Geography, PhD
Get on the map with a program that offers a distinct environment that places your focus on location --- the heart of geography, urban planning, climatology and geographic information sciences. You can engage with distinguished faculty to tackle the pressing environmental and societal challenges currently facing the world.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Geography, PhD degree description
The specialized academic and professional training that you receive in the Doctor of Philosophy program in geography is sound graduate background for an independent research career. The program has sufficient flexibility to allow for individual needs and interests, enabling you to create a plan of study that fits your personal and professional goals.
In addition to innovative coursework, the state-of-the-art Spatial Analysis Research Center and Urban Climate Research Center offer you the opportunity to work with exceptional faculty on diverse research projects. You have the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in geography, including members of the National Academy of Sciences and rising talent in the fields of climate science, sustainability and environmental science, urban heat island research, GIS and more.
In the program, you can build a path of knowledge that reflects your personal interests within the realms of geography. You benefit from a wide variety of coursework and research opportunities in four broad interdisciplinary themes that span the expertise of the faculty within the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning:
- computational spatial science
- earth systems and climate science
- place, identities and culture
- sustainability science and studies
Why earn your geography PhD at ASU?
Study at ASU, ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for geography, planning and development in the 2025 SCImago rankings. Pursue your doctorate in a school that unites geographical sciences, geographic information science and urban planning within a single interdisciplinary research community, giving you training that stays both rigorous and flexible.
You work from the Phoenix metropolitan area, a distinctive setting for confronting urgent issues like extreme heat, water, rapid urban growth, environmental change and sustainability and for connecting your research to public agencies, community partners and decision-makers. You can investigate consequential environmental, social and spatial challenges using geospatial analysis, mapping, modeling, fieldwork and qualitative inquiry.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (3 credit hours) Electives or Research (43 credit hours) Methods or Statistics Electives (6 credit hours) Skills Electives (6 credit hours) Specialization Electives (9 credit hours) Other Requirements (5 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Doctoral students entering with a master's degree must complete 54 credit hours: 42 credit hours of combined coursework and research at ASU, and 12 dissertation credit hours. Coursework and research hours are selected by the student in consultation with an advisory committee. The program recognizes that other graduate-level courses are offered at ASU; advanced courses are often taught in omnibus courses, courses that have rotating content and whose content is not reflected in their titles. Students may include these courses in their curriculum with approval of the program directors. Electives or research courses should be selected in consultation with your program advisor. Students must complete at least three credit hours of 500-, 600- or 700-level courses offered by SGSUP with the prefixes PUP, GPH, GCU or GIS. The Other Requirements course Seminar: Geography Colloquium, is taken twice, once in each of the first two semesters of the program, for one credit hour each. Other courses may be used with approval of academic unit. Up to six credit hours of 400-level coursework may be applied toward the plan of study.
GCU 585 Geographic Research Design and Proposal Writing (3)
GCU 529 Contemporary Geographic Thought (3)
GCU 591 or GPH 591 Seminar: Geography Colloquium (1)
GCU 591 or GPH 591 Seminar: Geography Colloquium (1)
GCU or GPH 799 Dissertation (12)
Doctoral students entering with a bachelor's degree must complete 84 credit hours: 72 credit hours of coursework and research at ASU, and 12 dissertation credit hours.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Write a scholarly literature analysis associated with a geographical research question for their doctoral research.
- Develop a dissertation proposal that is in a format consistent with guidelines established by the NSF Doctoral Dissertation Award grant.
- Apply appropriate advanced research methodology in geographic research sciences.
Write a scholarly literature analysis associated with a geographical research question for their doctoral research. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Incoming students must demonstrate or attain competence in cartography and quantitative methods and complete other basic coursework that will enable them to pursue graduate studies in their area of specialization. The personal statement must address four questions: Letters of recommendation must be from three faculty members who can attest to the applicant's academic achievements.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this geography PhD degree prepares you for
Professionals with expertise in geographical sciences research, theory and practice are in high demand across sectors and industries, including institutions of higher education, consulting firms, government agencies, research facilities and community organizations. Skills in geographical data analysis, mapping and climate science are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on research-based approaches to solve complex practical problems.
Career examples include:
- atmospheric, earth, marine or space sciences professor or instructor
- environmental scientist or specialist
- geographic information systems technician
- geophysical data technician
- geoscientist
- geospatial information scientist or technologist
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
|
COOR 5671
SGSUP.gradprograms@asu.edu
480-965-7533
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
