Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, is one of the few schools that puts a full geography degree ladder online. Students can earn a B.A. or B.S. in Geography, an M.A. or M.S. in Geography, or one of three graduate certificates without coming to campus. Online students pay one distance rate, close to in-state tuition, whatever state they live in.
The department dates to 1911 and has offered a master’s degree since 1950. It awarded its first fully online bachelor’s degree in 2015 and launched the online master’s in 2019. Six full-time faculty teach both the online and on-campus sections, so online students learn from the same professors as students in Huntington.
Program at a Glance
| Online degrees | M.A. in Geography; M.S. in Geography; B.A. in Geography; B.S. in Geography (GIScience emphasis) |
| Graduate certificates | GIScience (16 credits); Meteorology (16 credits); Human Geography (18 credits) |
| Master’s credits | 34 minimum, with at least half at the 600 level |
| Bachelor’s credits | 120 total; up to 72 transfer credits from community colleges |
| Format | 100% online and asynchronous |
| Master’s starts | Fall, spring or summer |
| Bachelor’s starts | January, May or August |
| Graduate tuition | $548 per credit plus a $17.25 per-credit college fee (2026–27), all states |
| Undergraduate tuition | $400.75 per credit plus a $10.75 per-credit college fee (2026–27), all states |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (institutional) |
Master’s Degree: M.A. vs. M.S.
Both master’s degrees require at least 34 credits and can be completed fully online. The department describes the M.A. as popular with K-12 teachers, especially AP Human Geography teachers, and community college instructors. The M.S. draws GIS professionals and students focused on meteorology or environmental study. The only structural difference is that the M.S. adds GEO 540 Spatial Statistics using GIS. Source: Marshall Department of Geography.
Required Courses
| Course | Credits | Required for |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 615 Geographic Thought | 3 | M.A. and M.S. |
| GEO 616 Geographical Research Methods | 3 | M.A. and M.S. |
| One GIScience elective (GEO 523, 526, 527, 529, 530, 531, 534, 554, 631, 634 or 690) | 3–4 | M.A. and M.S. |
| GEO 540 Spatial Statistics using GIS (waived with undergraduate GEO 440, C or better) | 4 | M.S. only |
| GEO 679 Portfolio and Career Profile or GEO 681 Thesis | 3 or 6 | M.A. and M.S. |
The rest of the degree is electives, usually organized around an area of emphasis. Course requirements come from the M.S. and M.A. catalog pages.
Areas of Emphasis
Students shape their electives around one of eight emphasis areas:
| Emphasis | Focus |
|---|---|
| GIScience | Cartography, GIS, raster analysis, remote sensing, drones, GIS databases and programming |
| Weather and Climate | Climatology, extreme weather, weather analysis, remote sensing |
| Physical Geography | Climate, environmental systems, flood hazards, raster analysis |
| Environmental Analysis | Environmental geography, GIS and remote sensing, flood hazards, drones |
| Location Analysis | Urban, transportation and economic geography with GIS-based location modeling |
| Urban and Regional Analysis | Population, urban, transportation and economic geography, plus a public administration elective |
| Human/Regional Geography | Regional courses (Appalachia, Europe, South and Middle America), political and population geography |
| AP Human Geography Educator | Human geography content aligned with the AP Human Geography curriculum |
Capstone or Thesis
- GEO 679 Portfolio and Career Profile (3 credits): students build a professional portfolio, complete a written exam project and develop a career profile. Most students choose this option.
- GEO 681 Thesis (6 credits): an original research project, recommended for students heading to doctoral programs. Thesis students need an A in both GEO 615 and GEO 616 and an advisor’s approval.
An optional internship, GEO 690, requires at least 300 hours with an agency the department approves. Most students finish in 1.5 to 2 years, and the maximum time to degree is seven years.
Bachelor’s Degrees
The online bachelor’s comes in two versions:
- B.S. in Geography (45 geography credits): physical geography, environment, climate and GIS. Required courses include GEO 100, GEO 101 with lab, GEO 300, GEO 423, GEO 426 and the GEO 499 senior capstone. The GIScience emphasis can be completed online and adds courses such as drones, spatial statistics and GIS analysis.
- B.A. in Geography (at least 39 geography credits): human, cultural and economic geography. It has a foreign language requirement, and online B.A. students must complete the language courses at another institution.
Note that the B.S. emphases in Meteorology and Weather Broadcasting are not fully online. Meteorology requires math and physics courses, some of them on campus, and the broadcasting courses are on campus only.
Graduate Certificates
| Certificate | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| GIScience | 16 | Delivered entirely online. Core of GEO 526 and GEO 531; B average required. |
| Meteorology | 16 | Online or on campus; can be finished in about a year. Not a substitute for federal meteorologist math and physics requirements. |
| Human Geography | 18 | Online or on campus; designed for AP Human Geography teachers. Credits apply to the M.A. or M.S. |
How the Online Format Works
- Asynchronous: Marshall defines an online course as 100% asynchronous, with no required live sessions or campus visits.
