I hope you will take the time to examine our course offerings and program requirements. Should you have any questions or should you wish to discuss our program, please email me.

Everything is spatial.....

Graduate Program in the Geosciences

The Department of Geography and Geology offers a Master of Science Degree in Geoscience through its graduate program. This program is designed to prepare students for the teaching of Geoscience at the junior and senior college level; to provide the initial graduate work for those who intend to pursue a doctoral degree; to enhance the preparation of secondary teachers of Geoscience and Earth Science who desire to meet certification requirements through such a program; and to prepare students for careers in environmental management, geology, planning, meteorology, and other Geoscience-based opportunities. The Graduate Geoscience program at WKU offers five main research concentrations:
Geospatial Analysis (GIS); Teacher Education (Earth Sciences and Geography); Earth Science (Physical Geography, Geology, Atmospheric Science); Environmental Science (Water Resources, Cave and Karst, Sustainability); and Planning, Culture, and Society (City and Regional Planning, Transportation, Cultural Geography, Regional Studies).

The Department offers two graduate programs leading to the Master of Science degree:
Plan A - RESEARCH : twenty-four hours of course work plus a six-hour traditional research thesis;
Plan B - TEACHING AND LEADERSHIP: This option is available only for (a) K-12 teachers who are employed full-time in an accredited K-12 school, or (b) students pursuing a joint Master's degree in Leadership Studies or other approved joint degree program. Requires (a) thirtysix hours of course work (Teaching option) or (b) 36-40 hours of course work (Leadership/Joint Program Option), including a research project, practicum, or other culminating experience ;
Within each program, students choose an area of concentration for their studies and work closely with a principal advisor. Full details of the semester-by-semester schedule, along with schedule dates for thesis proposals and presentation, are available at: Graduate Timetable. In addition, persons with a teaching certificate may apply for entry into the Master of Arts in Education program with either a major or a minor in Geoscience.

Basic information about the program (such as admissions guidelines and financial assistance) can be found below. Requirements for completing the M.Sc. or certification can be found on the appropriate pages. Email the main office to request brochures. More specific inquiries about the graduate program should be directed to the Graduate Coordinator, Prof. David Keeling.

Contact the Department: You can contact the Department of Geography and Geology directly by regular mail, email, by telephone, or by fax. Mail your inquires to:

Graduate Program in Geoscience
Department of Geography and Geology
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green KY 42101-1066
Telephone: 1-270-745-4555
Fax: 1-270-745-6410

Admissions Guidelines: Applicants for the M.Sc. degree should have an accredited Bachelor's degree with approximately a "B" average and a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score that provide a GAP score (GPA times GRE score) of 2,200 or more. A Writing Assessment score of 3.5 or better is required with the new GRE test. A one-page written statement of the applicant's research interests should accompany the graduate application.
An advanced examination is not required. Students should have at least 15 undergraduate hours in science courses, preferably in the geosciences. Undergraduate degrees in geography, geology, geoscience, or environmental science are preferred for students wishing to pursue research supported by faculty grants and contracts. International students must demonstrate written and oral competency in the English language at a level sufficient for graduate study.
All students are required to take as research preparation/tool courses, GEOG 317 (Geographic Information Science) AND GEOG 391 (Spatial Statistics) unless they have taken an equivalent course elsewhere. These courses can be taken at the undergraduate level prior to admission or as part of the graduate program. Students without adequate undergraduate preparation in either a geography or geology program are required to take 3-6 hours in introductory geography (GEOG 100 and 110) and 4 hours in introductory geology (GEOL 111/113 or GEOL 112/114) courses. No credit towards the graduate degree is awarded for preparation courses.
For application information, see the WKU Graduate Studies page. Full admissions details and all relevant admission forms are also available at the Graduate Admissions website. International student admission requirements are also available online at the Graduate School website. Requests for application forms also may be addressed directly to:

Graduate Studies and Research
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green KY 42101-3576

Financial Assistance: A limited number of graduate assistantships carrying stipends of at least $9,500 for the academic year are available to students of demonstrated ability who pursue a Master of Science degree and who have an acceptable GAP score. The GAP score for an assistantship must be at least 2200. (GAP = Undergraduate GPA x [Verbal + Quantitative] with a 3.5 or higher on the Writing Assessment). Additional funding is available through grant-funded research projects in the Department's research centers. Recipients assist faculty members in research and other professional activities. Out-of-state students who receive assistantships will have a portion of their fees awarded as a scholarship. Contact the Graduate Studies office for more information about assistantships.
Financial assistance is also available through various federal and local loan programs, the G.I. Bill, and campus employment. For more detailed information concerning these programs, see Financial Assistance Office page or contact:

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Last Revised: July 30, 2008.
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