Ph.D. in Geography: First Year
The first year of graduate study (for those entering with a B.A./B.S. or an M.A./M.S. without a geography background) is planned to broaden the student's knowledge of the field of geography and the practices within it, and to help students define their interests within the context of the Clark program. The student will select courses in consultation with the formal first year graduate advisor. Normally, all students must complete Geog. 318-Explanation in Geography and Geog. 368-The Development of Western Geographic Thought within the first year of residence at Clark. Students who have successfully completed similar courses elsewhere may request, from the Director, permission to be exempted from either or both of these courses. In order to maintain satisfactory progress in the graduate program, the student must obtain a minimum of 5 course credits by August 1 of the entry academic year. All first year graduate students are required to take the following non credit course, Geog. 315-Professional Training for Geographers which examines graduate studies and career needs, including grant preparation, teaching skills/techniques, job interviewing, as well as introducing the faculty of the School to the student body.
First-year Review
Toward the end of the first year of study (latter stages of the second semester), a formal review of the student's first-year work and discussion of his/her future program will be held by a three-member First Year Advisory Committee. The chairperson of the committee should be appropriate to the student's projected field (s) of study and, preferably, should be the faculty member most likely to direct the student's doctoral work. The members of the committee are determined in consultation with the graduate advisor and should include at least two regular faculty of the geography program. The Director must approve all first year Advisory Committees. About two weeks in advance of the First-Year Advisory Meeting the student should submit to each member of the committee an example of work completed during the year (usually a review or research paper). The advisory meeting involves an assessment of the written work and of progress made during the first year of study, and includes advising on the next year of study. At this time the student should declare his/her formal advisor. In addition to its advisory role, the committee makes a recommendation to the Director on the continuance of the student in the graduate program. Written statements of the meeting will be prepared by the committee and by the student; these statements will be reviewed by the Director and placed in the student's file.