Department of Geography

Graduate program in geography helps students navigate many career options

Binghamton University's Department of Geography offers graduate study for students interested in a variety of potential fields. A quick survey of recent graduates reveals a diversity of occupations and careers, including analysis and planning positions for cities, businesses, and national organizations. Binghamton is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, often singled out for uniting quality and affordability.

The Master of Arts for the Department of Geography degree program requires a minimum of 40 credits, and typically can be completed in two years of full-time study. It culminates in a final project or thesis. An undergraduate specialization in geography is not a requisite for admission, so students from other backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Five tracks are available for students of the MA degree program:

1) General geography - the program provides disciplinary foundation along classical liberal arts lines that may lead to interdisciplinary work in scholarly areas such as conservation, environmental management, economic development and international studies.

2) Cartography and geographical information systems (GIS) - This track educates students as spatial analysts, with emphasis on cartography, remote sensing and geographic information systems. Among the essential components of the program are theory, research methods and advanced statistics.

3) Environmental and resource management - This track focuses on the integration of the environmental aspects of planning and resource use, incorporating both physical geography and institutional considerations of resource management. Among the essential components of this concentration are geographic techniques, environmental analysis, resource management theories and strategies, and application to local issues.

4) Urban planning and applied geography - The program encompasses urban analysis and planning, as well as retail geography, site selection and market analysis, with emphasis on the integration of the institutional, environmental, and urban-economic aspects of both public and private planning.

5) Race and ethnicity - This track emphasizes the importance of race and ethnicity in the socio-political-cultural environments of native and immigrant groups. Spatial settlement patterns, ethnic enclaves and dispersions, and changes in the patterns permit students to learn historic and contemporary dimensions.

(Binghamton University also offers an interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in watershed studies and management. The program combines courses in geography, geology, and biology to develop multidisciplinary knowledge of the scientific and anthropogenic factors affecting watersheds.)

The Department of Geography consists of 11 distinguished faculty members, and about 30 graduate students. Research and applied knowledge are held as cornerstones of the curriculum, preparing students for higher academia or for success in the field.

Work with experienced faculty members whose interests span the discipline

To provide a cross-section of the work by Binghamton faculty members, consider professors John W. Frazier, Florence Margai, and Eugene Tettey-Fio.

Professor John W. Frazier uses the urban populations around Binghamton for his teaching of applied geography. The city has commissioned him to chart important data, including the impact of students on the local area. He also studies crime distribution statistics, aging futures, and race/immigration issues in many areas.

Professor Florence Margai has authored or co-authored 3 books and over 30 articles. Her research pertains to mapping environmental hazards and health outcomes among vulnerable communities, including women, the elderly, and children. Previously she has worked with groups in the US and Africa to assist efforts toward malaria intervention and ongoing threats such as pediatric lead poisoning.

Eugene Tettey-Fio is assistant professor and director of graduate studies for the department. His specializations include race and ethnicity, retail geography, site analysis, and GIS theory. He and other Binghamton professors have collaborated on several projects concerning Latino populations in the United States, and various issues of class and economic status in these communities.

Practical applications at home and abroad

Geography graduates of Binghamton University have found jobs locally, nationally, and internationally. They perform valuable work in transportation, census offices, city planning, military cartography, business research, environmental planning, and more. Small class sizes ensure that students are able to get advice from professors, and plan a curriculum that suits their intended goals. The Fleischman Center for Career and Professional Development and the Department of Geography both compile listings of opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, in order to help with placements after graduation.