Requirements For Admission To The Department   1. One of the following:     a. Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or better     b. A score at or above the 50th percentile on two of the       three portions of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record       exam     c. A graduate degree in another field from CSUN or another       accredited institution   2. At least a 2.75 GPA in the last 60 units attempted                             Classified and Conditionally Classified Status   1. Requirements for Classified Status     a. One of the following:         1) An undergraduate major in Geography         2) Demonstrated competence in human geography,           physical geography, and cartography or map           interpretation, as determined by the departmental           Graduate Committee     b. A passing score (8 or higher) on the Upper Division       Writing Proficiency Exam (UDWPE)   2. Conditionally Classified Status     a. If the requirements for classified status are not met at the       time of application, the student will be admitted as       Conditionally Classified, pending completion of the       requirements, which include the completion of       prerequisite courses in the areas of identified       deficiencies and/or the UDWPE     b. No more than 12 units of work taken prior to attaining       Classified status may be applied to the Master's Program                             Requirements For The Master of Arts Degree Option 1: Geography / Standard Program   1. Completion of the following courses ( a total of 30 units,     with a GPA of 3.00 or better):     a. Introductory Seminar         GEOG 600 Geographic Thought, Analysis and         Research - 3 units     b. Additional Seminars (five 600-level courses to be       chosen by student - 15 units     c. Electives (400 or 600-level courses to be chosen by       student, with approval - 6 units     d. Thesis Preparation         GEOG 696 Directed Geographic Research - 3 units         GEOG 698 Thesis - 3 units   2. Competence in a relevant foreign language, statistics, or an     advanced geographic technique   3. Submission of a thesis approved by a departmental faculty     committee                             Option 2: Geography Information Science Specialization Program   1. Completion of the following courses (a total of 30 units,     with a GPA of 3.00 or better):     a. Introductory Seminar         GEOG 600 Geographic Thought, Analysis, and         Research - 3 units       b. Additional Seminars (five 600-level courses, as       specified below) - 15 units         GEOG 690C Digital Cartography         GEOG 690D Remote Sensing         Two courses from:           GEOG 690E Image Interpretation           GEOG 690F Methods in GIS GEOG 690G Applications of GIS in Human Geography           GEOG 690H Environmental Applications in GIS         Any other 600-level seminar (chosen by student)     c. Additional GIS Courses (two 400-level courses, as       specified below) - 6 units         GEOG 406 Advanced GIS         GEOG 408 Applications in GIS     d. Thesis Preparation         GEOG 696 Directed Geographic Research - 3 units         GEOG 698 Thesis - 3 units   2. Competence in statistics: to be met with completion of     GEOG 460, Spatial Analysis and Comparison (with a     grade of B or better)   3. Submission of a thesis approved by a departmental faculty     committee

The University operates under a semester system, and this M. A. program is designed to be completed in four semesters or two years. Part-time students may take longer to complete the requirements (up to the university-imposed maximum of seven years).

- Financial Assistance -

A number of financial aid programs, including grants, scholarships, and loans are available through the University's Financial Aid Office to assist graduate students whose resources are inadequate to cover total educational costs. Applications for fall semester aid should be submitted before May 1. Information can be acquired by calling (818) 677-2374.

In addition, the Department of Geography offers a limited number of part-time Teaching Associate jobs that entail the teaching of laboratory sections of a few lower division and upper division courses. Other part-time employment within the Department is also sometimes available. A few small financial prizes are also awarded to outstanding students every year.

Registration fees per semester for graduate students at CSUN (although subject to change by the Trustees of the California State University) are currently about $631 for 6 or less units and about $946 for 7 or more units.

- Graduate Advisor -

For questions about the graduate program, please contact Dr. Edward Jackiewicz, Graduate Advisor, at (818) 677-4565 or via email at ed.jackiewicz@csun.edu