Graduate Studies
Welcome Message
Welcome to graduate studies in the Department of Geography and Earth Science at Shippensburg University! We are committed to student learning and personal development through innovative teaching, high quality field application, and use of geotechnology in all aspects of our departmental programs. The Geoenvironmental studies graduate program is designed to be flexible in order to meet the varied needs of a wide range of students. The specific mission of the graduate program can be summarized as follows:
- Develop mastery of theoretical knowledge and provide experience with practical applications from a wide range of environmental and geotechnical disciplines.
- Provide further training and experience to increase competitiveness in the environmental and geotechnical job markets.
- Provide continuing education to fulfill professional development requirements.
- Provide a solid foundation for continued graduate education.
Please explore this page for further information. Also, the Guide to Geoenvironmental Studies Graduate Program (in pdf format) will be a useful document. Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Tim Hawkins for more information.
Admission and Program Requirements
Students apply for the graduate program in Geoenvironmental Studies directly through the graduate admissions office. When complete, application materials are sent to the Geography Earth Science department for evaluation. To be admitted, students must have an undergraduate GPA greater than 2.75. A graduate record exam (GRE) score is required if a student’s GPA is less than 2.75. While not required, to learn more about the program, it is recommended that prospective students make contact with faculty members they may be interested in working with prior to applying.
Once admitted, students are required to take at least 36 credits to complete the Masters degree in Geoenvironmental Studies. Listed below are the specific courses and requirements that must be completed to earn the degree.
- Students must take GEO 503 Fundamentals of Geoenvironmental Research during the first semester it is offered.
- Students must take a minimum of 18 credits at the 500 level, including GEO 503.
- Students may take a maximum of 12 credits at the 400 level for credit towards the MS degree.
- Students must take a minimum of 3 credits of geotechniques courses at either the 400 or 500 levels.
- Students may take a maximum of 6 credits outside of the department.
- Students must complete a thesis (6 credits, GEO 612 and 613) OR a one-semester research project (3 credits, GEO 546 or 548) and internship (6 credits, GEO 609 and 610). These credits count towards the 36 total credits.
- Students must take and pass the departmental practical exam.
Suggested Timetable (for full-time students)
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Core Areas of Study
The department has several core areas in which teaching and research activities are focused. While one goal of the program is to provide broad training in environmental science, students will align with one or more faculty members who will advise the student in course selection and research. As such, students must make contact with faculty members early in the program to determine where a student’s specific interests lie and the course of action to follow. Below is a list of core areas and associated faculty members. Many faculty members have overlapping interests and thus frequently collaborate with students on research projects and other initiatives..
- Climate and Meteorology: Hawkins, Williams
- Geology and Soils: Applegarth, Blewett, Cornell, T. Feeney, Woltemade
- Geotechniques & Mapping Sciences: Applegarth, Drzyzga, A. Feeney, Marr, Smith
- Human/Cultural Geography (economic, medical, transportation): Fuellhart, Marr
- Water Resources & Hydrology: T. Feeney, Hawkins, Woltemade, Zume
- Land Use and Planning: Jantz, Pomeroy
- Teacher Certification: Blewett, Smith
Graduate Courses
GEO402 MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY - Marr
GEO404 HYDROGEOLOGY – T. Feeney
GEO415 REGIONAL STUDIES – Pomeroy, Zume, and others
GEO420 GIS III – ADVANCED GIS – Drzyzga, Marr, Smith
GEO425 IMAGE PROCESSING - Applegarth
GEO440 FIELD TECHNIQUES – Drzyzga, Woltemade
GEO441 QUANTITATIVE METHODS - Marr
GEO444 ENVIRONMENTAL LAND-USE PLANNING – Pomeroy, Jantz
GEO446 WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT – Woltemade
GEO450 GEOGRAPHY-GEOLOGY FIELD STUDIES – Cornell, Fuellhart, Marr, Pomeroy, Woltemade
GEO490 SELECTED TOPICS:
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW – Salzmann
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION – Fox
CONSERVATION ISSUES IN PENNSYLVANIA – Fox
SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY AND PALEOENVIRONMENTS - Cornell
COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHY - Cornell
ESS404 APPLIED METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY – Hawkins
ESS413 MINERAL AND ROCK RESOURCES – Cornell,
ESS442 ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY – T. Feeney
GEO503 FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEACH – Hawkins, Woltemade
GEO517 APPLIED GIS – Drzyzga, Smith, A. Feeney
GEO522 GEOENVIRONMENTAL HYDROLOGY – Woltemade
GEO524 THE GEOLOGIC ENVIRONMENT – T. Feeney
GEO530 MAPPING SCIENCES – A. Feeney
GEO531 GEOMORPHOLOGY - Blewett
GEO532 GEOGRAPHY OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - Marr
GEO536 PROBLEMS OF THE ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT – Hawkins, Williams
GEO542 LAND-USE REGULATIONS - Pomeroy
GEO546 GEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH I – All Faculty
GEO548 GEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH II – All Faculty
GEO594 SELECTED TOPICS
CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE SCIENCE OF LAND USE CHANGE - Jantz
LAND USE METHODS – Pomeroy
KARST ENVIRONMENTS – T. Feeney
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS – Cornell
SOILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT - Wah
GEO609 INTERNSHIP I – Pomeroy, Jantz
GEO610 INTERNSHIP II – Pomeroy, Jantz
GEO612 THESIS I – All Faculty
GEO613 THESIS II – All Faculty
Financial Support and Assistantships
The department is able to provide financial support to several graduate students each semester and a few graduate students during the summer in the form of graduate assistantships. The number of supported students fluctuates depending on administrative financial considerations as well as the availability of funds from faculty sponsored, externally funded research projects. Graduate assistantships are for full time students and provide a full tuition waiver as well as an hourly wage for up to 250 hours per semester (150 hours during the summer). Assistants will also be given communal office space and keys to select rooms around the department.
