MA Geography is also known as Master of Arts with a specialization in Geography. It is a 2 year program that is both semesters as well as Annual structure. This course deals with Earth Sciences including both physical and regional and also deals with economic aspects of the Geography with special reference to India. In order to pursue an MA in Geography, a candidate must have completed a bachelor's degree in Geography or any other related field with a minimum of 50% or above from a recognized institute.
MA in Geography offers a number of disciplines that the candidates can choose in order to make a career in geography. The syllabus of MA Geography is very wide and comprehensive. Some of the important subjects include Geomorphology, Geohydrology, Oceanography, Biogeography, Climatology, Soil Geography, Economic Geography and a lot more. These subjects are taught all in special reference to India.
See Also: Geography Courses
The scope of Geography has seen considerable growth globally with good posts as well as high salaries. Students can be employed in both private as well as the public sector. Some of the job roles include Cartography, Surveyors, Town Planning, Forest Administrator, Demographer, etc. There are multiple areas in which candidates can be recruited in such as Academic Institutions, Research Organizations, Mining industry, Resource Development Industry, Forest services etc. The average salary that a candidate can draw range between INR 3 L- 10 LPA.
MA Geography Course Details
Tabulated below are the details of the course available to make it easier for the candidates to understand the course better,
Degree | Post Graduate |
Full form | Master of Arts in Geography |
Duration | 2 years |
Age | Candidate must be minimum 23 years |
Minimum Eligibility | Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree in Geography with a minimum of 50% or above from a recognized institute. |
Average Fees | INR 10,000 - 90,000 for the entire duration |
Average Salary | INR 3.50 L - 6.40 LPA |
Employment Roles | Geographic Information systems analyst, geographic information systems engineer, PHP Developer, Web specialist, Cartographer |
Employment Sectors | Public and Private sector, Academic Institutions, research organizations, Mining Industry, resource development industry, Forest services, NGOs |
Top Recruiters | Ernst & Young, PwC, Coal India Ltd, Oil India Ltd, government of Assam, Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited, Jharkhand public service commission |
MA Geography Syllabus
MA in Geography course is a 2 year postgraduate program divided into 4 semesters. The syllabus of this program focuses on covering various aspects of Soil Geography, Climatology, economic geography, planning and development and many more. This course also offers specializations in Agricultural geography Forest, demography etc. It also deals with theoretical and practical subjects. Tabulated below is the syllabus of MA Geography explained in detail.
Semester I | Semester II |
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Geomorphology | Geohydrology and Oceanography |
Climatology and Soil Geography | Biogeography |
Nature of Geography | Historical and Political Geography |
Economic Geography | Geographical Thought |
Quantitative Techniques and Digital Data Processing | Cartographic Techniques and Map Projection |
Soil Water Analysis, Surveying and Field Report | Thematic Mapping and Geographical Information System |
Semester III | Semester IV |
Social, Cultural and Settlement Geography | Resource Planning and Development |
Population and Human Development | Regional Planning and Development |
Regions and Regional Entity of India and West Bengal | Land Use Planning and Rural Development |
Special Paper | Special Paper |
Applied Statistical Techniques in Geography | Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System |
Special Paper | Term Paper (on special papers) |
MA Geography Subjects
M.Sc in Organic chemistry is a 2 year postgraduate program that includes a mixture of theory and practical subjects along with project work. The syllabus might vary in different colleges but more or less it is the same.
MA Geography Subjects: First Semester
- Geomorphology- Geomorphology deals with the study of landforms and discusses the processes that facilitated the formation of landforms.
- Climatology and Soil Geography- Climatology and Soil geography discuss the changes in climate over the years and how it affected the formation of soil.
See Also: Geology Courses
MA Geography Subjects: Second Semester
- Geohydrology and Oceanography- Geohydrology and Oceanography study the processes that take place in water bodies like oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, etc.
- Biogeography- Biogeography studies the distribution of organisms and observes the pattern in which they are distributed.
- Historical and Political Geography- Historical and Political Geography is concerned with the origins of human beings and early humans and their relationship with state and regional territories.
See Also: How to become a seismologist
MA Geography Subjects: Third Semester
- Social, Cultural and Settlement Geography- Social, Cultural and settlement geography is concerned with the settlement patterns of people.
- Population and Human Development- Population and Human Development focus on population growth and how its stabilization is important for sustainable development.
- Regions and Regional Entity of India and West Bengal- This subject studies the region of the Indian subcontinent and West Bengal along with its features and properties.
See Also: How to be a Geochemist
MA Geography Subjects: Fourth Semester
- Resource Planning and Development- Resource Planning and Development is the study and allocation of resources to make use of them.
- Regional Planning and Development- This subject provides an understanding of the concept of region, identifying regional disparities in development, perspective and policy imperatives.
- Quantitative Methods in geography- This Subject aims to provide knowledge about statistical techniques and all its application in geography and also help in analyzing geographical problems.
