Geography Graduate Program
About Our Program
Our program offers both Master’s and Doctoral degrees and a rigorous certificate
program in Geographic Information Science. Our graduate program is composed of
13 core geography faculty with expertise in the interdisciplinary subfields of:
Human Geography, Environmental/Physical Geography, and GIScience and Geospatial
Science.
WVU Geography faculty are engaged in local, regional and global research focused
on human-environment relations, climate change, political geography, spatial science,
machine learning and deep learning, digital humanities, forest ecosystem modeling,
cultural and political ecologies, conservation science, feminist geography, science
and technology studies, humanitarianism, land change science, critical cartographies,
food justice, and development geography.
Our faculty and graduate students are currently conducting research in:
- South Asia
- South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- The Middle East
- The United States, including Appalachia
Our department also houses the
WVU Center for Resilient Communities and the
WV GIS Technical Center, which offer assistantships, research, and service
opportunities.
For more information about the Morgantown area, please visit our city's
official web page.
To Apply
Geography at West Virginia University
Geography is a diverse and innovative field of study that bridges humanities, social
sciences and natural sciences. Geographers engage with the most pressing issues
of our time, including global environmental change, social inequality and transformations
of our economy, politics, ecology and culture in the shifting terrain of the
21st century. Our geographers are trained in cutting-edge approaches to understand
and make a difference in our rapidly changing world.
Our interdisciplinary learning environment featuring state-of-the-art computing
and spatial analysis facilities offers students the chance to develop innovative
research projects and learn valuable skills to help solve some of the major challenges
facing our world today.
The geography graduate program was designated a program of excellence by the
WVU Board of Governors in 1998, 2003 and 2008.
This award is given to a small, select group of academic programs in universities
in the state of West Virginia in recognition of their extensive and high quality
contribution to higher education in the state.
Graduate Resources
WVU Office of Graduate Education and Life provides resources for incoming
and current WVU graduate students. As a graduate student at WVU, you are a
part of internationally recognized academic programs. You have access to expert
mentors and advisors, funding opportunities, and the chance to conduct research
and present your findings — all within a welcoming community.
The Geo Grad Group in the Department of Geology and Geography
Within the Department of Geology and Geography, The
Geo Grad Group is an organization aimed at helping geography and geology graduate
students, providing a platform where graduate students can come with issues
they are facing and provide an official voice. GGG creates opportunities for
graduates in geography and geology to interact with each other, faculty and related
professionals. GGG provides fundraising and community service opportunities to
provide additional travel funds for students attending academic conferences and
events.
Funds for Current Graduate Students
The department, college and university fund geography graduate student research and
scholarship through a variety of awards including: Eberly and Provost awards for
student travel, Harris Award in GIScience, and the Graduate Experience Fund for
graduate research.
Additional support for graduate students is available through university-supported
Provost Dissertation Funds and Outstanding Merit Fellowships. For more information
please visit
fellowships and
scholarships.