Graduate Programs

Overview

The University of Toledo's Ph.D. program in Spatially Integrated Social Sciences is one of the only programs of its kind in the country. 

The innovative, interdisciplinary degree involves all the social sciences and these UToledo departments: 

• Geography and Planning 
• Economics 
• Political Science and Public Administration 
• Sociology and Anthropology 

From research design to the interpretation of research findings, the use of Spatially Integrated Social Sciences can advance understanding in nearly every domain of the social and behavioral sciences. UToledo’s Spatially Integrated Social Sciences doctoral program focuses on space as a unifying theme under which social scientists examine social, political and economic processes.  

Spatially Integrated Social Sciences is based on a new body of statistical theory devoted to spatially weighted regression, spatial interpolation, sampling methods and the effects of scale and modifiable areal units. 

The UToledo Ph.D. program is designed around the application of geospatial technologies to study the spatial dimension of human and social dynamics, including the interaction of individuals and society, government and industry. Technologies include: 

• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 
• Remote sensing 
• Digital cartography and related technologies  

Top Reasons to Study spatially integrated social sciences at UToledo

1. One-of-a-kind program.

   UToledo is one of the only universities in the U.S. to offer this innovative, unique degree. 
2. Diversity.

   Students from many different backgrounds have been successful in UToledo’s Spatially Integrated Social Sciences doctoral program: Geography, Engineering, Economics, Sociology, Public Administration, Urban Studies, Public Health and more. 
3. Funding

   Available to students through teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and internships. 
4. Teaching experience.

   During their third or fourth year of the program, UToledo Spatially Integrated Social Sciences grad students can teach undergraduate classes, such as: 

   • Human Geography 
   • Population Geography 
   • Urban Environments 
   • Environmental Planning 

   Funded trips to national conferences. Our grad students can receive funding to present at local, national and international conferences. 

5. State-of-the-art facilities.

   UToledo’s GISAG (Geographic Information Science and Applied Geographics) research lab has cutting-edge geospatial software, including: 

   • ArcGIS 
   • Erdas IMAGINE 
   • ENVI 
   • eCognition 

Our dedicated, internationally recognized faculty have wide-ranging expertise. Major areas of specialization include: 

• GIS and spatial analysis (including location-allocation modeling) 
• Urban and regional planning 
• Urban-economic geography  
• Environmental geography/planning  
• Land-use analysis and transportation geography/planning  
• Cultural, behavioral and social geography  
• Remote sensing  

UToledo Spatially Integrated Social Sciences graduates have made important contributions in:  

• Characterization of brownfields for use of greenspace 
• Analysis of health symptoms from biosolids application to farm fields 
• Availability of Level 1 trauma centers and patient survival 
• Shipping on the Great Lakes 
• Economic clusters and retail stores 

 

What jobs can I get with a spatially integrated social sciences degree?

UToledo graduates of the Spatially Integrated Social Sciences Ph.D. program have gone on to successful careers in academia and private industry. The Spatially Integrated Social Sciences program provides the framework for students to develop critical thinking and cutting-edge, geospatial technology skills.