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To view the Spring 2025 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2025/spring.
Geography
The Department of Geography offers a master of arts (MA) focused on human geography including studies of cities, health, labour, environment, political economy, and geographic information science.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the university admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. Typically, candidates should have a bachelor of arts (BA) degree with a 3.25 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in geography or a related discipline to be considered for entry to the MA in geography.
Program Requirements
This program consists of two introductory seminars, three graduate geography courses, a thesis proposal and a thesis, for a minimum of 30 units. Those admitted without an appropriate academic background may be required to complete additional coursework.
Students must complete both of
and*
and two of*
and a thesis proposal
and a thesis
* Course substitutions may be allowed for different graduate geography courses or graduate courses outside of geography subject to approval.
Thesis
The program requires the submission and successful defence of a thesis. The thesis involves the conceptualization of a problem and the collection, analysis, and interpretation of empirical data. A written proposal is submitted to the supervisory committee, defended in colloquium, and approved by the end of the second term, before substantive research has commenced. The completed thesis is judged by the thesis examining committee at an oral defence.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six (6) terms.
Other Information
Supervisory Committee
Students work under the guidance of a supervisor, who is normally a faculty member in the department and one other committee member, who may be from outside the department. The committee will be determined by the start of the second term.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.