The University of Toledo
Visit
Apply
Give
The University of Toledo
Visit
Apply
Give
Search
Menu
Menu
  • Admissions
    • Admissions
    • Freshman
    • Online
    • Adult/Transfer/Military
    • International
    • Graduate/Professional
    • College Credit Plus
    • Guest
    • Admitted/New Rocket
  • Academics
    • Explore Majors and Programs
    • Academic Colleges
    • Arts and Letters
    • Business and Innovation
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Graduate Studies
    • Health and Human Services
    • Honors
    • Law
    • Medicine and Life Sciences
    • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
    • Nursing
    • Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
    • University College
  • Research
    • Areas of Research Excellence
    • Research News
    • Research and Sponsored Programs
    • Tech Transfer
    • Research Compliance
    • Human Research Protection Program
    • Economic Development
  • About
    • About UToledo
    • Mission
    • Senior Administration
    • Accreditation
    • Diversity
    • Student Outcomes
    • Expression on Campus
  • Athletics
  • Alumni
  • UTMC
  • Giving
  • MyUT
Main Menu
Academics
  • Academic Programs

Colleges

  • Arts and Letters
  • Business and Innovation
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Graduate Studies
  • Health and Human Services
  • Honors
  • Law
  • Medicine and Life Sciences
  • Natural Sciences and Mathematics
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • University College

Resources

  • Academic Calendar
  • Bookstore
  • Course Catalogs
  • Libraries
  • About UT
  • Campuses
  • Directions/Maps
  • Admission
  • Professional Licensure Information
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Campus Directory
  • Contact Us

Contact Us

1.800.586.5336 webmaster@utoledo.edu

Geography

Master of Arts (M.A.)

GIS technology and spatial analysis. Urban planning.
These are the skills UToledo geography and planning master's students acquire and the skills employers value.

GIS technology and spatial analysis. Urban planning.
These are the skills UToledo geography and planning master's students acquire and the skills employers value.

Geography Master's Degree Overview

The University of Toledo offers a broad graduate program in geography that: 

  • Blends geographical science (how humans interact with their environment) and planning and developing communities 
  • Fosters theoretical and applied research in geography and planning 
  • Promotes multicultural understanding 
  • Supports community outreach programs and grassroots organizations 

During the first years of the two-year program, UToledo graduate students take classes and focus on the comprehensive exam. During their second years, they complete their course work and focus on their theses. 

90% of graduates from the geography and planning master's program secure professional employment in their field or are accepted into prestigious doctoral programs. Some also go on to earn a Ph.D. in UToledo's spatially integrated social sciences program. 

Geography Master's Degree Highlights

Not your typical master's degree. Our graduate program prepares students for professional work with an intensive, multicultural curriculum. UToledo graduate students receive a well-rounded education in geography and planning, but also develop highly marketable technical skills. 

Local issues, global impact. UToledo students explore topics relevant in Toledo and around the world — climate change, economic development, neighborhood change, resource management, land-use conflict and population growth. 

Engaged faculty. From orientation to your comprehensive exam and thesis presentation —  geography and planning faculty offer sound advice and counseling. They are active in local water issues, have been invited to White House summits and been awarded Fulbright scholarships and millions of dollars in grants. 

Professional student groups. Join the American Association of Geographers and American Planning Association. As a graduate student, receive discounted membership rates, access to special student programs at professional meetings, opportunities to give presentations and financial support. 

World-class facilities and technologies. 

  • The Center for Geographic Information Sciences and Applied Geographics 
  • Lake Erie Center  
  • Computer lab, with 24/7, exclusive access for geography grad students 

Career Opportunities

Learn valuable skills that help you rise above the competition in the job market and increase your earning potential. You'll graduate with skills in: 

  • Geographic information systems 
  • Remote sensing 
  • Location analysis 
  • Advanced research and writing  

UToledo geography and planning graduates have wide-ranging job opportunities, including:

Census and location analysts Intelligence officers
Transportation planners International business consultants
Regional and urban planners Market researchers
Economic and community developers Peace Corps officers
GIS analysts Site developers
Educators  

Geography Master's Degree Plan of Study

UToledo master’s students study a variety of topics relevant in today's global society, including: 

Community and urban planning Environmental geography and planning
Economic geography Cultural and behavioral geography
Geographic information science  

 

Geography and Planning Master's Degree Sample Courses 

  • Remote Sensing of the Environment 
  • Geographic Information Systems 
  • Urban Environments 
  • Land Use Planning 

View Plan of Study

Internship Opportunities for Geography Master's Degree

The Department of Geography and Planning directs a community-based, paid internship program. Students work with agencies and businesses in a variety of fields, from geographic information systems and environmental analysis to transportation and urban planning.  

UToledo students also have had success in competing for prestigious national placements with the National Geographic Society, Oak Ridge National Laboratories and NASA. 

Typical Internship Locations 

National Geographic Society Toledo Fair Housing
U.S. Department of Energy Lucas County Auditor’s Office
Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority City of Toledo
Owens Corning Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments
Toledo Police Department  

Research Opportunities

UToledo’s geography and planning faculty has secured more than $15 million in external research funding during the past several years. 

  • A $10 million grant from NASA to transform science education 
  • A $537,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for advancing geospatial thinking and technologies in grades 9-12 
  • Grants for Great Lakes restoration projects 

As a graduate student, you'll have unique opportunities to work alongside faculty on research in:

Community and urban planning Environmental geography and planning
Economic geography Cultural and behavioral geography
Geographic information science  

Highly qualified graduate students are awarded teaching assistantships and research assistantships, which include graduate tuition waivers and stipends. 

Making a difference for farmers 

Geography faculty who were awarded grant for research A UToledo geography professor and grad student earned a $50,000 grant for their research on mapping agricultural drainage tiles. The tiles help remove water from fields to make them more fertile. Read more.


Want More Information?


Geography Master's Degree

2 years

Program Availability

 On Campus

Program Quick Links

View Admission Requirements
Department of Geography and Planning
College of Arts and Letters
Apply Now

Request Information

Admission Forms

International Student Info

Scholarship Opportunities

The University of Toledo is on a mission to make college affordable for everyone. Use our search tool to find scholarships you qualify for.

Search Now

© 2020 THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO • 2801 W. Bancroft St. • Toledo, OH 43606 • 800.586.5336

A - Z List | Careers | Report a Concern | Nondiscrimination | Accessibility | Web Privacy | Brand Guide | Feedback | Contact Us

Last Updated: 3/21/2023