Graduate Studies in the Department of Geography

The M.A. program in Geography at GWU has, on average, 15 to 20 students in residence each year. The program requires of a minimum of 30 credit hours (thesis option) or 36 hours (non-thesis option). Students taking the non-thesis option have to complete a comprehensive exam. With a faculty to graduate student ratio of 1:2 within geography, graduate students receive careful mentoring and advising.

All graduate students are required to take Geography 201 (Geographic Thought and Methods) and Geography 221 (Geospatial Techniques). Additional course work taken should be appropriate to the students' interests. Please consult the Courses page on this website for a full listing of Graduate level courses offered by the department. With permission, a limited number of 100-level undergraduate courses may be taken for graduate credit, though additional coursework will be required. Students are encouraged to submit research proposals at the end of their first year to be considered for funding from the Campbell Graduate Student Summer Research Awards.

The M.A. program in Geography trains young professionals in areas of human and physical geography, while making sure that students have a working knowledge of various geospatial techniques. The graduate program has four core areas of focus that reflect the research interests of our faculty:

• Urban Environment

• Development and Sustainability

• Human Migration and Mobility

• Applied Geospatial Techniques

In addition to these core interests, the Geography faculty members also have regional expertise in North America, Latin America, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and the Arctic .

Many of our Masters students pursue rewarding careers in governmental and non-governmental institutions and in the private sector. Recent MA students are employed at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID), the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the Brookings Institution, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Geographic, and various local planning agencies. Other graduates from this Department have gone on to pursue PhDs in top graduate programs.

Depending on the chosen field of specialization, students are encouraged to take electives from related programs and departments within the University. We have an excellent working relationship with many of the University's other programs, and students may find courses appropriate to their field of study from areas such as: International Affairs, Engineering, Economics, Public Policy, Public Health, Anthropology, American Studies, and Sociology. There is a limit to the number of classes allowed from outside the department, so students are encouraged to consult their advisors when choosing electives.

GWU also has the advantage of being within the Washington DC Consortium of Universities. Therefore, students can take associated courses in other departments at the University of Maryland , American University , Catholic University , Howard University , Georgetown and George Mason. Again, there is a limit to the number of allowed consortium courses, so please consult your advisor before registering for a particular class.

Should you wish to apply to the Geography graduate program, please remember that applications for admission are made through the Columbian College Graduate School, which then forwards the applications to the geography department program.

Fellowships & Assistantships

We have a number of Graduate Student Assistantships as well as Grader positions. Applications for assistantships/grading positions are evaluated by the geography department, following admission, and awards are made on the basis of academic qualifications. Awards are granted for one year, with the understanding that if assistantships are available and if the student maintains good academic standing, the award will be renewed for a second year.

Application Deadlines:

Fall Semester - April 1
Spring Semester - October 1

Please note: the Fall deadline for international students requiring a student visa is January 17; the Spring deadline is September 1.

Deadline for fellowship consideration for the Fall semester is also January 17. All fellowships begin in the fall semester.

Applications received and/or completed after the deadline will still be referred to the appropriate department for review by general admissions. Because of enrollment constraints, sometimes we are unable to review applications after the deadline.

If you wish to visit the department, or speak to a graduate advisor directly, please contact:

Dr. Elizabeth Chacko, PhD (Graduate Advisor)

Associate Professor of Geography and International Affairs
The George Washington University
Department of Geography
1922 F St, NW
Washington DC 20052
202-994-5328

Email Dr. Elizabeth Chacko

Links for Prospective Applicants

Applicants for the Geography Program must FIRST go through the general admissions process with the University. The department does not accept direct applications, nor do we keep the required forms. Applicants that meet the Columbian School of Arts & Social Sciences, minimum requirements, will be forwarded to the Department for evaluation. You have the option of an online or paper application.

Link to GWU General Admissions

(International Applicants have additional paperwork and deadline restrictions (January 17), so please consult the International Applicant section on the above link)

Apply NOW - Create an online application account with GWU

Link to the Columbian School of Arts & Social Sciences - Graduate Admissions (& FAQ)