- Software: students get ArcGIS and ERDAS Imagine. GIS and remote sensing courses require a Windows PC.
- Course availability: most, but not all, geography courses are offered online each year, and summer courses are online only. Check the department course rotation when you plan your schedule.
- Course design: online courses follow the Quality Matters rubric, and Blackboard support is available 24/7.
Admission Requirements
Master’s Programs
- Graduate application
- CV or résumé
- Two letters of recommendation, from employers or faculty
- 2.50 minimum undergraduate GPA (Graduate College standard)
- No GRE requirement published by the department
- Deadlines: August 1 (fall), December 1 (spring), May 1 (summer)
Conditional admission is available for applicants finishing a bachelor’s degree. Up to 12 graduate credits from another program can transfer in.
Bachelor’s Programs
Transfer students with fewer than 30 credits must meet freshman standards, or have at least 12 graded college credits with a 2.00 GPA. Up to 72 community college credits can apply to the degree. Marshall has 2+2 transfer agreements with Mountwest Community and Technical College, Roane State, Columbia State and Palomar College.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
| Item | Graduate | Undergraduate |
|---|---|---|
| Online tuition per credit (2026–27) | $548.00 | $400.75 |
| College of Liberal Arts fee per credit | $17.25 | $10.75 |
| Total per credit | $565.25 | $411.50 |
| Full-time cap per semester | $5,086 (9+ credits) | $4,809 base (12+ credits) |
| Residency | Same rate for all states | Same rate for all states |
At $565.25 per credit, the 34-credit master’s comes to about $19,200. Students who take 9 or more credits a semester pay the capped full-time rate, which lowers the per-credit cost. Sources: 2026–27 graduate online tuition and 2026–27 undergraduate online tuition.
- Graduate assistantships: two per year, each with a 70% to 100% tuition waiver and a stipend for 20 hours a week of teaching support. The department does not say whether online students are eligible.
- Sam E. Clagg Award: an annual award for undergraduate geography majors, which can include a tuition waiver or stipend.
- Military: Marshall certifies GI Bill Chapters 30, 33 and 35 and accepts Tuition Assistance.
Faculty and Department
The Department of Geography has six full-time faculty. Their specialties include GIS and North American geography (Dr. James Leonard, chair), meteorology and hurricanes (Dr. Kevin Law), GIS, remote sensing and environmental geography (Dr. Anita Walz), economic geography (Dr. Jonathan Kozar), urban geography (Dr. Hilton Córdoba) and GIS, remote sensing and Python (Dr. Aaron Adams). The department runs the Sam E. Clagg GIS teaching lab and offers a drone course (GEO 554) that prepares students for the FAA Remote Pilot exam.
Careers
The department points graduates toward geospatial analysis, natural resource management, city planning, geography education and environmental protection. Alumni work as GIS analysts for transportation institutes, utilities and city governments, and as teachers. The department names ESRI, USDA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA among graduates’ employers. Meteorology graduates have joined the National Weather Service, TV and radio stations, and state agencies.
Pros and Considerations
Strengths
- Full degree ladder online, from bachelor’s through certificates and master’s
- Same tuition rate for every state
- Eight master’s emphases, including GIScience and an AP Human Geography track
- Three start terms a year and no GRE requirement
Things to Consider
- The B.S. Meteorology and Weather Broadcasting emphases are not fully online
- Online B.A. students must take foreign language courses elsewhere
- GIS courses require a Windows computer
- Assistantship eligibility for online students is not published
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marshall’s online geography master’s fully online?
Yes. The M.A. and M.S. are 100% online and asynchronous, with no required campus visits.
How much does Marshall’s online geography master’s cost?
At 2026–27 rates of $565.25 per credit, including the college fee, the 34-credit degree costs about $19,200 in tuition. All online students pay the same rate regardless of residency.
Does Marshall require the GRE?
The geography department does not list a GRE requirement. Applicants submit a CV and two letters of recommendation.
Can I study GIS online at Marshall?
Yes. The M.S. includes a GIScience emphasis, the bachelor’s offers a GIScience emphasis, and the 16-credit graduate GIScience certificate is delivered entirely online.
How long does the master’s take?
Most students finish in 1.5 to 2 years. Students can start in fall, spring or summer.
Compare Marshall with other schools in our online geography degree rankings, or see campus programs in West Virginia.
Official Sources
We verified this profile against the following school pages in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with the school before you apply.
- Marshall Department of Geography
- Master’s Degree in Geography
- Online Geography Master’s Degree
- Online Geography Bachelor’s Degree
- M.S. in Geography catalog (PDF)
- M.A. in Geography catalog (PDF)
- 2026–27 Online Graduate Tuition and Fees
- 2026–27 Online Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
- Geography Assistantships
- Faculty and Staff