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Ph.D. in Geography and Urban Regional Analysis Requirements
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GEOGRAPHY
Degree
Ph.D.
Coordinator
Dr. Owen Furuseth – Doctoral Coordinator
GEOGRAPHY Doctoral Program
The Ph.D. in Geography and Urban Regional Analysis focuses on
the theoretical and empirical analysis of metropolitan areas and
their broader regional, national and global contexts. At the core
of this program is the recognition that cities are engines of
growth and products of multiscalar interactions. Theoretical,
conceptual and empirical understanding of these dynamics is built
around two thematic research clusters: Multiscalar Analysis; and
Geographic Information Science. Focusing on urban regional issues
and dynamics at multiple and intersecting scales of analysis,
these two clusters are intended to complement and cross connect
with one another in ways that ensure a clearly defined and integrated
programmatic focus. Together, the two clusters provide an analytical,
theoretical and pedagogical framework that will underpin the development
of the research expertise and technical specialization for students
trained in the program. A cornerstone of the program is the student’s
research dissertation. Each dissertation is expected to be based
on independent and original research which contributes to the
body of knowledge in the field, leading to publication in peer-reviewed
journals.
Additional Admission Requirements
In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate
School, the following are required for study to the Ph.D. in Geography
and Urban Regional Analysis:
Under most circumstances, students admitted to the program
will have:
a. A M.A or M.S. degree in geography or field
related to the primary emphases of the Program.
b. A master’s level GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0.
In exceptional cases students with baccalaureate degrees may be
admitted if they have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least
3.6 and meet other admission requirements. Students without master’s
degrees will be required to complete substantial prerequisites
necessary to work at a Ph.D. level.
c. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with an
average score of 600 on the verbal and quantitative and a 5.0
on the analytical portions. A total score of 1200 on the quantitative
and verbal is thus required. Note: applicants must have taken
the GRE; no other test will be accepted in its place.
d. TOEFL exam scores of least 557 for applicants
whose native language is not English. The program expects a minimum
score of 55 on each of the components of the TOEFL, or a 220 on
the computer-based TOEFL, or an 83 on the internet TOEFL, or an
85 percent on the MELAB. In addition, international students who
will be teaching assistants will be required to undergo evaluation
by the English Language Training Institute at UNC Charlotte prior
to beginning their first semester of study.
e. GIS proficiency at a minimum of the applications
level is required. Other remedial course work, as determined by
the program Admissions Committee, may also be required depending
on the background of the student.
f. Three letters of recommendation, at least
two of which must come from faculty in the student's previous
academic programs.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. acknowledges the value of course work as background and
preparation for research, but the primary emphasis is on the development
of research skills and the completion of a research project on a
problem significant to urban regions.
1. Total Hours required. 33 hours of coursework; 18 hours of dissertation
units; 51 hours total beyond the master’s degree; students
entering the Program without a master’s will be required to
complete additional coursework to prepare for work at the Ph.D.
level.
2. Course Work. While the curriculum and experiential background
of all students accepted into the program will be evaluated upon
entry, students entering the program would, at a minimum, will be
required to demonstrate proficiencies at the level of Intermediate
GIS (UNC Charlotte equivalent GEOG 4120 or a minimum of two courses
such as basic and intermediate GIS); a Master's level research design
class (UNC Charlotte equivalent GEOG 6200 or a Master's level research
thesis); and a Master's level quantitative methods class (UNC Charlotte
equivalent of GEOG 6100). Students who fail to meet these minimum
requirements would not be permitted to enroll in classes for which
they do not have the pre-requisites
Core Courses (required of all students)
GEOG 8124 Seminar in Geographic Theory and Research Design
GEOG 8120 Spatial Statistics
GEOG 8121 Advanced Seminar on Spatial Modeling or PPOL 8622 Qualitative
Methods
GEOG 8123 Urban Regional Environment
GEOG 8122 GIS&T and Urban Regional Analysis
All students are required to complete a minimum of 18 credit hours
beyond the core in one of the two concentrations: Multiscalar Analysis
or GIScience. A minimum of 3 credit hours would have to come from
each concentration. Students can take related courses outside the
program with prior approval.
