By choosing their own combinations of research topics and formal coursework (with the advice of staff members), suitably qualified students are encouraged to enhance their expertise in current techniques and critical thinking in geography on a range of social and environmental issues. That several courses include students pursuing degrees other than the Master of Arts in geography broadens the experience and illuminates the applicability of geography to the affairs of society.
Note that the department also offers a separate degree, a Master of Environmental Science, some details for which are outlined below.
The MA course may be taken over two years full-time or its equivalent part-time. (Actual time limits are detailed in the Regulations, elsewhere in this handbook.)
Depending upon an applicant's qualifications, the course may be undertaken either by coursework (ie by individual subjects), by coursework and thesis, or by thesis alone.
Part I of the Master of Arts course consists of individual subjects and they are described below. (Very highly qualified candidates are not required to enrol in part I.) The subjects are valued at twelve points each and are taught on a semester basis. Full-time students enrol in two subjects each semester for a total of forty-eight points in the year. Students should consult the department about the availability of the subjects listed. The department reserves the right to cancel any subject if there are insufficient enrolments or if staff are unavailable. In some cases students may choose subjects other than those listed for each part of each course, in consultation with the head of the department.
Part II of the MA course may consist of either four twelve-point subjects, or, for suitably qualified candidates, a thesis plus one subject or a thesis alone.
The 100 per cent masters degree (thesis only) entails a thesis of 40,000-60,000 words in length. If one twelve-point subject plus a thesis are undertaken, this 75 per cent thesis shall be 35,000-40,000 words in length. Just as individual subjects are offered according to the availability of staff, whether a student is allowed to undertake a thesis is contingent upon the availability of appropriate supervisors. Students electing to write a thesis may be given the option, under certain circumstances, to upgrade their candidature to PhD.
Note that some subjects listed below are offered with the same title but with different code numbers. Students who have completed a subject may not enrol for the subject again under a different code number, with the exception of a `supervised research paper in geography,' which may be repeated.
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