1. Background of the Program

In its national mission of expanding the horizon of knowledge, Haramaya University has made a commendable and great leap ahead since its inception. One of its tangible manifestations of the expansion of higher learning was the opening of the Faculty of Education in 1996. Two years later the Department of Geography was opened under the auspices of this Faculty to offer four years B.Ed. Degree in Geography. The graduates were trained basically to be employed as secondary school teachers and tertiary level instructors

In 2008, higher education institutions curricula revision was underway across the country with lot of deliberations with the object to produce more qualified citizens. Accordingly, the department of Geography and Environmental Studies revised its existing curriculum and developed a new curriculum. In summer 2008, the Department of Geography became one of HU’s departments offering a graduate program i.e M.Ed. Degree in geography. The program was launched due to a strong demand by the Government and stakeholders to upgrade geography teachers at all levels.

Currently the department is working at its level best to produce not only graduates who are acquainted with deeper understanding of teaching geography but also qualified professionals in Geography and Environmental Studies who can serve the nation in different capacities in the area of Geography & Environmental studies and Protection. That is why there is now a strong felt need to start M.A program in Geography and Environmental Studies.

2. Rationale

Higher learning institutions offering postgraduate studies leading to Master's degree and above in geography and environmental studies in Ethiopia are scarce Addis Ababa University  the oldest university in the country,  started offering tertiary level training in 1979, followed by Bahir Dar University and Dilla University, which opened their graduate programme in 2005 and 2009 respectively. The need for trained manpower at postgraduate level in Ethiopia increased tremendously in the country following the opening of several higher learning institutions and ever increasing need of professional geographers and environmentalists, who can serve as geographer and environment planners, managers, and decision makers in the governmental/non-governmental organizations and research institutions.

The need for introducing M.A program in Geography and Environmental Studies all the more essential because of:

  • The growing importance of qualitative and quantitative analysis together with computer assisted techniques in geographical analyses. The discipline has experienced increasing use of new techniques of geographic data capture, storage, retrieval, analysis and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Information Systems (LIS).
  • The realization that the Program had lots of environmental aspects and other equally important areas of academic interest such as climate change; environmental utilization and protection management; tourism; food security; resource management and others - hence lots of job opportunities for the graduates in Geography and Environmental areas.
  • Feedback from alumni regarding market demand for Geography and Environmental Studies Graduates, from employers, donors and several agencies and institutions as also regional education bureaus of Dire Dawa, Somali, Harari and others.
  • Changes in the socio-political trends, environmental issues, population and sustainable development; urbanization, globalization and the resultant impact on humans and the planet earth and society.
  • The establishment of many geography departments in regional universities

3.  Admission Requirements

Selection for admission to the Graduate Program in Geography and Environmental Studies is made on the basis of the candidate’s performance in the entrance examination, letters of recommendation and the undergraduate level performance (CGPA 2.00 and above). Applicants are required to be BSc/BA/B.Ed/ Degree holders in Geography and Environmental studies.

4. Graduation Requirement

To obtain a graduate degree in Geography and Environmental Studies (A) Student must take and passed all required courses including recommended number of elective courses (a minimum of 28 Cr .Hrs) and thesis (6 Cr. Hrs). (B) Have a CGPA of at least 3.00. (C) Conduct Research, produce thesis and defend the same successfully. (D)  No ‘F’ and ‘D’ grade in any courses and not more than one ‘C’ in any course.

5. Degree Nomenclature

After successful completion of the graduate program the University will award Master of Arts Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies with the specialization mentioned in the brackets. Thus, Master of Arts degree in Geography and Environmental Studies (specialization in Urban and Regional Development Planning) or Masterof Arts Degree in Geography and; Environmental Studies (specialization in Environment andLand Resource Management)