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GEOGRAPHY Faculty Charles Button (Chair, DiLoreto 208), Richard Benfield, D'Arcy Dornan, John Harmon, Peter Kwaku Kyem,Cynthia Pope, Timothy Rickard, Xiaoping Shen, Brian Sommers, & David Truly (Dept. phone: 860-832-2785) Department Overview Central Connecticut State University has the oldest and largest graduate program in Geography in the state of Connecticut. The graduate program was initiated in 1962 with a Master of Science in Social Science for in-service teachers who desired to complete the requirements for their permanent teaching certificates. However, the program’s emphasis has changed since state approval was granted in 1976 to offer a Master of Science in Geography. Since that time, students have used the latter degree in the pursuit of a variety of career goals. Geography is the science of location. The geography faculty teaches students how to use effectively maps and air photos, gather information about places, and make computer analyses. Students use this knowledge to learn about how people use the land in different places, and what impacts humans. The Department of Geography has fully equipped cartography, air photo interpretation and microcomputer laboratories available for student use. The microcomputer lab includes a network of IBM Pc-compatible computers, to include an extensive software collection along with digitizers and plotters for automated cartography, computer graphics and geographic information systems. CCSU has a map depository for the Defense Mapping Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey, with close to 30,000 sheets in our collection. The department also receives planning reports, maps and documents from cities, towns and regions throughout the Northeast. In addition the Department of Geography provides internships and part-time employment for students in a variety of town, regional, state and private planning agencies and offers consulting services, workshops and short courses as part of its outreach program. Programs GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The M.S. in Social Science with a concentration in geography continues to meet the needs of Connecticut’s teachers. The M.S. in Geography has been used as a springboard by those interested in further graduate study. Several graduates have gone on to Ph.D. programs at major universities. However, most graduate students are interested in using the M.S. in Geography as a terminal degree which will prepare them for careers in several technical areas. Admission The M.S. degree programs are available to all individuals who meet the admissions requirements. The Graduate Record Examination is not an admission requirement. An undergraduate major or minor in geography is desirable but not required of applicants. However, those with deficient academic preparation may be asked to complete up to four courses of remedial work at the undergraduate level. Details are available from the Department of Geography. PROGRAM OF STUDY Students enrolled in the graduate program must comply with all requirements in the current graduate catalog. M.S. in Social Science with a Concentration in Geography. This program requires 30 credits of course work, distributed as follows: two professional education courses, one general education elective course, and seven geography courses. GEOG 500 and 598 is required of all students, and at least half of the credits must be at the 500 level. M.S. in Geography. Students pursuing this degree may select Plan A, which requires 30 credits, including a thesis. The 30 cr. are distributed as follows: 12 credits of core courses, including GEOG 500, 514 or 516 or 518, 530 or 542, 598; 9–12 credits of geography electives selected in consultation with an adviser; and 3–6 credits selected from other disciplines in consultation with an adviser. Thesis guidelines are available from the appropriate dean’s office. Some students select Plan C, in which a special project is completed instead of a thesis. The 30 cr. required are the same as in Plan A, except that GEOG 595 is substituted for GEOG 599. Program Specializations — Students enrolled in the M.S. in Geography program may specialize in any of the following areas: • urban and regional planning • environmental protection • travel and tourism • computer mapping or geographic information systems Each graduate student’s planned program of graduate study is custom-designed to provide the best possible preparation for the career selected, and can include practical work experience to apply classroom theory. CERTIFICATION Graduate study in geography does not lead to teacher certification. Those who wish to teach geography should pursue the certification program in secondary social studies. ADVISEMENT Contact the Chair in DiLoreto 208 (860/832-2785), or write to the: Department of Geography Central Connecticut State University New Britain, CT 06050 U.S.A. |
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