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Graduate students are encouraged to select a supervising professor to guide and direct their academic program as early as possible. Students work closely with their supervising professor to plan and pursue study programs that are geared to their own particular interests and needs. The development of research skills and the identification of a research topic are the critical part of the students’ program.
Although the topic of every thesis is unique, most graduate students work in the areas of physical geography, human geography, geographic information science and cartography, or regional studies. Computer and laboratory techniques serve the needs of both scientific and humanistic research and teaching, which include virtual education, geographic information science, computer cartography, remote sensing, and spatial analysis.
The professional development of students involves education in the discipline’s heritage and philosophy as well as current issues and theories. Interdisciplinary expertise is developed through course work. Students are encouraged to attend and present papers at regional and international conference meetings, and to develop skills in leadership, service, and teaching.