College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Geography
www.kent.edu/geography

About This Program

The Ph.D. degree in Geography provides specialized training and inquiry into contemporary problems in geography.

Contact Information

• David H. Kaplan | dkaplan@kent.edu |
  330-672-3221

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• GRE scores (starting with the fall 2025 admission term, the GRE will no longer be required)
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority Deadline: February 1

Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Geography coursework must be graded. Maximum 3 credit hours of GEOG 80998 may count towards the geography coursework. New students are strongly encouraged to take GEOG 70800 and GEOG 79701 within the first year of their enrollment, if they have not already taken similar courses at the master's level.

²

The cognate field must be in a department other than geography. Generally, cognate study is taken with the cognate member of the student's advisory committee.

³

Candidacy examinations are taken after the dissertation proposal is approved by the committee. This should be completed by the end of the second year of doctoral study. Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for GEOG 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter GEOG 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

• Of the 30 credit hours of doctoral-level coursework required for the degree, students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours that are letter graded.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Engage in independent research projects.
2. Acquire experiences in formulating research problems, reviewing relevant literature, designing research methodology, analyzing research data and formulating results from academic research.