Multiscalar Analysis
GEOG 8302 Regional Economic Development
GEOG 8500 Urban Planning: Theory and Practice
GEOG 8600 Transportation Policy
GEOG 8210 The Restructuring City
GEOG 8300 Applied Regional Analysis
GEOG 8643 Rural Development Issues
GEOG 8301 Industrial Location
GEOG 8303 Geography of Knowledge and Information
GEOG 8211 Cities and Immigrants
GEOG 8212 Urban Labor Markets
GIScience
GEOG 8121 Advanced Seminar on Spatial Modeling
GEOG 8400 Advanced Seminar in Spatial Decision Support Systems
GEOG 8401 GIS Programming and Customization
GEOG 8405 Three Dimensional Visualization
GEOG 8402 Multi-Attribute Assessment/Evaluation for Planning &
Decision-Making
GEOG 8000 Topics in Economic Geography
3. Proportion of courses open only to graduate students. All program
approved courses are open to graduate students only.
4. Grades Required. A student must maintain a cumulative average
of 3.0 in all course work taken for graduate credit. A grade of
C will result in the student being required to re-take the course,
and being placed on probationary status within the Program, and
could potentially mean the loss of funding if the student is receiving
departmental funding. Two C grades or one U will result in termination
from the program even if the second C is the result of retaking
a course.
5. Amount of transfer credit accepted. Six credit hours or two courses
of Ph.D.-level coursework can be transferred from another, accredited
Ph.D. program. However, in special circumstances and with the approval
of the Graduate School, additional transfer credit may be possible.
These exceptions will involve only students requesting transfers
from other accredited universities and only for courses completed
within the previous four years and for work beyond the master's.
6. Comprehensive Exams. After completing required course work, students
will first take a written and oral Comprehensive Exam. Passing the
Comprehensive Exam allows the student to proceed toward the proposal
of their dissertation. Students failing the Comprehensive Exam will
be permitted to retake the exam once. Failure on the second try
will result in termination from the Program. All students must pass
the comprehensive exam before writing a dissertation proposal.
7. Advisor / Advisory Committee. All students in the program will
have both a graduate advisor approved by the program Director and
an Advisory Committee. The advisor will help a student formulate
a Program of Study including a potential dissertation topic by no
later than the end of the second semester of study (or 12 hours
of coursework in the case of part-time students). The Advisory Committee
will consist of the student's advisor, a second faculty member selected
by the student and the advisor and a third faculty member appointed
by the program Director. The Program of Study will be reviewed by
the student's Advisory Committee and must be approved by the program
Director.
8. Dissertation Proposal and Advancement to Candidacy. Advancing
to candidacy requires that the student pass the comprehensive exam
and write and successfully defend a dissertation proposal. The proposal
must be submitted to the student’s Advisory Committee for
preliminary approval and then to the Director and the Dean of the
Graduate School. Successful defense of the dissertation proposal
is followed by advancement to candidacy.
9. Dissertation. A dissertation is required of all Ph.D. students
that constitutes a significant contribution to the body of geographic
and scientific knowledge and/or thought. Ph.D. students are required
to enroll for a minimum of 18 hours or a maximum of 24 hours of
dissertation credits. The dissertation consists of a written document
of original research. Though there are options concerning the dissertation
format, each dissertation will be subject to an oral defense of
the dissertation document.
10. Time Limits for Completion of the Degree. It is generally expected
that full-time students will complete course work within a three-year
time frame and the dissertation will be completed one to two years
later. Students must achieve admission to candidacy within six years
after admission to the program. All requirements for the degree
must be completed within eight years after first registration as
a doctoral student. Further, the oral examination in defense of
the dissertation must be passed within five years after being advanced
to candidacy.
11. Residency. Residency requirements for the program include completing
21 hours of continuous enrollment, either as course work or dissertation
credits. Residence is considered to be continuous if the student
is enrolled in one or more courses in successive semesters until
21 hours are earned.
