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Geography - Ph.D.

Geography - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in Geography provides specialized training and inquiry into contemporary problems in geography.

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Doctorate Degree in Geography

Kent State University’s Ph.D. in Geography is designed to prepare students for advanced research and academic careers in the field. This program emphasizes interdisciplinary scholarship, allowing candidates to explore complex spatial phenomena through a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches. Students engage in rigorous coursework, comprehensive research training, and hands-on experiences with geographic information systems (GIS) and field studies. Our aim is to cultivate scholars who can contribute original insights to topics such as environmental sustainability, urban dynamics, and social geography, equipping them to tackle pressing global challenges and lead innovative research initiatives.

Program Information for Geography - Ph.D.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Engage in independent research projects.
  2. Acquire experiences in formulating research problems, reviewing relevant literature, designing research methodology, analyzing research data and formulating results from academic research.
Admissions for Geography - Ph.D.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • GRE scores (starting with the fall 2025 admission term, the GRE will no longer be required)
  • Résumé
  • Goal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority Deadline: February 1

Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Coursework
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Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
Geography Coursework 118
Cognate Discipline 26
Additional Requirements6
Culminating Requirement
GEOG 80199DISSERTATION I 330
Minimum Total Credit Hours:60
1

Geography coursework must be graded. Maximum 3 credit hours of GEOG 80998 may count towards the geography coursework. New students are strongly encouraged to take GEOG 70800 and GEOG 79701 within the first year of their enrollment, if they have not already taken similar courses at the master's level.

2

The cognate field must be in a department other than geography. Generally, cognate study is taken with the cognate member of the student's advisory committee.

3

Candidacy examinations are taken after the dissertation proposal is approved by the committee. This should be completed by the end of the second year of doctoral study. Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for GEOG 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter GEOG 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Of the 30 credit hours of doctoral-level coursework required for the degree, students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours that are letter graded.
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Geography - Ph.D.

Graduates of Kent State’s Ph.D. in Geography are well-prepared for a range of advanced careers in academia, research, and applied geography. Many pursue positions as university professors, where they can teach and conduct impactful research. Others may work as senior researchers or analysts in government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations, focusing on issues such as environmental policy, urban planning, and regional development. Additionally, graduates often find opportunities in consulting firms or private sector companies, utilizing their expertise to address complex spatial challenges and contribute to sustainable solutions in various fields.

Calibration technologists and technicians and engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other

2.1%

slower than the average

91,600

number of jobs

$64,190

potential earnings

Geographers

-1.2%

decline

1,600

number of jobs

$85,430

potential earnings

Geography teachers, postsecondary

2.9%

slower than the average

4,800

number of jobs

$82,330

potential earnings

Surveying and mapping technicians

0.7%

little or no change

58,400

number of jobs

$46,200

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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