Doctor of Philosophy in Geography

The Department of Geography at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of New Mexico (UNM) jointly offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Geography. This program brings together two outstanding institutions and offers a unique opportunity for doctoral study in New Mexico's diverse and distinctive landscapes. The program offers advantages for students by merging two departments across the state and allowing students to have access to faculty and institutional resources on both campuses. The joint doctoral program is designed to build both theoretical and applied knowledge in geography, which enables students to pursue a wide range of career pathways.

The New Mexico Geography Ph.D. Program builds upon the strengths of the two departments by providing the education, training, and experience necessary for professional careers in higher education, private industry, and government. The program offers a rigorous, research-based degree that is focused on environmental change, dryland resource management, complex cultural landscapes, and the methods needed to understand them. During the program students will learn qualitative and quantitative research methods, and how to use them in combination to create a mixed-methods approach to geographic research. Expertise in multiple methodologies requires intensive study, and applicants should carefully consider their preparation to enter a program that requires both qualitative and quantitative research proficiency.

Applicants should have a strong background in geography or a related field. A master‘s degree is normally a prerequisite for admission. Those admitted to the program from non-geography majors may be required to take additional courses during their first year to remove deficiencies in their background. Any deficiencies that are identified during application review will be identified in admissions offer letters to successful applicants. Applicants should have completed undergraduate- or graduate-level coursework, or have relevant professional experience, that shows general familiarity with academic fields closely aligned with proposed research topics. For instance, an applicant who is proposing to study geospatial data processing methods should have some training or experience in computer science.

Applicants must have earned a grade-point average of at least 3.25 in prior graduate work.

Demonstrated proficiency in English:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum score 6.5; the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score 550 paper-based, or 79-80 Internet-based; the Duolingo English Test - minimum score 105; the University of Cambridge Examinations Certificate of Proficiency in English (CAPE) or Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) - minimum score C; or the Pearson Test of English- Academic (PTE) - minimum score 53

Application Deadlines: Fall Admissions: January 15th