COURSES IN GEOGRAPHY AND URBAN REGIONAL ANALYSIS
Geog 8000 Topics in Economic Geography
Geog 8005 Topics in Urban Geography
Geog 8010 Topics in Political Geography
Geog 8030 Topics in Geographic Techniques
Geog 8100 Quantitative Analysis in Geography. (3) Multiple regression,
trend surface, factorial analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant
analysis. (Fall) (Evenings)
GEOG 8130. Advanced Quantitative Analysis: Spatial Statistics. (3)
Crosslisted as GEOG 6130. Analysis of spatial data and exploratory
spatial data analysis. Topics include visualization, point pattern
analysis, global and local measures of spatial association, modifiable
areal unit problems, spatially weighted regression. Emphasis on
applying methods and developing skills useful in empirical research.
(Spring)
GEOG 8121. Advanced Seminar on Spatial Modeling. (3) Crosslisted
as GEOG 6121. Prerequisite: GEOG 5131, GEOG 5132, or permission
of the instructor. This seminar focuses on the theories of spatial
modeling and simulation. Topics include, but are not limited to,
spatial systems, models for spatial analysis, models for spatial
simulation, modeling life-cycle, model verification, validation,
and accreditation. (Fall)
GEOG 8124. Seminar in Geographic Theory and Research Design. (3)
Crosslisted as GEOG 6124. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
Critical examination of trends in the history and philosophy of
geographic thought and research. Principles of research in geography
and urban regional analysis.
GEOG 8210. The Restructuring City. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6210
and PPOL 8615. Critical assessment of the causes and consequences
of contemporary urban restructuring. Evaluation of theoretical,
planning and policy challenges facing urban society associated with
global-local change. (Fall, Alternate years)
GEOG 8643. Rural Development Issues. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6643.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. This course provides
research experiences that focus on policy formulation, and demographic,
economic and planning issues in rural areas. (Fall)
GEOG 8211. Cities and Immigrants. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6211.
Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Examination of changing
patterns and dynamics of immigrant settlement and adjustment in
U.S. and Canadian urban areas. Topical areas include assimilation
and integration, identity formation, trans-nationalism, enclave
development, labor market involvement, gateway versus new destinations,
immigrant suburbanization and socio-spatial isolation. (Spring,
Alternate years)
GEOG 8500. Urban Planning: Theory and Practice. (3) Crosslisted
as GEOG 6500 and PPOL 8616. Critical assessment of alternative planning
theories and their application to planning practices. Examination
of economic, political, social, cultural and geographical factors
affecting the operations of cities and resource distribution. (Alternate
years)
GEOG 8123. Urban Regional Environment. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6123
and PPOL 8610. Examination of the nature of urban regions and the
basic factors that shape urban regions as they grow. Impact of:
geography; history; social factors; economic factors; concerns about
gender, race and ethnicity, and class; and other determinants of
the nature of urban regions, their problems, and possible policy
solutions. (Spring)
GEOG 8122. GIS&T and Urban Regional Analysis. (3) Crosslisted
as GEOG 6122. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. This course
focuses on the spatial thinking, spatial analytic methods and their
GIS applications suited for urban and regional analyses. Modeling
approaches include spatial interaction models, spatial optimization
methods, spatial diffusion, space-time modeling of individual behavior
and integrated transportation land-use models. (Fall)
GEOG 8302. Regional Economic Development. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG
6302 and PPOL 8642. Neo-classical and contemporary theories of trade,
economic geography and urban and regional development. Topics include
theories of urban and regional growth, location theories including
industry, central places and growth centers; human capital, labor
force and entrepreneurial contributions to growth; policy dimensions
of urban growth and development are addressed from theoretical and
empirical perspectives. (Fall)
GEOG 8600. Transportation Policy. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6600 and
PPOL 8613. Examination of surface transportation from a public policy
perspective. Institutional components and role of government at
all levels influencing investment; changes in technology, environment,
security, safety, equity, cost-effectiveness, public health and
welfare are covered. (Fall)
GEOG 8304. The Transforming North Carolina Economy. (3) Crosslisted
as GEOG 6304. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. An examination
of the contemporary and historic forces which shape the economic
geography of the state. Themes examined will include human-land
interactions, past and present economic transitions and the rural-urban
balance within the state. Emphasis will be placed on understanding
the economic forces which will most dramatically impact the future.
Seminar format.
GEOG 8300. Applied Regional Analysis. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6300.
