Master of Science in Geography

at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee USA

The Department of Geography offers both master’s and doctoral programs of study across a range of systematic, regional, and technical fields, with innovative energy in the doctoral program for studying urban environments. The department’s overall strengths are aligned along a theme of “Changing Environments,” with three major axes, each responsive to areas with strong demand for new professionals:

• Urban Environments: This area emphasizes the spatial interactions of economic systems as well as political, social, cultural, environmental, technological, and other forces that influence the people, identities, landscape, development, and dynamics of urban areas. With the world’s population becoming increasingly urbanized and globalized, courses examine the continuing challenges of urban growth and change, race, ethnicity, and gender in the city, immigration and identity politics, and spatial aspects of urban planning processes and political decision-making.
• Physical Geography and Environmental Studies: This area addresses the interactions among natural forms and processes on the earth’s surface, the impact and implications of global climate change, and human connections with those natural phenomena. Courses discuss and analyze the distribution and processes of earth surface landforms (geomorphology), soils (pedology), plants and animals (biogeography), water (hydrology), and long-term atmospheric conditions (climatology). Overlapping emphases include phenology, water resources, conservation, natural hazards, natural resource scarcity, and the mounting challenges of global environmental change.
• Geographic Information Science (GIS): This area emphasizes using geospatial technology to further understanding of spatial interactions among natural and social forces at multiple scales across the Earth’s surface, and exploring the impacts of using such technology on social and cultural interactions. Courses examine geographic information collection (including remote sensing), data analysis and geocomputation (spatial analysis), information presentation (cartography), and societal implications. Our program emphasizes applications of GIS in urban, regional, and environmental planning, policy making, and public health.

The study of Philosophy can be challenging because it asks students to critically examine very fundamental questions about what it means to be human - behavior, values, ethics, logic, aesthetics. Some describe it as "thinking in slow motion" because of the way it explores in depth the human experience.

Students choose philosophy because it instills a lifelong love and quest for knowledge, it imparts a disciplined and systematic way of thinking, and it enhances critical and analytical capacities. Most graduates of philosophy describe the great personal reward that comes from exploring the great thinkers of the past in the context of modern issues. But, they also passionately value the career skills that they developed - how to read and comprehend difficult text; how to understand different interpretations of information and assess opposing viewpoints; how to craft a clear and logical position on an issue in writing and orally; and how to make connections between smaller, seemingly disparate details and the big picture.

The Urban Planning program at UWM is a professional, skills-oriented, master’s program designed to train students to perform a variety of planning-related jobs in either the public or private sector.

The program focuses on planning as a process for improving collective decisions in the public and private sectors. The planning process includes analyzing problems, designing alternative solutions and evaluating their consequences, developing strategies for action and participating in their implementation. This process is used in both government and business in developing policy for future action, so that today’s solutions do not become tomorrow’s problems.

Geographic Information Systems
This concentration provides the skills and experience needed by professional planners to develop and use spatial analysis technology in both public and private organizations to improve their service delivery, management, and policy planning activities. Planning students learn state-of-the-art skills for using and analyzing data spatially in planning for improvements in transportation, housing, economic development, environment, natural resources, and related fields.

Students in the Biomedical Sciences major are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion of all requirements. This submajor provides excellent preparation for medical, physician assistant, dental, or veterinary school, biomedical research, forensic science, or employment with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies.

The Department of Film Studies' BA program focuses on the history, theory and criticism of film and television. Students learn how to critically analyze analyze the impact of film and television on individuals and society; make connections between media, historical themes and cultural change; and compare different formats. Film and media cross time periods and locations, languages and cultures. The courses that a well-rounded Film Studies student will take are equally as diverse. The major blends courses in Film Studies with classes from English, Art History, Comparative Literature, History, Religious Studies, French, Italian, Japanese, and other languages. UWM students have the advantage of being in the heart of the largest city in Wisconsin, home to a lively art house movie scene, a growing independent film industry, and a thriving cinematic culture.

Students who are more interested in film and video production process and who are looking to become a filmmaker or videographer may wish to also explore the majors offered through UWM's Peck School of the Arts.

Psychology is a science that provides critical insights into human behavior. Psychologists investigate how behavior is modified in the face of psychiatric disorders or disease and how the brain gives rise to the rich tapestry of behaviors that govern our day-to-day experiences.

A psychology major gives you much career flexibility because of its emphasis on reasoning, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, research and writing. In addition to becoming a counselor or therapist, many students go into human resources, sales, marketing, business management, law, medicine, social work, real estate, social services, and more – all fields that require comprehensive knowledge of human behavior.

The charge of the Voice Area is to teach skills for future success in music, to offer solid vocal technique and knowledge of vocal health. This training is built upon a foundation of history, theory, and a varied repertoire of vocal music. A spirit of genuine collaboration both within and outside of the voice area offers experiences in many musical styles, fostering future performers, pedagogues and leaders in the arts.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Theatre provides intensive specialized coursework for students seeking professional training in one of two separate tracks:

Performance

• The Performance BFA has two 130-credit tracks in either Acting or Musical Theatre.

Production

• The Production BFA is a singular 120-credit track embracing all the areas of production including design, costume, prop, scenery, lighting, sound, and stage management.

The BFA focuses on uncovering the potential of the individual student in the development of personal performance and/or production practices. The BFA curriculum supports student exploration of theatrical processes including new works as well as the established canon of dramatic literature. The program approaches the work in fresh and innovative ways, giving students a wide range of tools to speak to the contemporary moment both as actors on stage and as artists in production studios, rehearsal halls, and backstage.

The Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies offers a master’s program for educators, community leaders, and those working in community-based organizations. Students deepen their knowledge about urban education and the contexts of urban communities. The program enhances participants’ ability to critically analyze education and processes of community change, and courses focus on the causes of inequality and oppression and explore approaches for fostering change.

The Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology offers a Crime Analytics Concentration at the master’s level. A sequence of courses will lead to a concentration in this growing area. Preparation includes a foundation in criminal justice, research methods, and criminological theory. It also includes specialized coursework in measuring crime, crime mapping, and analytic techniques for understanding crime and crime patterns. At the conclusion of the program, students will complete a crime analytics project to demonstrate their mastery of crime analytics.