Geography Graduate Degree Program

Description
The Department of Geography provides a fundamental background for those seeking an interdisciplinary understanding of the world, offers training for careers in business, government, and teaching, prepares students for theoretical and applied work in geography, and prepares students to conduct original research. The programs focus on three areas:
  • Earth system science (hydrologic, atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial systems and the interactions between systems)
  • Human-environment relations (1. human spatial behavior, spatial decision making and decision support, 2. urban and regional modeling, planning, and policy, 3. human movement and transportation system, 4. resource and environmental management, 5. environmental ethics, and 6. human response to the changing environment)
  • Modeling, measurement, and computation (numerical modeling, spatial statistics, time series analysis, remote sensing, computational modeling and database systems, including GIS, and visualization).

    Ph.D. students may add an emphasis in Cognitive Science or Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences. Graduate students participate in programs of many major research centers, including the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, the Alexandria Digital Library, and the Institute for Computational Earth System Science.

    • General Information
    Website http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/
    Address Department of Geography
    University of California, Santa Barbara
    Ellison Hall, Room 1834
    Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4060
    (USA)
    Phone (805) 893-3663
    Email grad_assistant@geog.ucsb.edu
    Degrees Offered MA, MA/PhD, PhD
    Requirements
    • Online application: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp
    • Statement of Purpose with completed coversheets (2 copies)
    • Statement of Personal Achievements/Contributions (2 copies)
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) (2 copies)
    • Three Letters of Recommendation (Submitted online. Note: if submitted via postal mail, please attach required coversheets)
    • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (2 copies)
    • GRE General test scores
    • TOEFL scores 550 Paper-Based Test (PBT), 80 Internet-Based Test (IBT) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Overall Band score of 7 or higher (if applicable)
    Pre-Application No Pre-Application necessary
    Deadlines Fall Only - December 15, 2009
    Optional Emphases Cognitive Science; Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (Both Ph.D. only)