Binghamton University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The master's program in Sustainable Communities at Binghamton University integrates the three pillars of sustainability – environmental protection, economic vitality and social equity – to provide a balanced, holistic perspective to managing local governments, non-profit organizations and other parts of the community.

Our M.S. degree is intended to prepare students for a job in industry or as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. degree, either at Binghamton or at another university. The Ph.D degree is intended to train future academic geoscientists, industry research geoscientists, or government research geoscientists. Both of our advanced degrees are based on a breadth of coursework coupled with a thesis (M.S.) or dissertation (Ph.D), both of which comprise publishable work in one of our subdisciplines.

The department's master of arts program in geography educates qualified students for work toward the PhD degree, and for professional careers in government service, industry and regional or urban planning. There is a thesis option for each of the four tracks. Each track requires a total of 40 credits, as well as defense of an approved thesis proposal or defense of a thesis.
The Master's Program
The MA Program allows students to specialize in one of four tracks:
General Geography
Cartography and Geographical Information Systems
Environmental and Resource Management
Urban and Retail Planning
Each track offers a mix of theory, practice, tools and techniques. Because of the applied nature of our program, students in each track are trained for work toward the PhD degree, and for professional careers in government service, industry and regional or urban planning. The MA degree requires 40 credit hours of coursework, including a thesis or project.

Geological Sciences comprises thirteen faculty with research interests in Environmental Geosciences; Sedimentology and Surficial Processes; Geochemistry and Petrology; Structural Geology and Basin Analysis. There are a number of different perspectives within these different focus areas and great diversity in research problems tackled. There is flexibility for students to tailor their program of study to their individual professional objectives at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Our small size fosters close faculty – student interactions at all levels, including opportunities for field trips associated with some classes. Highlights of our program include longer field excursions and seminars by noted geologists, both underwritten by the Department's Bartle Fund (named in honor of Binghamton University's first President, the geologist Glenn Bartle).
Our undergraduate programs are built around four core courses designed to give students a breadth of knowledge in the geological sciences. Students then choose an advanced track with course programs that emphasize Environmental Geoscience, Geophysics, or more traditional Geology. Undergraduates are encouraged to become involved in research and many continue on for advanced degrees in the geosciences.
The Graduate Certificate in Watershed Studies and Management offers graduate students working in a relevant disciplinary area an opportunity to receive special recognition for interdisciplinary work related to watersheds. At present, participating departments include Biological Sciences, Geological Sciences, and Geography. The purpose of the certificate is for those participating to achieve: (1) sound scientific understanding of the functioning of watersheds -- their hydrology, ecology, chemical cycling, and (2) sound understanding of anthropogenic factors that affect watersheds – that is, relationships between land use, zoning, and management decisions and watershed functioning. The certificate will provide graduate students experience in interdisciplinary, watershed-related work, while at the same time, developing their own disciplinary expertise.