delivery
On-Campus
Geography, Ph.D.
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Program Overview
The Geography Doctoral Program’s students graduate at the cutting edge of geographic knowledge, instruction, and practice, both within and beyond the academy. Building on the expertise and research strengths of the graduate faculty in the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Department, there are three areas of focus within the doctoral Geography program: Urban and Regional Analysis, Earth and Environmental Systems, and Geographic Information Science. These concentrations serve as frameworks upon which to build a specialized degree but are complementary and can be integrated to suit individual student interests and supervising faculty expertise.
All three concentrations share a common set of required courses, offering students core training in the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline of Geography. A strength of the program is its dual emphasis on academic and professional development. Students contribute to faculty-led research and outreach teams; cultivate relationships with partners in other disciplines and institutions; attend and present research at national and international conferences; and prepare to serve as instructors of their own courses prior to graduation.
Program Contact
Still trying to decide?
Find out more about the Geography Ph.D. program and learn if it is a good fit for you by speaking with Program Director, Colleen Hammelman.
Ready to apply?
Take the next step in your academic journey and apply for the Ph.D. in Geography at UNC Charlotte's College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences!
Explore ways to specialize your knowledge
These concentrations serve as frameworks upon which to build a specialized degree but are complementary and can be integrated to suit individual student interests and supervising faculty expertise. All three concentrations share a common set of required courses, offering students core training in the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline of Geography.
Urban and Regional Analysis Concentration
The Urban and Regional Analysis Concentration emphasizes the theoretical and empirical analysis of cities and their broader regional, national and global linkages. Students engage in coursework and research that lead to expertise in areas such as economic restructuring; urban planning and policy; quality of life; community health; smart community initiatives; geographies of consumption; central city revitalization; suburban, ex-urban and urban periphery development and change; immigrant settlement and economy; global and globalizing cities and systems; regional and global logistics systems; mobility and transportation; urban ecology; sustainability and environmental justice.
Earth and Environmental Systems Concentration
The Earth and Environmental Systems Concentration is a multidisciplinary concentration in physical geography dedicated to understanding the natural features and phenomena occurring at and near the Earth’s surface, as well as the human interactions with these connected systems. Doctoral students have the opportunity to work with faculty on innovative research questions related to lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere systems at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.
Geographic Information Science Concentration
The Geographic Information Science (GIS) Concentration examines the nature of geographic data and information, and methods of capture, measurement, analysis, and modeling of this information to advance our understanding of complex geographic phenomena. Research is articulated around the representation, numerical modeling and dissemination of spatially explicit information with state-of-the-art computational analytics.
Top Tips for Completing Your Application
The streamlined application process makes it easy to apply. Looking for some additional guidance to perfect your application? Attend an upcoming information session.