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PhD Program Curriculum

PhD Program Requirements

The School of Geographical Sciences admits students to its PhD program with either a Master's or Bachelor's degree in Geography or a related field. We welcome applicants without Geography degrees. Incoming students must demonstrate or attain competence in cartography and quantitative methods, and complete other basic coursework that will enable them to pursue graduate studies in their area of specialization.

  • PhD students entering with a Bachelor's degree must complete 84 semester hours. These hours include 72 hours of coursework and research at ASU and 12 dissertation hours.
  • PhD students entering with a Master's degree must complete 54 semester hours. These include 42 hours of combined coursework and research hours at ASU and 12 dissertation hours.
  • The program for all PhD students includes two required core courses (GCU 529 Geographic Thought, GCU 585 Advanced Research Methods) and two seminars (GCU/GPH 591).

Note: PhD students may earn a Master's in Passing upon the successful completion of 30 semester hours at ASU, including two required courses (GCU 529 Geographic Thought, GCU 585 Advanced Research Methods) and one seminar (GCU/GPH 591), and passing the School's Research Examination.

Steps Toward the PhD

Students in the School of Geographical Sciences complete the steps toward their PhD in the following order:

  • Program of Study: PhD students file a program of study (iPOS) with the School and the Graduate College. This document sets out coursework toward the PhD degree and formalizes the composition of the supervisory committee.
  • Research Examination: PhD students prepare a statement of their specialization in geography and complete an intensive two-week research project culminating in a written paper, administered by the Graduate Research Examination Committee and the student's advisor.
  • Comprehensive Examination: Students take a written comprehensive exam intended to assess their mastery of geographic thought and methods, and their field of specialization. The comprehensive examination is administered by the student's advisory committee. The exam may be either an eight-hour "closed book" exam or a three-day take-home exam, at the discretion of the student's supervisory committee. If it is deemed necessary by the advising committee, an oral examination may be scheduled by the student’s advisor and would follow the written examination.
  • Dissertation Proposal: Students defend proposal for their dissertation research to their advisory committee. Upon successful defense of the proposal, the student advances to candidacy for the PhD.
  • Dissertation: The dissertation provides an opportunity for the candidate to address a major intellectual problem and conduct innovative research that will lead to scholarly products.
  • Dissertation Defense: Once the full advisory committee approves the written dissertation, the advisor schedules an oral defense before the candidate's committee and guests. A copy of the dissertation must be made available in the School at least two weeks prior to the event. All Graduate College deadlines for scheduling the defense and submitting the completed dissertation must be adhered to. The candidate must pass the oral dissertation defense within five years of advancing to candidacy.
  • Completion of the PhD: Successful defense and revision of the dissertation constitutes completion of the PhD.