See Also: How to become a Geological Engineer
MA Geography Entrance Exam Syllabus
Topics | Subjects |
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Unit 1: Human Geography: Nature and Scope | - |
Unit 2: People |
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Unit 3: Human activities |
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Unit 4: Transport, Communication and Trade |
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Unit 5: Human Settlements |
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Unit 6: People |
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Unit 7: Human settlements |
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Unit 8: Resources and Development |
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Unit 9: Transport, Communication and International Trade |
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Unit 10: Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems |
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MA Geography Syllabus of JNU
MA Geography Syllabus of JNU is mentioned below
Year I | Year II |
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Geomorphology and Pedology with special reference to India | Hydrology and Oceanology |
Regional Geography in India | Levels of Regional Development in India |
Economic Geography with Special reference to India | Population and Settlement Geography with special reference to India |
Quantitative methods in geography-I | Socio-Cultural Dimensions of Regionalisation |
History of Geographical thought | Urbanization and Migration |
Human Ecology and Ecosystem | Geography of Rural Settlements |
Climatology and Biogeography | Agricultural geography with special reference to India |
Field Survey Methods (Socio- economic) | Agricultural economics |
European Union: A Meso Regional Study | Mineral and Marine mineral resources |
Regional Development | Landform Geography |
Social Geography with special reference to India | Transport in Regional Analysis |
MA Geography Teaching Methodology and Techniques
Professors find MA Geography programs with different teaching and its own set of instructional strategies. The course comprises both core and elective subjects along with demographic illustrations and practicals as it helps the candidates to comprehend the lessons. To improve the effectiveness of the program candidates are given to work on different projects, assignments, research papers and other action-based learning to make the lessons interesting for the students to understand them better. This course involves more of a theoretical than a practical approach. The teaching methods followed in MA Geography are as follows:
- Classroom lectures
- Project
- Assignments
- Internship
- Seminars
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MA Geography Top Colleges
Name of the college | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
---|---|
Jawaharlal Nehru University | 5100 |
Jamia Millia Islamia | 15,650 |
Banaras Hindu University | 3280 |
University of Delhi | 5500 |
Punjab University | 23,180 |
Banasthali Vidyapeeth | 48,000 |
Mumbai University | 4230 |
Presidency University | 2220 |
Ahmedabad University, Amrut Mody School of Management | 2,50,000 |
National Post Graduate College, Lucknow | 22,800 |
MA Geography Books
There are several books relating to MA Geography or relevant subjects available in the market by best authors around the world that help the candidate to conduct research and prepare for the examination. These books help the candidate to expand their knowledge and help them in getting the required information which can be useful in the long run. Given below are some of the top book for candidates pursuing MA Geography course for your reference,
Reference Books | Authors |
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The Nature of the Environment | Goudie |
Geography and Man’s Environment | A.N. Strahler & A.H.Strahler |
Economic Geography of Asia | S.P. Chatterjee |
India: A Regional Interpretation | C.D. Despande |
Philosophy and Human Geography | R.J.Johnson |
MA Geography Syllabus: FAQs
Ques. What is the MA Geography course about?
Ans. MA Geography is a 2-year postgraduate course that teaches about Earth Sciences and deals with the understanding of physical and theoretical comprehension of earth's surface, landforms and environments.
Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for MA Geography?
Ans. The eligibility criteria for MA Geography is:
- The candidates must have completed their graduation in BA Geography from a recognized university.
- The candidate must have obtained a minimum aggregate of 50% or above or equivalent CGPA.
- Where needed the candidate must give the entrance exam.
Ques. What is the admission process for MA Geography ?
Ans. The admission process for MA Geography is done based on the performance of the candidate in the qualifying exam. The candidate must score 50% aggregate in the qualifying exam to be eligible for admission to MA Geography. Then a merit list will be released on the basis of which candidates can secure their admission. Some universities also require the candidate to give entrance exams so the candidate must score more than 40% on the entrance exams.
Ques. What is the entrance examination for MA Geography ?
Ans. Yes, there are universities that conduct entrance exams in order to select the candidates. Some of the top entrance exams are :
- DUET
- CUET
- JMIEEE
- All India Entrance Exams
Ques. What is the application fee for MA Geography?
Ans. The application fee of the MA Geography course depends on college to college. The minimum course fees in India is INR 25,000 while the maximum can go up to INR 3,00,000.
Ques. What is the average Salary of after completing a MA Geography Course?
Ans. The entry level candidates can expect a salary between INR 3.5-4.5 L. However, this is also dependent on a number of factors such as experience, skills, academic qualification etc. Candidates with more than 5 years of experience can expect a salary of INR 8-9 LPA.
Ques. What Are the jobs after MA Geography?
Ans. The jobs after MA Geography include
- Urban Planning
- Emergency Management
- Cartography
- Professor
Ques. Name the top recruiters for MA Geography?
Ans. Some of the top recruiters for MA Geography are:
- Resource Development Industry
- Mining Industry
- Research Organizations
- Forest Service
Ques. What are the options I can pursue after the MA Geography course?
Ans. Candidates after completing the MA Geography course have the option of pursuing
- M.Phil. Geography
- Ph.D. Geography
- M.Sc. Geography
- Postgraduate Diploma in Geographic Information System
Ques. Name the top colleges for MA Geography course?
Ans. The top colleges for pursuing MA Geography course are:
- University of Delhi
- Banasthali Vidyapith, Japiur
- Banaras Hindu University
- Jamia Millia Islamia University