• How to: committees, theses, exams, warrants.
• 36 credits of course work, of which at least 18 must be graduate credits, i.e., courses numbered 500, 600, or 700. If a thesis is being written, 9 of these credits must be Geog 700 (Thesis Preparation) AND at least 18 credits of numerically graded coursework in 400- and 500-level courses.
• Courses at the 300-level in a supporting field may be counted toward the total credit requirement if approved by the student's Supervisory Committee. However, 300-level courses are not included in the grade point average.
• A minimum of three full-time (at least 9 credits) quarters of residence credits. Part-time quarters may be accumulated to meet one quarter's worth of this requirement.
• History of Geographic Thought: Geog 512
• One 400-level course in analytical methods, from among Geog 425 (Qualitative Methods in geography), Geog 426 (Quantitative Methods), Geog 440 (Regional Analysis),  Geog 460 (GIS Analysis), Geog 461 (Urban GIS), or Geog 471 (Methods of Resource Analysis).
• Satisfactory completion of at least three quarters of Geog 598, the departmental colloquium, usually taken during the first year in the program.
• Satisfactory completion of Geog 597, Tutorial For Graduate Students. At the conclusion of Geog 597, the student shall write a revised statement of academic objectives.
• The completion of at least two departmental research seminars numbered 500 and above, but not including Geog 502, 5l2, 513, 515 or other nonspecialized courses.
• A grade of at least 3.0 in all departmental courses, and a grade of at least 2.7 in all related courses used to satisfy degree requirements. An overall grade point average of 3.0, and what the student's Supervisory Committee deems satisfactory progress towards the degree must be maintained in order to remain in the program.
• All work for the degree must be completed within six years.
• A thesis (or two publishable papers), accepted by a supervisory committee, and required to follow a specific format set by the Graduate School. Students are encouraged to consult with the Graduate School before submitting a final copy. The thesis (or a set of two high quality research papers) is judged according to professional standards of organization, presentation of appropriate evidence, thorough use of an appropriate methodology, and a generally readable writing style.
• A Final Examination, constituting a defense of the thesis (or papers) upon completion of the thesis (or papers). The student's Supervisory Committee may, however, elect to combine an oral examination requiring general competence in geography and the thesis defense in a single Final Examination.
• Are you ready to graduate? Check the Master's Student Checklist.

Doctoral Degree:

• How to: committees, theses, exams, warrants.
• Presentation of 90 credits, 60 of which must be taken at the University of Washington.
• Completion of a program of study formulated through consultation with the student's Supervisory Committee. Half of the credits (including dissertation, Geog 800) must be in courses numbered 500 and above. Numerical grades must be received for 18 quarter credits of coursework at the University of Washington prior to the scheduling of the General Examination. This includes approved 400-level courses and all 500-level courses. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required.
• Evidence and Explanation in Contemporary Geography (Geog 515).
• Post-Master's students who have not previously completed a course on the History of Geographic Thought (Geog 512) must complete such a course before taking Geog 515.
• Satisfactory completion of at least three quarters of Geog 598, the departmental colloquium, usually taken during the first year in the program.
• Satisfactory completion of Geog 597, Tutorial For Graduate Students. At the conclusion of Geog 597, the student shall write a revised statement of academic objectives.
• Two 400-level courses in analytical methods, from among Geog 425 (Qualitative Methods in geography), Geog 426 (Quantitative Methods), Geog 440 (Regional Analysis), Geog 460 (GIS Analysis), Geog 461 (Urban GIS), or Geog 471 (Methods of Resource Analysis).
• Entering Post-Master's students who have already completed one of these courses or their equivalents are required to complete only one additional analytical methods courses, subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Coordinator.
• The completion of at least two departmental research seminars numbered 500 and above, but not including Geog 502, 5l2, 513, 515 or other nonspecialized seminars. This requirement may be satisfied if the two seminars were taken while earning an MA degree in this program.
• Submission of a scholarly article to a professionally-reviewed academic journal; or successful application for research support from external agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, the Ford Foundation, the Fulbright Commission, etc. Additional writing credits may be earned by registering for Geog 599. The publication may be jointly authored with a faculty member or other graduate student.
• A minimum grade of 3.0 must be earned in all Geography courses, and a grade of 2.7 or higher must be obtained in all courses in related fields used to satisfy the doctoral degree credit requirement.
• Evidence of reading competence in one foreign language, or a sound level of competence in one cognate field of concentration as determined by the student's Supervisory Committee. (See below, "Foreign Language Requirements and Cognate Fields").
• A departmental written and oral Preliminary Examination is required, normally by the end of the third quarter in residence. Post-Master's students seeking entry into the Ph.D. program must take the Departmental Preliminary Examination during their first year of enrollment. The Preliminary Examination, or designated parts, may be retaken once. Especially for students with Master's degrees from fields other than geography, the examination is intended to test the student's general competence in geography. The written portion is intended to evaluate mastery of the student's declared areas of competence within geography and related fields. The Preliminary Examination serves as an indicator of further training that may be required. It also serves as an occasion for the articulation of the cognate field, and usually leads to the formation of a doctoral supervisory committee.
• Successful completion of a Graduate School General Examination, normally held at the end of two years (six quarters) of study. The Supervisory Committee will examine the student's qualifications and competency to undertake dissertation research, and will evaluate the student's general training in geography and in the field of specialization. Normally, the oral examination will be preceded by a written examination.
• Preparation and acceptance by the Dean of the Graduate School of a dissertation. The candidate is expected to register for a minimum of 27 credits of dissertation over a period of at least three quarters. Students can register for Dissertation credit (Geog 800) for the quarter in which the General Examination is scheduled.
• All work for the doctoral degree must be completed successfully within ten years.
• Are you ready to graduate? Check the Doctoral Student Checklist.

