Master of Arts in Geography

Saint Mary’s offers a two-year, thesis-based program leading to a Master of Arts in Geography.  

Geography is a holistic field grounded in the spatial processes and structures that govern our world. Saint Mary’s offers broad expertise across the human and physical realms of the discipline. We accept students from Geography as well as cognate disciplines such as Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, History, Planning, and Economics. 

Our faculty members investigate a broad range of research topics, including:

• Clandestine migration in West Africa
• Globalization of the Canadian education industry
• Heritage tourism and dark tourism in Nova Scotia, and beyond
• Extracting morphometric information from digital elevation models
• Coastal climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation
• Downtown revitalization through housing and retailing

What Sets Us Apart?

We are a small program, typically taking two or three students per year into an intimate learning environment. As a student you will work closely with our faculty with access to a robust set of support services and an active campus life. Our department hosts a wide range of geospatial tools and software that you may employ in your research. You will be provided a workstation in a dedicated graduate office, and have access to the services of our cartographer and GIS analyst.

Halifax

Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the major urban centre in Canada's Maritime Provinces region. Halifax offers a vibrant cityscape with close proximity to parks, beaches, and historic seaside towns.

Visit the Discover Halifax website to learn more about the city.

Program Structure

The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study, with a part-time study option available. 

In the first year you will take required courses in Research Methods and The History & Philosophy of Geographic Thought, along with two electives. You will also produce a proposal to guide your research project. Typically, you will begin research in spring or summer of your first year, and in the second year produce a thesis documenting and contextualizing your results in the established body of knowledge in your field. Throughout your time as an M.A. student, you will work closely with a supervisory committee.

Funding

We typically fund for the full two years of your program through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and awards. Some faculty members may supplement funding packages with research grants, and we encourage you to apply for external funding—our students have an excellent record of receiving support from the Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship program and Canada's Tri-Council research funding agencies. Funding decisions are included in your offer of admission.

How to Apply for Admission