# 2026-2027 Course Catalog

**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/geography-phd/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/

*for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography*

---

Students must complete the course requirements as determined by their individually planned program, initiate and complete research projects, and qualify for doctoral candidacy by passing both the departmental qualifying exam and the Graduate College preliminary exam. Although we do not have a foreign language requirement, students may choose to study a foreign language to aid in their research.

## **Admission**

Students applying for admission to the PhD program are expected to have a strong undergraduate background in geography and/or related disciplines. In addition to other Graduate College admission requirements, a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) in the undergraduate major is required. PhD candidates are generally expected to have at least a 3.5 average in previous graduate work.

*GRE scores are not required or evaluated for admission to our graduate programs.*

## **Assistantships and Fellowships**

Geography graduate students generally receive tuition/fee waivers and monthly stipends from teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships.

## **Graduate Teaching Experience**

Although teaching is not a Graduate College requirement, it is an important part of the graduate experience in this program. We have implemented a professionalization program where graduate students work with faculty members to receive advice and gain first-hand experience in teaching undergraduate courses. Several of our graduate students have also had the opportunity to serve as lead instructor for introductory-level geography courses.

## **Facilities and Resources**

The department hosts several state-of-the-art research laboratories maintained by individual faculty members. The [CyberInfrastructure and Geospatial Information (CIGI) Lab](https://cigi.illinois.edu/), housed in the department, researches and develops cutting-edge cyberinfrastructure to advance geospatial science and technologies. The department also houses the [CyberGIS Center for Advanced Digital & Spatial Studies](https://cybergis.illinois.edu/) whose mission is to empower advanced digital and spatial studies through innovation of CyberGIS technologies and applications. The lab utilizes several high-performance computers and servers to perform computationally intensive geographic analysis and problem solving in various research, education, and outreach contexts.

## **Map and Geography Library**

The University Library has a substantial collection of geography books and journals. Most of the new and more recent books are located in the [Social Sciences, Health, and Education Library (SSHEL)](https://www.library.illinois.edu/sshel/); nearly all geography journals are available full-text through the University Library’s website. The [Map Library](https://www.library.illinois.edu/max/) holds a collection of over 626,000 maps and aerial photographs. and houses an extensive collection of books on cartography and geographic information science. Map Library and University Library [Scholarly Commons](https://www.library.illinois.edu/sc/) staff can also help students locate geospatial data.

*for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography*

---

### Entering with approved MA/MS degree

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [GGIS 471](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20471 "GGIS 471") | Modern Geographic Thought | 4 |
| [GGIS 491](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20491 "GGIS 491") | Research in Geography | 2 |
| Doctoral students are required to demonstrate competence in a specific research technique | |  |
| Students must fulfill program requirements specific to their specialty area | |  |
| [GGIS 599](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20599 "GGIS 599") | Thesis Research (4 min applied toward degree) | 4 |
| Total Hours | | 64 |

#### Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements

 | Requirement | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Other requirements may overlap |  |
| Minimum Hours Overall Required Within the Unit: | 24 |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |

### Entering with approved BA/BS degree

Course List

     | Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| At least two graduate-level courses on analytical research methods (at least one of which must be in geographic information systems (GIS) or related geospatial techniques) | |  |
| [GGIS 471](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20471 "GGIS 471") | Modern Geographic Thought | 4 |
| [GGIS 491](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20491 "GGIS 491") | Research in Geography | 2 |
| Doctoral students are required to demonstrate competence in a specific research technique | |  |
| Students must fulfill program requirements specific to their specialty area | |  |
| [GGIS 599](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20599 "GGIS 599") | Thesis Research (4 min applied toward degree) | 4 |
| Total Hours | | 96 |

#### Other Requirements

Grad Other Degree Requirements

 | Requirement | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Other requirements may overlap |  |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 12 (8 in GGIS) |
| Must complete a major research paper of publishable quality approved by the student’s advisory committee. |  |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |

\
Please refer to the [Graduate College Handbook](https://grad.illinois.edu/handbooks-policies) for additional details and requirements.

*for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography*

---

1. All graduate students will have a fundamental understanding of the history and philosophies of geography in all its diversity and breadth.
2. All graduate students will have knowledge of the latest trends and developments in geography as social science, a discipline increasingly rooted in geographic information science, and physical science.
3. All graduate students will have a deep and nuanced comprehension of the latest conceptual developments in their selected research areas.
4. All graduate students will have the ability to formulate a research problem, know the proper conceptual tools and methods to appropriately address it, and properly place it in evolving, relevant literature.
5. All graduate students will have a strong knowledge of proper ethical conduct in the performance and completion of advanced research.

---

## **Graduate Degree Programs in Geography:**

- [CyberGIS and Geospatial Data Science, MS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/cyberGIS-geospatial-data-science-ms/) (online)
- [Geography, MA](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/geography-ma/)
- [Geography, MS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/geography-ms/)
  - **concentrations:**
    - [Geographic Information Science - Professional Science Master's](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/geography-ms/geographic-information-science-professional-science-masters/)
    - [Computational Science & Engineering](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/engineering/concentration/computational-science-engineering/)
- [Geography, PhD](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/las/geography-phd/)
  - **concentration:**
    - [Computational Science & Engineering](https://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/engineering/concentration/computational-science-engineering/)

We offer a program leading to the **Master of Science** degree in geography with the following specializations:

- [**Geographic Information Science**](https://ggis.illinois.edu/research/areas/geographic-information-science)
  - Geographic information systems; Dynamic modeling of ecological and social systems; Geocomputation and CyberGIS; Aerial photo analysis; Remote sensing; Inter-regional input-output modeling; Regional science; Spatial analysis
- [**River, Watershed, and Landscape Dynamics**](https://ggis.illinois.edu/research/areas/river-watershed-and-landscape-dynamics)
  - Fluvial geomorphology; Watershed science and management; Aerial photo analysis; Ecosystem dynamics

*for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography*

---

## **Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science**

Department Head: Dr. Julie Cidell\
Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Chunyuan Diao (as of Spring 2025)\
Natural History Building, Second Floor\
1301 W. Green Street\
Urbana, IL 61801\
(217) 333-1880\
[geography@illinois.edu](mailto:geography@illinois.edu)\
[Department of Geography & GIS website](https://ggis.illinois.edu/)

## **College of Liberal Arts & Sciences**

[College of Liberal Arts & Sciences website](https://las.illinois.edu/)

## **Admissions**

[Graduate College Admissions & Requirements](https://grad.illinois.edu/admissions/apply)