How to...

The Faculty Adviser and the Thesis Advisory Committee

A student entering the program should meet as soon as possible with the Graduate Program Coordinator, to review degree requirements and discuss the choice of first-year coursework. At this meeting, the Graduate Program Coordinator and student should agree on a preliminary faculty adviser to assist the student in matters of scholarship and professional preparation, as well as in planning future coursework. The adviser will serve in this capacity until the Chair for the student's Master's Program is appointed.

A member of the graduate faculty shall chair this committee whose research interests match those of the student. Ordinarily, the Committee is appointed by the beginning of the second quarter of coursework, and no later than the third quarter of coursework. The Committee consists of from two to four members, two of whom, including the Committee chair, must be members of the Geography graduate faculty. The student's Advisory Committee will be responsible for deciding the nature of the examination(s) to be taken as part of the requirements for the MA degree. The nature of the examination(s) and the expectations of the Advisory Committee will be communicated in writing to the student.

The first year of study is devoted primarily to advanced 400-level courses and research seminars, as well as foundations courses in the history of the discipline (Geog 512), qualitative and quantitative analysis (425) (426) and GIS analysis (460). Students are also required to take a tutorial course (597), both familiarizing them with the graduate faculty and their research interests and allowing first-year students to write an academic plan.

Writing the Master's Thesis

The student should work closely with the Committee at the preliminary stages of the Thesis, particularly in defining the subject and methodology. All proposals, drafts and final versions shall first be approved by the Thesis Adviser (Committee Chair), and subsequently distributed to all members of the Committee. Committee members normally offer written comments to the Committee Chair indicating approval or disapproval of the Thesis. The student should sign up for 9 credits of Master's Thesis (Geog 700). Nine credits are required, and they can be spread over several quarters. No more than 9 credits of Geog 700 may be used to satisfy the master's degree credit requirement.

Applying for the Master's Degree

During the final quarter in which the student expects to fulfill all requirements and receive his/her degree, he/she must be registered.

Instructions for submitting and processing a Master's Degree Request
Students must submit master's degree requests on the web. Students may submit a request from the 1st day of the quarter they expect to graduate until the Sunday (midnight Pacific Time) of the 7th* week of the quarter they expect to graduate. If students miss the deadline, they may submit a request until the Sunday (midnight Pacific Time) of the 9th* week of the quarter they expect to graduate if they pay a $250 graduate degree late fee. If degree requirements are not met in the requested quarter and/or students neglect to pay the late fee, they must submit another degree request for the quarter in which they expect to complete requirements. Please see the graduate school website for complete details and application.

Transcripts are evaluated for minimum Graduate School requirements (see above). Approved warrants are then returned to the department for departmental approval at the conclusion of the Final Examination.

If the student does not meet the minimum Graduate School requirements, a void letter is sent to her/him with a copy to the Graduate Program Coordinator. Void letters explain why the application can not be approved. Occasionally, an application is approved with a contingency written on the front page. The completion of this contingency will be necessary for the degree and must be done before the degree can be conferred.

