Graduate Program

The graduate degree program in Geography empowers our graduates to design and conduct significant research. Years ago, we made an explicit choice to structure our department around research and teaching in the areas of human-environment interaction and GIScience. Within these core areas, we offer programs in environmental policy, land-use, geography of health, environmental hazards, spatial environmental modeling, and geographic information science (geoinformatics). Our ideal applicants are talented, curious, and motivated, with research interests aligned with these topics.
 

Geography at the University of Iowa

Established in 1946, the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences has long focused on graduate education and research. Our graduate students investigate a wide range of social, environmental, health, and GIScience topics, from applied methodological problems in the master's program to advanced theoretical research and academic preparation in the doctoral program. Students regularly collaborate with Geography and UI faculty, and we encourage and support students to publish their research and present at conferences.

The University of Iowa is a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive ("R1") university. Our strong research foundation not only supports intellectual activity in geography, but also  provides rich opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Geography faculty and students have established research relationships on campus with the Center for Global & Regional Environmental Research, the Iowa Informatics Initiative, the Environmental Modeling and Assessment Facility, the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, and IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering.

The Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences has dropped the GRE requirement..

For more information about the structure of our graduate program and expectations for students, please see our Graduate Student Handbook.