Geography Department > Graduate Study > Doctoral Program > Objectives & Specializations
Objectives & Specializations
Objectives
The Ph.D. is an advanced degree and graduating students are expected to be able to perform according to the standards of professionals in the field. The academic objectives of the degree are rigorous and students are expected to develop the following during their course of study:
- a basic understanding of the discipline of geography as a whole, its relationship with cognate fields, and its contribution to knowledge (this entails a working knowledge of the general literature in geography, familiarity with the structure of the discipline and sub-disciplines, and principal philosophical approaches and concepts);
- a detailed understanding of at least one specialty within the discipline (this entails thorough knowledge of a particular literature, its major works, historical development, main theories and empirical findings);
- an ability to conduct original, independent research of professional quality which requires gaining theoretical and practical knowledge of specific research techniques and demonstrating this knowledge in the conduct of original research;
- an ability to communicate the results of research in both oral and written forms which requires the demonstration of skills in oral presentations and formal papers within the context of graduate coursework (the dissertation ultimately provides evidence of the ability to communicate research);
- a familiarity with and adherence to the codes of practice established for academic study at UHM: Campus Policies (www.catalog.hawaii.edu/about-uh/campus-policies1.htm), Academic Policies (www.catalog.hawaii.edu/grad-ed/academicpolicies.htm), and the Student Code of Conduct (www.hawaii.edu/student/conduct/).
Specializations
A minimum of 15 credits in graduate courses in a field of specialization approved by the student’s graduate committee is required of all Ph.D. students. Course work taken at the M.A./M.S. level, either at UHM or elsewhere, may be used in partial fulfillment of this requirement with the approval of the advisory committee. Students, in consultation with their advisor, should devise a program of courses that together constitute a coherent specialization. Faculty currently supervise students in the following areas:
Agricultural Geography |
Geomorphology |
These specialization credits must:
- include a minimum of 9 course credits offered by the Department of Geography; and,
- come from courses numbered 600 and above (standing exceptions to this requirement include GEOG 309, GEOG 402, GEOG 403, GEOG 405, GEOG 409, GEOG 455, GEOG 487, GEOG 488 and other 300 or 400-level courses approved by petition to the dissertation committee and the Graduate Chair)