In return for financial aid, graduate assistants will assist faculty and staff in a variety of capacities. The specific duties will depend on specific faculty members. Possible duties may include assisting faculty members with field or library research, field trips, grading, or lab preparation and implementation.
Theses
Thesis research allows a student to pursue a research project of their choice over the course of multiple semesters. A thesis differs significantly from a one-semester research project in terms of the scope and expected contributions of the project. While students perform the vast majority of analyses on their own, they are expected to work in close collaboration with an advising faculty committee. Below is a selection of theses completed in the department. Some contain links to the actual document.
- Ground Water Susceptibility To Elevated Nitrate Concentrations In South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Eliza L. Gross. 2008.
- Effects Of Impervious Surfaces On Maximum Stormwater Runoff Temperatures: Modeling And Field Monitoring Of The Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania Campus. Melissa E. Mimna. 2008.
- Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality And Priority Air Pollution In Pennsylvania. Adrienne M. Smith. 2008.
- The ability of a spring-fed wetland to lower nitrate Concentrations in an agricultural area. Jinnieth J. Woodward. 2006
- Floodplain management programs in a tri-state regional Area: A comparison of elements and implementations. Brandy R. Vos. 2006.
- Population characterization as a determinate of urban form: A Study of Harrisburg, PA. Eric S. Weltmer. 2006.
Reconstructing The Cultural Landscape of Pennsylvania’s Cumberland County: 1765-1775. Michael J. Ross. 2006. - Implementation and Analysis of a Comprehensive Fluvial Geomorphic Monitoring Methodology for Evaluating a Restored Stream Channel in Southcentral Pennsylvania. John W. Balay. 2005.
Carbonate Load and Denudation Estimates from a Mantled Karst Landcsape, Pennsylvania. Brenda J. Fruchtl. 2005 - Hydrology of a Carbonate Spring in the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. Bruce D. Lindsey. 2005.
A Study of Gentrification In The Uptown Neighborhood Of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Christopher M. Spahr. 2005.
Hydrology of Boiling Springs - A Comparison of Drought, Wet, and Normal Conditions. William J. Bechtel. 2004.
Water Chemistry of the Cleversburg Sink Cave System: Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. Robin Christeen Dee. 2001. - A Study of the Influence of Climate Change on Infectious Disease Rates-Case Study Focused on the United States. Patricia N.M. Miller. 2001.
- Baseflow Geochemistry on a Fluviokarst Watershed: Burd Run, South-Central Pennsylvania. Todd D. Grote. 2001.
- Park and Recreation Planning and GIS in Washington County, Maryland. Jennifer D. Kinzer. 2001.
Mapping the Deciduous Forest Communities of Southern New England Using Remote Sensing Imagery and Ancillary GIS Data. Allen J. Gross, Jr. 1999. - Analysis of the James River Regional Flow Management Plan for the Falls of the James Area. Lynette M. Ward. 1998.
One Semester Research Projects
Geoenvironmental Research allows a student to pursue a research project of their choice over the course of one semester. While this is primarily an independent research project, the student is expected to work in close collaboration with the advising faculty member. The student should have regular meetings with that faculty member, especially in developing the research design. There is a possibility for students to complete more than one research project but no more than 3 credits may be earned for any single project. If a single project is 6 credits worth of work, students should opt to complete a thesis. Below is a selection of one-semester research projects completed in the department. Some contain links to the actual document.
ADD SOME
Practical Exams
The practical exam is designed to assess whether a student has accomplished the program goals:
- Mastery of substantive knowledge
- Proficiency in geotechniques
- Development of analytical and communication skills
The exam will be written and evaluated by the student’s advisor along with one other faculty member jointly chosen by the student and advisor. Students will be given a broad statement or question for their exam. They may also be provided with a dataset or other ancillary data depending on the specific nature of the exam. The exam will last exactly one week during which time students are expected to better define their exam question, collect appropriate data to answer their question, analyze the data, and write up the results. Final reports should be no longer than 20 pages, double spaced. Below is a selection of practical exam questions and answers. All contain links to the actual document.
- An Analysis of Climate Trends Along the Appalachian Trail and its Potential Effects on Thru – Hiking. Katherine Shuren. 2009
- A Survey of the Geography and History of U.S. Dams and the Implications on Stream Restoration. James Manuel. 2009.
- The Spatial Pattern and Diffusion of Land Trusts in the United States. Kathleen Kelliher. 2009.
- An Analysis of Shippensburg University’s COOP and Automated Weather Station Datasets. A.J. Beck. 2009.
- The housing price bubble and its influence on the geospatial distribution of prices in twenty metropolitan areas in the contiguous United States, 2000-2008. Drew Smith. 2009.
- Simulated Gasoline Release. Jeremiah Nathaniel Greenland. 2009
- A Preliminary Assessment of Ten Watersheds Intersecting Albemarle County, Virginia. Noah D’Antonio. 2008.
- A Thermal Analysis of a Small Apartment. Danielle Doyle. 2008.
- Modeling the Effects of Increasing Impervious Surface Allowances on Stormwater Runoff: Shippensburg Borough, Pennsylvania. Melissa Mimna. 2008
Internship Placements
Student Profiles
Apply to the Graduate School
Resources and Facilities