GIS technology and spatial analysis. Urban planning. These are the skills UToledo geography and planning master's students acquire and the skills employers value.
The University of Toledo offers a broad graduate program in geography that:
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.
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.
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:
UToledo geography and planning graduates have wide-ranging job opportunities, including:
UToledo master’s students study a variety of topics relevant in today's global society, including:
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.
UToledo’s geography and planning faculty has secured more than $15 million in external research funding during the past several years.
As a graduate student, you'll have unique opportunities to work alongside faculty on research in:
Highly qualified graduate students are awarded teaching assistantships and research assistantships, which include graduate tuition waivers and stipends.
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.