By signing the warrant, normally after successful completion of the Final Examination and acceptance of the Thesis, the student's committee certifies that the student has met all departmental requirements for the degree. Occasionally, a department may indicate a contingency which must be met before the degree is to be awarded (for example: satisfactory completion of a required course in the student's current program, or removal of an incomplete.) If so, the Graduate School will verify that it has been met before conferring the degree. If no departmental contingencies are listed on the front of the signed warrant, and on-line, it will be assumed that all departmental requirements have been met. "Recommend Graduation" must be entered on-line in My Grad Program by authrized department personnel (GPA or GPC) to the Graduate School no later than the final day of final examinations for that quarter. If two copies of the thesis and the on-line recommendation are not returned to the Graduate School by the last day of final examinations, the student must register for the following quarter.

The Final Examination

In consultation with the student and the Committee, the Chair will schedule the Final Examination. The Committee shall decide whether to schedule a General Master's Examination prior to the Final Examination (Thesis Defense). On the day of the Final Examination, the Committee Chairperson obtains the Master's warrant from the department office. If the student is successful, the Master's warrant is signed and the student should obtain the Chair's signature on the title page of the Thesis. The results must be reported to the Graduate School on-line by the last day of final examinations for that quarter. The warrant is kept in the student's file.

For the thesis degree, the student, in person, must present two copies to the Graduate School no later than the last day of final examinations in the quarter in which the student expects to receive the degree. The Graduate School strongly encourages students to bring copies of their thesis to a thesis adviser for review early enough for any formatting problems to be resolved. Thesis advisers are available to accept and review theses between 8-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. in the Graduate School,G-1 Communications Building.

Students will be given a receipt for the thesis once it has been accepted. The notice of the award of the degree will appear on the University of Washington transcript 3-4 weeks after the end of the quarter in which the degree is conferred. Diplomas will be mailed by the Graduations Office (207 Schmitz Hall, 543-5930) at the end of the following quarter (i.e. approximately three months after the degree is conferred).

Students interested in continuing on to the PhD program, must check with their committee and Chair.

Post-master's Status

Entering the doctoral program entails first entering the post-Master's program. While in this program, the successful completion of the Preliminary Examination results in the recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School for the appointment of a Supervisory Committee. The establishment of the Committee denotes formal entry by the successful student into the Ph.D. program.

The Preliminary Doctoral Supervisory Committee

A Preliminary Doctoral Supervisory Committee is to be formed by agreement of the proposed faculty members and the student. Normally, this committee should be formed within two quarters of the student's admittance into the post-Master’s program. This committee should consist of three faculty members, two of whom should be Geography faculty members with graduate faculty status. The third faculty member can be from the Geography faculty or from outside the department, and is not required to be a member of the graduate faculty. The chair of the committee should be a geography faculty member with an endorsement to chair doctoral committees. This committee shall oversee the preliminary examination.

The Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination is intended for assessment and advising purposes. It gives both the student and faculty an opportunity to ascertain the student's strengths and weaknesses, given the aspirations of the student in the field in which she/he wishes to demonstrate competence. It also helps the Committee (1) articulate the most effective curriculum relative to preparation for the student's General Examinations and dissertation writing, and, (2) determine the appropriate cognate field or Foreign Language preparation.

The Preliminary Examination has two parts; although the exact nature of the examination is left to the Committee's discretion, it will typically include:

1) a written examination, the format of which is determined by the Supervisory Committee; and, 2) an oral examination, usually 2 hours. Those students who do not pass their first Preliminary Examination will be given a written assessment of their performance and the Committee's expectations if the student is asked to retake the examination. When relevant, the Advisory Committee will make an assessment of the student's qualifications to continue to hold a graduate student service appointment in the Department of Geography. Students who fail the Retake Examination will normally be terminated from the program.

The Doctoral Supervisory Committee

The Doctoral Supervisory Committee is formed when the department sends a request to the Graduate School to establish a committee. Each member of the committee must have agreed to serve on the proposed committee. The Graduate Program Assistant (GPA) in the Geography Office enters the proposed committee on-line in My Grad Program. Rules regarding the makeup of this committee are specified in Graduate School Memorandum 13. At least two of the minimal four committee members must be Geography graduate faculty.

Foreign Language and Cognate Field Requirements

Competence in one or more foreign languages is expected in doctoral students in Geography when deemed necessary by the student's Post-Master's Advisory Committee. Such competence serves two functions: 1) An immediate research function, to enable the student to work with current relevant scholarly literature; and, 2) a general education function, serving both to provide the student more breadth and to improve the overall language competency of the geography field, making it more international in scope.

A student's Post-Master's Advisory Committee often decides that it is more appropriate for the student to develop a sound level of competence in an additional cognate field of concentration rather than becoming fluent in a foreign language. Attaining a sound level of competence in cognate fields of concentration will require that the student take part or all the work in his or her selected cognate field of concentration in another department or departments.

