The Department of Geography offers a Master of Arts degree that prepares students for a variety of professions, including careers in academics, research, public service, and the private sector. The MA program has a high success rate of preparing students for doctoral study in top-tier geography departments across the United States.
A primary strength of the department is the blending of major research facilities and opportunities with individual student-faculty interaction to build a strong sense of community. Students interested in questions of human geography, the physical environment, or geographic information sciences will find that the department has facilities and faculty expertise to build a successful plan of study.
Core areas of study in the department include human geography, nature/society relationships, physical-environmental systems, and application of geographic information sciences. The faculty has an active program of research and field work in North America, the Middle East and Middle America. They pride themselves on a creative instructional and interdisciplinary pattern of activity. The department emphasizes close contact between faculty and graduate students.
Individualized graduate programs allow latitude in areas of specialization such as regional, cultural, and physical geography, as well as geographic information sciences, remote sensing, environmental studies and geographic education. Strong collateral course work in such fields as anthropology, soil and atmospheric science, economics, geology, political science, forestry, computer science and history meets the special interests of many graduate students.
Degrees Offered
Master's
On Campus
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
| Entrance Term | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
| Fall | February 15 (to be considered for financial support) | April 1 |
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Preparation for graduate work in geography should include undergraduate courses in geography. Upon consultation with their advisor, students with insufficient background work in geography may be required to take additional undergraduate courses.
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Geography Program
All elements of the application including those required by the department are submitted through the Graduate School online application. For complete instructions, see the Department of Geography website.
- Statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- Departmental application (built into the Graduate School online application)
- GRE scores optional
Graduate Certificate
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 18
Certificate description: An education in geospatial intelligence theories, methods, and applications is central to many problem-solving tasks and as such, students with proficiency in these areas are well-suited for an array of employment positions in sectors such as academia, military, intelligence analysis, emergency response and disaster management, law enforcement, etc.
Certificate web site:
https://geography.missouri.edu/current-students/geospatial-intelligence
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
- Summer semester: Rolling
- Fall semester: Rolling
- Spring semester: Rolling
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Graduate Certificate Program
- Unofficial Transcripts
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: Students from a wide range of disciplines will benefit from students with the theoretical, practical and technical skills that are essential for the analysis of spatial data. Learners become proficient in the use and application of GIS technologies through a flexible set of courses and hands-on experiences. The program offers the training and experience necessary to prepare for the rapidly expanding professional opportunities available in the diverse set of fields that depend on geographic information.
Certificate web site:
https://geography.missouri.edu/current-students/geographic-information-science
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
- Summer semester: Rolling
- Fall semester: Rolling
- Spring semester: Rolling
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Graduate Certificate Program
- Unofficial Transcripts
Interdisciplinary Degree
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Stand Alone: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: Students from a wide range of disciplines will benefit from students with the theoretical, practical and technical skills that are essential for the analysis of spatial data. Learners become proficient in the use and application of GIS technologies through a flexible set of courses and hands-on experiences. The program offers the training and experience necessary to prepare for the rapidly expanding professional opportunities available in the diverse set of fields that depend on geographic information.
Certificate web site:
https://geography.missouri.edu/current-students/geographic-information-science
Admission Criteria
Application Deadlines
- Summer semester: Rolling
- Fall semester: Rolling
- Spring semester: Rolling
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Graduate Certificate Program
- Unofficial Transcripts