Introduction
Central Department of Geography Offers Master’s Degree Program in Geography. MA in Geography is two-year (Four Semester) academic course. The syllabus has been designed to cover major components of the physical geography, human geography, and spatial planning and management including techniques and tools of geography. Nature and human activities are rapidly changing and issues are growing in size and becoming complex. It has incorporated contemporary issues of physical, human and spatial aspects including the techniques and tools of geography.
The syllabus is spread over three groups (i) Core, (ii) Compulsory and (iii) Optional with a total of 60 credit hours and divided into four semesters. This syllabus for semester system targets to meet the need of quality education in geography by making it more competitive and research oriented in accordance with national and international practices. All the students are required to take core and compulsory courses but optional courses can be chosen in consultation with the Department.
Course Distribution
Semester I:
| Course Code | Subject | Credit hrs. | |
| Core Subjects | Geog 551 | Geographical Thought – I | 3 |
| Geog 553 | Geomorphology – I | 3 | |
| Geog 555 | Human Geography – I | 3 | |
| Compulsory Subjects | Geog 563 | Geographic Information System – Theory | 3 |
| Geog 564 | Geographic Information System – Practical | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | ||
Semester II:
| Course Code | Subject | Credit hrs. | |
| Core Subjects | Geog 552 | Geographical Thought – II | 3 |
| Geog 554 | Geomorphology – II | 3 | |
| Geog 556 | Human Geography – II | 3 | |
| Compulsory Subjects | Geog 561 | Research Methods in Geography – I | 3 |
| Geog 565 | Remote Sensing – Theory | 3 | |
| Geog 566 | Remote Sensing – Practical | 3 | |
| Total | 18 | ||
Semester III:
| Course Code | Subject | Credit hrs. | |
| Core Subjects | Geog 557 | Region, Regionalism and Regional Analysis | 3 |
| Compulsory Subjects | Geog 558 | Climate, Hydrology and Bio-Geography | 3 |
| Geog 562 | Research Methods in Geography – II | 3 | |
| Optional Subjects | Optional I | 3 | |
| Optional II | 3 | ||
| Optional III | 3 | ||
| Total | 18 | ||
Semester IV:
| Course Code | Subject | Credit hrs. | |
| Compulsory Subjects | Geog 559 | Geographical Problems of Nepal | 3 |
| Geog 560 | Thesis | 6 | |
| Total | 9 | ||
Optional Subjects
Geog 511*. Ethno Geography
Geog 512*. Public Policy and Governance
Geog 513*. Industrial Geography
Geog 514. Cartography – Practical
Geog 515*. Advanced Applied GIS/RS- Practical
Geog 516. Surveying – Practical
Geog 517*. Applied Fluvial and Glacial Geomorphology – Field study
Geog 518*. Climate Modeling
Geog 519. Soil Geography
Geog 520. Environmental Impact Assessment
Geog 521. Disaster Risk Management
Geog 522*. Peri-Glacial Geomorphology
Geog 523. Natural Resource Management
Geog 536. Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Development
Geog 537. Gender and Development
Geog 524*. Watershed Management
Geog 525*. Environmental Geography
Geog 526*. Global Change and Adaptation
Geog 527*. Water Resources Management
Geog 528*. Regional Development Planning
Geog 529*. Land Use Planning
Geog 530. Development Planning
Geog 531. Geography of Development
Geog 532. Urban Development Planning
Geog 533. Rural Development Planning
Geog 534. Agriculture and Food Security
Geog 535. Geography of Tourism
Geog 538*. Advanced Political Geography
Geog 539*. Geography of Transportation
Geog 540*. Population and Development
Geog 541. Social Geography
Geog 542*. Economic Geography
Geog 543. Geography of Nepal
Geog 544*. Geography of Social Wellbeing
Geog 545. Migration and Urbanization
Geog 546*. Geography of Human Resources
Geog 547*. Spatial Planning
Geog 548*. Geography of Health
Geog 549*. Cultural Geography
*indicates that the details of course content needs to be developed.
Note: Further details of course of study can be downloaded.
Eligibility and Criteria for Admission
Candidates having Bachelor’s Degree in Geography or any other subjects recognized by Tribhuvan University are eligible to apply for admission in MA Geography. An applicant seeking admission to MA in Geography must appear and pass the entrance examination conducted by Dean’s Office, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The applicant who fails to appear in the Entrance Examination or to obtain the minimum qualifying score will not be given admission. The admission of students will be based strictly on merit list and the enrollment capacity of Central Department of Geography or the respective campus
Medium of Instruction
English will be the medium of instruction at Master’s level.
Duration of the Program
Two academic years will be divided into four semesters. The department follows academic calendar published by Tribhuvan University.
Hours of Instruction and the Credit Calculation
There will be 90 working days in each semester. Students must fulfill at least eighty percent attendance in each course.
Theory
One credit hour is equivalent to 16 lecture hours. One theory paper of one credit will have at least one lecture hour per week.
Practical
For practical courses one credit hour is equivalent to 16 hours. One credit will have two hours practical class per week.
Evaluation
Students must obtain pass marks in all theory and practical subjects separately in order to obtain the degree. There will be internal examinations in each semester carrying a weightage of 40% of the total marks. Similarly, 60% will be of end semester examination. Appearing in and passing the internal examinations is mandatory to take the final examinations. The pass marks of all theory, practical, research work, field work is 50%. TU-FoHSS/Controller of Examinations will conduct the final examinations, while the internal examinations will be conducted by the Department.
Grading system
Total marks obtained in internal and end semester exams shall be graded on absolute or relative bases.
The performance of a student shall be made on a four point scale ranging from 0 to 4 grades
A student must secure a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.7 or Grade B minus (B-) in each course.
Grading scale
Grade CGPA Percentage Equivalent Performance Remarks
| Grade | CGPA | Percentage Equivalent | Performance Remarks |
| A | 4.0 | 90 and above | Distinction |
| A- | 3.7 | 80 -89.9 | Very good |
| B+ | 3.3 | 70-79.9 | First Division |
| B | 3.0 | 60-69.9 | Second Division |
| B- | 2.7 | 50-59.9 | Pass in individual subject |
| F | 0 | Below 50 | Fail |
- The students shall receive their semester grades and academic transcript grades only in letter grades and GPA scores.
- Students securing only 2.7 in grade point are considered as “pass in individual subject”.
- In order to pass the semester examination the student must secure a minimum of Grade “B” or Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0.
- A student who secures CGPA less than 3 may request for the opportunity to improve the grade in two subjects. The office of the dean will provide one time opportunity to appear in semester exam. The exam of the courses to improve grade shall be held as per the course cycle.
- Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) is the grade point average of the semester, is calculated as
SGPA = (Total Grade Points earned in a semester)/(Total number of credits registered in a semester) - Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which is grade point average of all semester is calculated as
CGPA = (Total Grade Points earned )/(Total number of credits completed )