2012-2013

Applied Geospatial Sciences, Master of Science

Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

This academic plan is designed for students who want to pursue a career in managing land, community, and environmental spatial systems, including geographic information systems (GIS), geodesign, community planning and development, and recreation. The degree requires a research thesis or applied practicum project overseen by an advising committee.  

  • Available Emphasis Areas:
  • Custom Geography, Planning and Recreation - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
  • Geospatial Technologies - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
  • Planning and Recreation - Emphasis (ending Summer 2022)
  • Geospatial Technologies, Professional Science Masters - Emphasis (beginning Fall 2013) (ending Summer 2021)
This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2022

  • To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

    You must additionally complete:

    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
    • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
    • All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

    Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion 36
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Emphasis, Minor, or Certificate Required

An emphasis, minor, or certificate is required for this major.

Thesis Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Oral Defense Oral Defense may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Master's Requirements
  • Take the following 36 units:

    Applied Geospatial Sciences Core (4 units) Geography Seminars (6 units)
    • Human geography seminar, selected with your advisor's approval, from: GSP 599, GSP 699; PRM 599 (3 units)
    • Physical geography seminar, selected with your advisor's approval, from: GSP 599, GSP 699; PRM 599 (3 units)
  • Emphasis Area, Select One (with your advisor's approval):
    • Geospatial Technologies Emphasis (20 units)
      Select coursework from the following:
      Planning and Recreation Emphasis (20 units)
      Select coursework from the following:
      Custom Geography, Planning and Recreation Emphasis (20 units)
      Select coursework from the following:
      • With your advisor's approval, select from any combination of Graduate-level Geographic Sciences and Community Planning (GSP) courses.
      • Other Northern Arizona University graduate-level courses, with your advisor's approval (up to 12 units)
  • Thesis or Professional Practicum (6 units)
    • GSP 699 -Thesis, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis. Please be aware that you can only count 6 units of thesis credit toward your degree. However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for it each term while you are working on your thesis. (6 units)
    • GSP 689 - Professional Practicum (6 units)
  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.


  • INTEGRATED B.S.-M.S.

    This degree is also part of an integrated B.S.-M.S. program, available to undergraduate students working on their Bachelor of Science in Geographic Science & Community Planning or Parks and Recreation Management. To qualify for this program, you must:

    Have completed two full of years of course work (60 units:
    • 30 units of which must have been completed at Northern Arizona University;
    • 18 units of which must have been graded courses with GSP (or GGR, PL, or PRM) prefixes, completed at Northern Arizona University;
    Have an overall Northern Arizona University GPA of 3.25 or higher;

    Have a 3.5 GPA or higher for most recent 12 units of GSP (or GGR, PL, or PRM) courses completed prior to application;
    Provide:
    • two letters of recommendation from Geography, Planning, & Recreation department faculty; plus
    • two additional letters from outside the department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation
    Agree to a coursework timetable which allows completion of both degrees in a five-year period.