Degrees Offered: Ph.D., M.A., M.Sc.
Members
Professors
T. J. Barnes, S. D. Donner, B. C. Eaton, M. D. Evenden, J. F. Glassman, M. Hassan, M. N. Koppes, M. Kuus, P. A. Le Billon, J. A. Peck, G. J. Pratt, J. Wang, E. K. Wyly.
Professors Emeriti
M. A. Church, D. W. Edgington, D. J. Gregory, G. H. R. Henry, D. J. Hiebert, B. Klinkenberg, D. F. Ley, D. M. McClung, T. G. McGee, I. G. McKendry, R. D. Moore, T. R. Oke, A. H. Siemens, O. H. Slaymaker, G.C. Wynn.
Associate Professors
L. R. Bergmann, J. A. Dempsey, P. Hudson, N. Klein, A. Lewis, J. R. Sundberg, J. L. Williams.
Assistant Professors
M. R. Arefin, J. Baada, A. Everhart, M. Fabris, P. Narayan, N. B. Schwartz, D. Valadares.
Program Overview
Programs in geographical sciences have a strong natural science emphasis. They focus on physical and ecological systems at or close to the earth's surface, and the interaction of these systems with people. The major substantive specializations are biogeography, climatology, GIS and remote sensing, geomorphology, and hydrology.
Programs in human geography are more pluralistic. Many projects explore the connections between human geography and political economy, social theory, and cultural studies and pursue their substantive implications for interpreting changes in past and present landscapes. Other work focuses on the political and policy aspects of these changes. Major areas of specialization are development geography, economic geography, feminist geography, historical geography, and social and cultural geography. Work in these fields often feeds into a strong general interest in urban geography and intersects with work in environmental geography.
Programs in regional geography focus on the following regions: Canada, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Russia and Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
The Department participates actively in many interdisciplinary programs: Polar and Alpine, Asian Studies, Canadian Studies, Community and Regional Planning, Comparative Literature, Global Studies, Hydrology, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Liu Centre for the Study of Global Issues, Remote Sensing, Resource Management and Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, Transportation Studies, Urban Studies, and Women's Studies. Field studies include ongoing projects in the Western Arctic and Cordilleran regions of Canada.
A detailed guide to graduate studies in Geography is available from the Department.
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program normally possess a master's degree in Geography or a related area, with clear evidence of research ability or potential. Transfer from a master's program to the Ph.D. program is permitted under Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regulations.
Part-time Doctoral Classification is also available. Students who wish to be classified as part-time must obtain approval from their proposed supervisor and graduate program advisor as part of the admission process. Once registered part-time, students cannot switch to full-time status.
Program Requirements
The Ph.D. program consists of a minimum 9 credits of coursework (including either GEOB or GEOS 500 or GEOG 520, unless the student has already completed one of these in the M.A. or M.Sc. program) as recommended by the research supervisor and/or doctoral committee, independent study, a spring review, comprehensive examination (both written and oral), and research leading to a dissertation meeting the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements.
Master of Arts
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the M.A. degree program normally possess a bachelor's degree in Geography or a related area, and must meet the general admission requirements for master's degree programs set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Program Requirements
There are two options for the M.A.:
- Thesis Option. This option requires a 15-credit thesis and 15 credits of coursework. The 15 credits of coursework must include either GEOB or GEOS 500 or GEOG 520 (3 credits), plus 6 additional credits at the 500-level or above.
- Non-thesis Option. This option requires 30 credits of coursework (including a major essay) and a comprehensive examination. At least 24 credits must be at the 500-level or above.
Master of Science
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the M.Sc. degree program normally possess a bachelor's degree in Geography or a related area, and must meet the general admission requirements for master's degree programs set by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Program Requirements
There are two options for the M.Sc.:
- Thesis Option. This option requires a 15-credit thesis and 15 credits of Science-credit coursework. Coursework must include GEOB or GEOS 500 (3 credits) and 6 additional credits at the 500-level or above
- Non-thesis Option. This option requires 30 credits of science coursework (including a major essay) and a comprehensive examination. At least 24 credits must be at the 500-level or above.
Contact Information
Department of Geography
217-1984 West Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2
Tel: 604.822.2663
Fax: 604.822.6150
Email: graduate.program@geog.ubc.ca
Web: www.geog.ubc.ca
Student Services: Danny Wong or Suzanne Lawrence