The student's Post-Master's Advisory Committee, after the successful passing of the Preliminary Examination, will determine the required level of competence in the selected foreign language(s) requirements or in the cognate field(s).

General Examinations and Candidacy

The student becomes a doctoral candidate (Ph.C.) after successful completion of the General Examination. Students are normally expected to complete the General Examination within two years of full-time study after admission to the post-Master's and doctoral program. They must complete 18 numerically graded credits in residence at the UW before scheduling the examination.

The General Examination is intended to measure both breadth (the student's theoretical understanding of the main fields of geography) and depth (the student's in-depth knowledge of a particular field or set of fields).

The General Examination is scheduled by the Graduate school after it receives a request to schedule the examination from the Department. This request must be sent to the Graduate School at least three weeks before the intended date for the General Examination. A form is available in the Geography office for these purposes. It identifies the time and location of the oral portion of the examination, and lists the names of the members of the Supervisory Committee. Each member must either sign this form or send an e-mail to the Graduate Program Assistant indicating that they can participate in the General Examination at the proposed time. (Please see the Graduate and Professional Study Catalog for additional information regarding this procedure). This form must be returned to the Graduate Program Assistant with the proper endorsement in time for its transmission to the Graduate School. The Chair of the Supervisory Committee or the student is responsible for obtaining the signatures or e-mail concurrence. This is not the responsibility of the Graduate Program Assistant.

Prior to the oral portion of the General Examination, the student takes a written examination in fields designated by the Supervisory Committee. The length, specificity and type of written examination is generally left to the discretion of the Committee, though all Committees aim to balance questions probing for both breadth and depth. The answers to these questions are circulated to the Supervisory Committee prior to the oral portion of the exam.

All members of the Supervisory Committee are to be notified by the Supervisory Committee Chair of the examination date, time and place. The oral portion of the General Examination may require the student to amplify upon, clarify or defend answers given on the written part, and may also include more general questions about the student's field of study.

If the student passes the General Examination, the signed application must be returned to the Graduate School by the last day of Final Examinations for that quarter in order for the student to receive candidacy for that quarter. Otherwise, candidacy is awarded the following quarter, requiring student registration.

If the student does not pass the General Examination, there are two possible recommendations that can be made by Supervisory Committee: (a) that the student be re-examined after a further period of study, or that (b) the student not continue in the graduate program. In the case of option (a), the Supervisory Committee determines the nature of the period of further study, and is responsible fore scheduling another examination, using the scheduling procedures described above. Please see the Graduate and Professional Study catalog for additional details on this option, as well as the procedures when option (b) is recommended by the Supervisory Committee.

Dissertation Proposal

A Doctoral student who has passed the General Examination will prepare and successfully defend a Ph.D. dissertation proposal within three consecutive quarters of achieving candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. This proposal should indicate: a) the topic to be investigated, b) the sources and methods to be used, and, c) the tentative organization. A bibliography should be appended.

Failure of the student to obtain approval for the Ph.D. dissertation proposal within the specified time limit will normally result in a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School that the student be terminated from the Ph.D. program in Geography.

Master's Students Check-List

This is a checklist, not a guide. Please read the appropriate section of the Graduate Student Handbook for more complete descriptions of required and recommended policies and procedures.
Consult with Graduate Program Coordinator to review degree requirements, discuss first year coursework, and decide on preliminary faculty adviser.
Faculty appoints preliminary Advisory Committee
Complete required departmental courses--usually Geography 512 and 597.
By the end of the first quarter, complete a plan of study.
Consult with Graduate Program Coordinator about setting up a Supervisory Committee.
In consultation with student, faculty appoints Supervisory Committee
Complete three quarters of full-time (at least 9 credits) residence.
Complete 18 credits of numerically graded coursework in 400- and 500-level courses.
Complete at least two 500-level research seminars in Geography other than Geography 502, 512 or 515.
Complete at least three quarters of Geography 598.
Have an overall GPA of at least 3.0
Complete 36 credits of overall coursework, at least 18 numerically-graded, and 9 of Geog 700 (Master's Thesis)
Submit the drafts of your Master's Thesis to your Supervisor and Supervisory Committee in an agreed-upon fashion
Consult the Graduate School's Style and Policy Manual For Theses and Dissertations for proper formatting rules.
Register for the quarter in which you expect to earn your MA.
Apply for the MA warrant (G-1 Communications Building) by the end of the second week of the quarter.
Committee Chair secures signed warrant and schedules examinations.
Committee Chair schedules Final Examination (Thesis Defense) and forwards results to Graduate School no later than the last day of final examinations for that quarter.
Submit two copies of Thesis to Graduate School

