

The Master of Arts program in Geography provides opportunities for advanced study in both human and physical geography. Through coursework and thesis, students develop an understanding of interactions between nature and society, and of processes which create distinct spaces, places, landscapes, and regions. They also develop and apply their skills in mapping, analyzing, and synthesizing spatial phenomena. Geographers are in demand in a wide array of fields, including urban and regional planning, industrial location, marketing, resource development, environmental management, and geomatics.


Areas of Specialization

  • Climate change vulnerability and adaptation
  • Community-based conservation and citizen science
  • Cultural interpretations of places, landscapes and tourist sites
  • Geomorphometric analysis
  • Natural hazards, environmental change and their human impacts
  • Rural and regional development
  • Urban development and planning

Why do an MA in Geography at Saint Mary's University?

  • We offer the only Master’s degree in Geography in the Canadian Maritime Provinces.
  • Our intimate program provides students with ongoing and dedicated faculty support.
  • Our faculty have strong research records in a broad range of specialties and place considerable emphasis on applied research and community outreach.
  • We are home to three innovative research centres: The Maritime Provinces Spatial Analysis Research Centre (MP_ SpARC), The Intertidal Sediment Transport (InCoaST) Research Unit, and the Community Based Environmental Monitoring Network (CBEMN).
  • Geography forms part of the newly-launched School of the Environment at Saint Mary’s University, which provides many synergies for study and research.
  • Geographers with an MA degree find work in a number of fields in both the public and private sectors.

Admission Requirements

The normal qualification for entry is an honours BA or BSc degree in Geography, an honours degree in a cognate discipline with substantial course content relevant to geography, or a degree which the department deems to be equivalent (to include, at minimum, a cumulative grade point average of at least B).

Students are required to take one of the standardized English language proficiency tests if their first language is not English, unless they have completed a previous degree entirely in English.

A full description of the program may be found here.

You may also contact the Graduate Coordinator, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies for more information.

Apply Now

Application deadline:  February 1.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact prospective faculty supervisors before submitting an application.


Contact Us

MA in Geography Coordinator
Dr. Mat Novak
902-491-6541
m.novak@smu.ca

Faculty of Graduate Studies & Research
902-420-5089
fgsr@smu.ca
smu.ca/fgsr/

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