Masters of Arts (Geography)

MASTERS OF ARTS IN GEOGRAPHY

The programme is intended to produce specialists in the field of Geographic/Spatial Science by giving them a good grasp of the principles and methodology in geography and geospatial science and by exposing them to current issues and research in geospatial science. It seeks to deepen the candidate’s interest in the discipline by advancing his/her knowledge in the field of geographic enquiry. It seeks to further prepare candidates in the use of geographic knowledge and skills at work and in research as well as in meeting their personal and professional needs in innovative, challenging and creative ways.

Eligibility to the Programme
The programme is open to students who satisfy the Moi University Postgraduate Studies requirements for a Master’s degree. In addition to these general requirements (i.e. a first class or upper second-class honours degree from a university recognized by Moi University Senate) candidates to the programme must have taken Geography at undergraduate level.

Duration
The programme extends over a period of two (2) years for full-time students. Part-time attendance can be arranged in compliance with the guidelines of Moi University’s postgraduate studies in which case it shall run for a period of

four (4) years. The programme is divided into four semesters for full-time attendance: the first two semesters are devoted to coursework and research methodology; the third semester is devoted to research work: students are expected to collect and analyze their data and write the first draft of their thesis; in the fourth semester MA in Geography candidates do more coursework while finishing the wring of their thesis.

Coursework and Research Requirements
To qualify for the award of and MA degree in Geography the student must take and pass a sum total of 27 units of coursework. 4 core courses and at least 5 elective courses. Each course carries 3 units and is examinable at the end of the semester in which it is offered. The student must also, present a research seminar paper in the first semester, a proposal in the second semester, carry out research on a topic approved by the department during the third semester, and write and submit her/his thesis at least a month before the end of the fourth Semester.

First Semester

Code	Title	Units
GEO 810	Advanced Geographic Thought (Core)	3
GEO 811	Research Methods n Geography (Core)	3
	Electives	2
GEO 813H	Advanced Agricultural Geography	3
GEO 814P	Advanced Biogeography	3
GEO 815P	Advanced Climatology	3
GEO 816H	Advanced Economic Geography	3
GEO 818H	Advanced Medical Geography	3
GEO 820H	Advanced Population Geography	3
GEO 821H	Advanced Political Geography	3
GEO 823P	Advanced Regional Development and Planning	3
GEO 825P	The Geography of Wetlands and Land Reclamation	3
GEO 828T	Advanced Computer-Assisted Cartography	3
GEO 831H	Advanced Industrial Geography	3
GEO 843T	Digital Image Processing	3

Second Semester

Code	Title	Units
GEO 812	Advanced Quantitative Methods in Geography	3
GEO 834	Advanced Computer Science for Geographers	3
	Electives
GEO 817P	Advanced Geomorphology	3
GEO 819H	Advanced Marketing Geography	3
GEO 822H	Advanced Settlement Geography	3
GEO 824H	Advanced Urban Geography	3
GEO 826P	The Geography of Waste and Waste Management	3
GEO 827P	Energy Resources and Development	3
GEO 829P	The Geography of Natural Hazards	3
GEO 830T	Advanced Data Processing and Presentation Techniques in Geography	3
GEO 832H	Advanced Transport Geography	3
GEO 844T	Applied Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)	3

Third Semester

No course work (Field data collection)

Fourth Semester

Code	Title	Units
GEO 833H	Integrated Land Use Planning and Management	3
GEO 835H	Advanced Development Geography	3
GEO 836H	Advanced Geography of Arid and Semi- Arid Lands	3
GEO 837H	Advanced Cultural Geography	3
GEO 838H	Advanced Demography	3
GEO 839P	Advanced Land and Soil Survey and Mapping	3
GEO 840T	Advanced Photogrammetry	3
GEO 842P	Advanced Natural Resource and Management	3
GEO 845P	Oceanography	3
GEO 846P	Advance Hydrology and Watershed Management	3