Suggested Timeline For Standard Academic Progress

Quarter 1: Get oriented; take required courses (usually Geog 597, 512, 598); talk with Graduate Program Coordinator about setting up an Advisory Committee; indicate a preferred faculty supervisor.
Quarter 2: Consult with Graduate Program Coordinator and request formation of Supervisory Committee.
Quarter 3: By end of quarter, have completed at least 15 graded credits at the 400 & 500 level, including at least one 500-level Geography research seminar (in addition to Geog 500 and 512, 502, 515).
Quarter 4: Complete the required 18 hours of graded coursework; submit Thesis proposal for Committee approval.
Quarter 5: Work on thesis.
Quarter 6 (or by beginning of third year): Finish MA Thesis; schedule Final Examination.

Doctoral Students Check-List

In consultation with Graduate Program coordinator, request initial Advisory Committee within two quarters of entering post-Master's program.
Within the first year in the post-Master's program, in consultation with Advisory Committee, schedule Preliminary Examination.
Within the first year in the program, complete required Geography courses--e.g., Geog 597 and Geog 512 and/or Geog 515.
Upon successful completion of Preliminary Examination, consult with Advisory Committee Chair to recommend to the Dean of the Graduate School the appointment of a Supervisory Committee.
Have Supervisory Committee appointed no less than four months prior to the General Examination.
Establish Foreign Language and/or Cognate Field Requirement with Supervisory Committee
Satisfy Foreign Language and Cognate Field Requirement
Complete three academic years of resident graduate study, at least two at the UW
Complete 18 credits of numerically-graded coursework at the 400 level prior to the General Examination, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
In consultation with Supervisory Committee Chair, select a date for General Examination.
Ask Graduate Program Coordinator or Supervisory Committee Chair to submit an Application for Admission to the General Examination (forms available from graduate school website) at least three weeks prior to the exam date. Both Chair and student must sign form.
Make sure department, Committee Chair or you contact all members of your Supervisory Committee as to date and time of General Examination at least three weeks ahead of time.
After successfully completing General Examination, make sure signed Application is returned to Graduate School no later than the last day of Final Examinations for that quarter in which you wish to receive Candidacy.
Upon achieving Candidacy, in consultation with Committee Chair, schedule a dissertation proposal meeting with your Supervisory Committee when you have completed your proposal. At this meeting, or shortly thereafter, you should also make sure you are clear about the procedures you will follow in submitting chapters or drafts of the dissertation: which parts, when, to whom, etc.
Consult the Graduate School's Style and Policy Manual For Theses and Dissertations for proper formatting rules.
As you near completion of your dissertation, have Committee Chair or Graduate Program Coordinator fill out a form requesting the formation of a Reading Committee. These forms are available from the department office.
Submit copies of dissertation to members of Reading Committee.
Three weeks before scheduling the Final Examination, make sure Committee Chair and members of Reading Committee have signed, and sent to Graduate School, a Request For Final Examination form, available in the department office. Note: the Reading Committee report does not accompany the final examination request.
Warrant for Final Examination mailed by Graduate School.
After the Final Examination, make sure Committee Chair has signed warrant and Reading Committee Report; take reports, graduation forms and two copies of dissertation to Graduate School by last day of final examinations.

Suggested Timelines For Standard Academic Progress

Doctoral Students Continuing From University of Washington MA Program in Geography:
Quarter 1: in consultation with Graduate Program Coordinator, select Adviser and appoint at least two other departmental members of Advisory Committee
Quarter 2: complete Preliminary Examination; in consultation with Adviser, appoint GFR and formal Supervisory Committee
Quarter 3: Complete 18 graded credits; complete first year of Foreign Language/Cognate Field requirement (in consultation with Supervisory Committee)
Quarters 4 and 5: complete General Examination, achieve Candidacy
Quarter 6: defend dissertation proposal

Third year: complete dissertation and Final Examination

Doctoral Students Entering From Another Master's Program:
Quarter 1: complete Geog 515 and other departmental course requirements; consultation with Graduate Program Coordinator on selection of Advisory Committee
Quarter 2: select Adviser and appoint at least two other departmental members of Advisory Committee
Quarter 3: complete Preliminary Examination; in consultation with Adviser, appoint GSR and formal Supervisory Committee; complete 18 graded credits
Quarter 4: continue progress of complete first year of Foreign Language/Cognate Field requirement (in consultation with Supervisory Committee)
Quarter 5: complete General Examination, achieve Candidacy
Quarter 6: defend dissertation proposal

Third year: complete dissertation and Final Examination