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Graduate School New Brunswick
 
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Actuarial and Statistical Analysis
African Studies 016
Analytics: Discovery Informatics and Data Sciences
Anthropology 070
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Asian Studies 098
Atmospheric Science 107
Biochemistry 115
Bioenvironmental Engineering 116
Biomedical Engineering 125
Biotechnology 126
Biotechnology and Genomics
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Cell and Developmental Biology 148
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Chemistry
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Chinese 165
Cinema Studies 175
Civil and Environmental Engineering 180
Classics 190
Cognitive Science 185
College Teaching 186
College and University Leadership 187
Communication, Information and Library Studies 194
Communication Studies
Comparative Literature 195
Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering 199
Computer Science 198
Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies (CHAPS)
Curatorial Studies
Data Science (Statistics Track) 954
Drug Discovery and Development
East Asian Languages and Cultures 217
Ecology and Evolution 215
Economics 220
Education 300
Educational Psychology; Educational Theory, Policy, and Administration; Learning and Teaching
Electrical and Computer Engineering 332
Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences 340
Energy 335
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English, Literatures in (English 350, Composition Studies 352)
English as a Second Language 356, American Language Studies 357
Entomology 370
Environmental Change, Human Dimensions of 378
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Financial Statistics and Risk Management 958
Food and Business Economics 395
Food Science 400
French 420
Genetic Counseling
Geography 450
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Geological Sciences 460
Geospatial Information Science 455
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German 470
Global Agriculture
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Graduate Student Professional Development 486
Higher Education 507
Historic Preservation
History 510
Horticulture and Turfgrass Science
Human Resource Management
Industrial Mathematics
Industrial Relations and Human Resources 545
Industrial and Systems Engineering 540
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Interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program 554
Italian 560
Jewish Studies 563
Kinesiology and Applied Physiology 572
Labor and Employment Relations
Landscape Architecture 550
Latin American Studies
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Linguistics 615
Literature and Language 617
Literatures in English
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Mathematical Finance 643
Mathematics 640, 642, 644
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 650
Medical Device Design and Development
Medicinal Chemistry 663
Medieval Studies 667
Meteorology
Microbial Biology 682
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics 681
Molecular Biophysics 696
Molecular Biosciences 695
Music
Music 700
Neuroscience 710
Nutritional Sciences 709
Oceanography 712
Packaging Engineering 731
Perceptual Science 714
Personal Care Science
Pharmaceutical Engineering
Pharmaceutical Science 720
Pharmaceuticals and Clinical Trials Management 725
Pharmacology, Cellular and Molecular 718
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Philosophy 730
Physics and Astronomy 750
Physiology and Integrative Biology 761
Planning and Public Policy 762
Plant Biology 765
Political Science 790
Psychology 830
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Quantitative Biomedicine 848
Quaternary Studies 855
Religion 840
Russian, Central and East European Studies 859
Science and Technology Management 885
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Social Work: Administration, Policy and Planning, and Direct Practice
Sociology 920
Spanish 940
Statistics and Biostatistics 960
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Theater Arts
Toxicology 963
United Nations and Global Policy Studies
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Women's and Gender Studies 988
Writing for Graduate Students 355
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Camden Newark New Brunswick/Piscataway
Catalogs
  Graduate School-New Brunswick 2017 Programs, Faculty, and Courses Geography 450 Programs  
Graduate School-New Brunswick

The graduate program provides students with an understanding of the theory, principles, and research skills needed for geographical inquiry. Students seeking a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree take courses and write a dissertation that is based on original research in a subfield of geography.

Candidates for the master's degree must complete coursework, write a thesis worth 6 credits, and complete successfully a comprehensive oral examination. As an alternative, students may write a shorter research paper, take an additional 6 credits of coursework, and successfully complete a written and oral examination.

The program's strengths lie in human geography and social theory, environmental geography, and physical geography. The following are specific topics:

Human Geography and Social Theory. Geographies of globalization; political economy; urban development; comparative urbanization; women and the environment; urban restructuring; housing and spatial segregation; gentrification; Eastern European urban policy; regional development and decline; uneven global development; political geography; and space and social theory.

Environmental Geography. Global environmental change; natural and technological hazards; environmental justice; remote sensing; GIS applications; resource management; land use; political ecology; gender; development; critical forestry, fisheries, and wildlife studies; and environmental risks and planning.

Physical Geography. Quaternary studies; global and regional climate change; cryospheric dynamics; coastal geomorphology; coastal management; groundwater and water supply; biogeography; and invasive species.

The geography department is linked with various research institutes, programs, and other departments at the university. In addition to core coursework in geography, graduate students are encouraged to enroll in courses relevant to their research interests in other units of the university. A two-course sequence focused on the history and theory of geography and research design and methods is required of all students.

For the Ph.D., a minimum of 72 credits is required. Of the total credit load, 48 credits should be in coursework beyond the bachelor's degree and at least 24 credits should be in dissertation research. In consultation with their advisers, students select a faculty committee. Upon completion of coursework, they submit a dissertation proposal and take the qualifying examination.

The master's degree program requires 30 credits beyond a bachelor's degree, with a minimum of 24 of those credits taken in coursework. The master of arts (M.A.) degree is awarded to students specializing in human geography, and the master of science (M.S.) degree to those who focus on physical geography.

Applicants for the graduate program in geography should hold an appropriate, accredited undergraduate degree, although this need not be in geography. Four criteria guide the admissions process: (1) a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or better (or equivalent for international students); (2) competitive Graduate Record Examination general test scores; (3) strong letters of recommendation from at least three references; and (4) a persuasive and well-focused personal statement describing academic goals and research interests. Financial support through teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and university fellowships is available on a competitive basis to students with excellent qualifications. Applicants seeking financial aid should submit applications by January 15.

Further information can be obtained from the current edition of the booklet Graduate Study in Geography at Rutgers University, available from the department office or by visiting the department's website.

 
For additional information, contact RU-info at 732-932-info (4636) or colonelhenry.rutgers.edu.
Comments and corrections to: Campus Information Services.

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