Graduation Requirements

Generally speaking, all graduate students in the Department of Geography (excluding those Masters students who are in the Non-thesis program with comprehensive examination) will automatically be registered in their thesis course (Masters: GEOG 599; Doctoral: GEOG 699) before term starts, as long as their tuition/student fee account is not in red (under Financial Hold due to no/late payment).

For students who are in the first year of their graduate program (M.A., M.Sc., or Ph.D.), please remember to register into GEOG 500 (for physical geographers) or GEOG 520 (for human geographers), whichever is relevant, as it is part of the graduation requirement. The Department also encourages all Ph.D. candidates to take a range of the graduate courses offered in order to prepare for the comprehensive examinations.

In addition, should any one wish to take either GEOG 507 (Directed Studies in Physical Geography) or GEOG 547 (Directed Reading in Human Geography), please obtain approval from the Graduate Committee before registration - the course instructor, along with the student, has to prepare a course objective/outline, and submit it to the Graduate Chair.

Finally, students are of course permitted to take courses in other departments (wherever relevant), which are deemed useful and appropriate to their research. However, the Department strongly encourages students to discuss with their supervisor and work out a study plan before making their final registration.

To register for your courses, simply go to SSC (Student Service Centre) and log in with your student no. and password (if you have never change your password, it will be YYMMDD of your birthday). Then under "myServices", click onto "Registration" and highlight the session you want to register in. After you clicked on it, you will be able to add or drop a course.

Master´s Programme

Candidates for the Master's degree are required to complete a minimum of 30 credits in their program, consisting of at least 24 credits of courses numbered 500 and above (including thesis/major essay) and up to 6 credits of courses at the 300 or 400 level.

Master of Arts (M.A.) - Thesis Program (30 credits)

1. Thesis : GEOG 599 (15 credits)
2. Courses 500-level and above : 9 credits including GEOG 520 or GEOB 500
3. Courses 300-level and above : 6 credits (maximum)

Master of Arts (M.A.) - Non-thesis Program with Comprehensive Examination (30 credits)

1. Major Essay : GEOG 548 (0 credit)
2. Courses 500-level and above : 24 credits
3. Courses 300-level and above : 6 credits (maximum)

Master of Science (M.Sc.) - Thesis Program (30 credits)

1. Thesis : GEOG 599 (15 credits)
2. Courses 500-level and above : 9 credits including GEOB 500
3. Courses 300-level and above : 6 credits (maximum)

Master of Science (M.Sc.) - Non-thesis Program with Comprehensive Examination (30 credits)

1. Major Essay : GEOG 548 (0 credit)
2. Courses 500-level and above : 24 credits
3. Courses 300-level and above : 6 credits (maximum)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme

Human Geography

Requirements for PhD students continuing from our Master’s program:

• Not less than three seminars (at least one from department)
  9 credits

Requirements for new entrants to the program at the PhD level:

• GEOG 520: 3 credits
• Not less than two seminars (at least one from department)
  6 credits

Physical Geography

Requirements for PhD students continuing from our Master’s program:

• Not less than three courses (at least one from department)
  9 credits

Requirements for new entrants to the program at the PhD level:

• GEOB 500: 3 credits
• Not less than two courses: 6 credits

Minimum Graduation Requirement:

1. GEOB 500 or GEOG 520
2. Thesis : GEOG 699
3. Admission to candidacy in 2nd year (no later than 3rd year)
4. Completion of comprehensive examination
5. Final FGS defense
6. Submission of approved thesis