Doctoral Degrees

The Department of Geography & Environmental Studies at Texas State University offers three Ph.D. programs: (1) Ph.D. Program in Geography, (2) Ph.D. Program in Geographic Education, and (3) Ph.D. Program in Geographic Information Science. These Ph.D. programs are research programs that train students to become independent researchers and educators who are able to make original contributions to knowledge in their respective areas of specialization.

To be eligible for admission to one of the three Ph.D. programs, a student must have completed a master's degree in geography or a related discipline. In addition to the typical required standard test scores (GRE and TOEFL for international applicants), it is important for all applicants to contact a faculty member in the department who will serve as major advisor of the student after a student is admitted to the program.

Each Ph.D. student must complete a minimum of 31 hours of course work at the doctoral level and a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation research. A student’s program is tailored to the special interests and needs of the student in consultation with the major advisor of the student, with the approval of the graduate program coordinator, the department chair, and the dean of the Graduate College. Course work includes the necessary core courses, skill courses, specialization courses, and internal and external elective courses.