Prerequisite: Basic computer skills including spreadsheets. Introduction
to methods and techniques used in regional analysis. Topical areas
include data sources and collection, regional delineation, community
and regional profiles, regional accounts, methods of analysis and
impact assessment. Topics are discussed in terms of theory, use,
and role in economic geography and regional development. Emphasis
is placed on application of economic and demographic methods at
the regional level. (Spring, Alternate years)
GEOG 8301. Industrial Location. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6301. Addresses
factors influencing the location of industrial and service activities.
Classical theories of industrial location are augmented with contemporary
interpretations of the economic landscape. Emphasis is placed on
theoretical foundations and new developments in industrial location
theory, patterns and trends of industrial location, the site selection
process, community impacts of locational decision-making, and the
role of governments. Patterns and trends are examined in regional,
national, and international perspectives. (Fall, Alternate years)
GEOG 8303. Geography of Knowledge and Information. (3) Crosslisted
as GEOG 6303. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Examination
of the factors that influence the location of economic activities
in the information age. Discussions and lectures explore the geographic
aspects of the transition away from manufacturing to information
processing as the primary mode of production. The transition is
examined in terms of technology development, urban and regional
development, information flows and the location of quaternary industry.
(Fall, On demand)
GEOG 8212. Urban Labor Markets. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6212. Prerequisite:
permission of the instructor. This course will explore the changing
social and spatial structure of urban labor markets in post-industrialized
cities. Special reference to immigrant and minority labor markets
in the U.S. Topics include discrimination, industry and occupation
concentrations, job queues, ethnic networks, ethnic entrepreneurs,
technological change and economic restructuring.
GEOG 8400. Advanced Seminar in Spatial Decision Support Systems
(SDSS). (4) Crosslisted as GEOG 6400 and PPOL 8642. Prerequisite:
GEOG 5120 or permission of instructor. Theoretical aspects of spatial
DSS including technical, social, political and psychological consideration;
systems design; systems manipulation; and case studies. Three hours
of lecture and one two-hour lab per week. (Fall)
GEOG 8401. GIS Programming and Customization. (3) Crosslisted as
GEOG 6401. Prerequisite: GEOG 4120/5120 or permission of the instructor.
This course consists of tutorials, readings, projects, and discussions
of how to customize and to program ArcObjects within various programming
environments: to program automatic repetitive tasks, to build their
own applications, to write geoprocessing scripts, and to develop
and customize the Web applications.
GEOG 8405. Three Dimensional Visualization. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG
6405. Prerequisite: GEOG 4130/5130 or permission of the instructor.
This course consists of tutorials, readings, projects, and discussions
concerned with how geo-visualization techniques can be used to display
geographic information driven from spatial analyses in 3D GIS. Students
who successfully complete the course are able to understand advanced
geographic information systems, focusing on multi-dimensional data
models and three-dimensional geo-visualization as spatial analyses
tools. In addition, students work on independent and group projects
to develop 3D GIS applications such as 3D Urban Simulation System
using existing 3D GIS and visualization software.
GEOG 8402. Multi-Attribute Assessment/Evaluation for Planning &
Decision-Making. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG 6402. Prerequisite: permission
of the instructor. The course provides a survey and comparison of
multi-attribute assessment and evaluation methods in spatial planning
and decision-making; and discusses the implementation of these methods
with the aid of geographic information techniques. Topics include
land suitability/vulnerability assessment, environmental and social
impact assessment, risk assessment, site selection, plan evaluation,
and multi-criteria decision analysis. (Spring)
GEOG 8404. Spatial Data Analysis in GIS. (3) Crosslisted as GEOG
6404. Prerequisite: GEOG 5120 or permission of the instructor. Advanced
analytical methods used in GIS and spatial data analysis to advance
the understanding of spatial patterns and to invoke powerful principles
of spatial thinking. Examination of theoretical and conceptual aspects
of algorithms used in GIS software to analyze spatial data. Critical
assessment of the use, misuse, abuse and limitations of GIS analytical
techniques.
GEOG 8901. Dissertation (1-9)
GEOG 8902. Doctoral Degree Graduate Residency Credit. (1)
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