The Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with a high degree of professional competence in geography, including an important, original contribution to knowledge. The Ph.D. degree requires at least 90 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor?s degree. Up to 44 semester hours of previous graduate coursework can be applied to these 90 hours upon approval of the student?s advisory committee and the Graduate College. Course work requirements include satisfactory completion of Contemporary Geographical Thought (6973), Research and Writing in Geography (6953), and two graduate-level seminars offered by the Department. Ph.D. students must also present a doctoral dissertation proposal approved by the student?s advisory committee, pass the written and oral portions of the General Examination, and complete and defend a written dissertation.