Graduate Application Overview
Graduate Application Overview
Thank you for your interest in our graduate degree programs in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences at Michigan State University.
For the FALL 2025 application cycle, we will only be accepting Master of Science applications.
Students interested in our Ph.D. program will need to check back to the website after August 1, 2025, to see what is needed for a FALL 2026 application.
Master’s applicants, we look forward to reviewing your completed application after the application closes on December 1, 2024. Note that all materials for your application MUST be received no later than December 15, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be considered, even if submitted with payment.
We do not prescreen application materials to assess whether an applicant will be admitted, so there is no need to email us materials unless we ask for them or you are reaching out to a faculty member to discuss your research interests. All materials must be uploaded into the application system.
Applications are reviewed holistically. The department is looking for applicants with clear research goals (for thesis option applicants) or clear career goals (for course-based applicants). Thesis-based applicants must reach out to a faculty member whose area of interest or research best aligns with their goals. Please use the directory to review our faculty research areas.
The Admissions Committee discusses all complete applications at one time, and for thesis-based applicants, the faculty member the applicant is connected with will present the applicant to the committee, so the connection is critical for those applicants. It is helpful to include your CV or resume when reaching out.
Be sure to answer ALL questions on the application BEFORE clicking submit. Once you submit your application, you cannot go back to edit your responses or change the requested admission semester. If you are unsure of your answers, you can “save” your application and then go back and edit it up until December 1, at which time it must be submitted for consideration. Do not submit if you cannot select the semester you wish to apply to.
We do not consider applications for spring or summer semesters. Under certain circumstances, an admitted applicant may defer their admission to a spring semester, but applications are not reviewed for spring admission.
The application system for admission during the fall of the following year opens on August 1 annually (i.e. the application for Fall 2025 opens on August 1, 2024).
Applicants Requesting Funding Support
When funding is available, the Geography graduate programs may offer to fund a student in the form of a Teaching Assistantship. For the Fall 2025 admission cycle, there will not be funding from teaching appointments available. Prior to the application deadline, thesis-based applicants must connect with at least one faculty member whose research best aligns with their own. If that faculty member does not have research funding available to offer for the 2025-26 academic year, no funding offer will be made. We encourage all applicants to seek funding through sources outside of the department.
International applicants must submit an Affidavit of Support form and financial proof (either a letter from a funding agency or a bank statement) via the application portal to be admitted unless a faculty member has research funding to offer.
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester Application Deadlines
- December 1. Deadline for application submission and fee payment (pending submission of application materials).
- December 15. Deadline for receipt of a completed application with ALL required materials uploaded from those who submitted their application by December 1 and paid the application fee.
Application Fees
In order to be reviewed for admission, the application fee MUST be paid. If you expect someone else to pay your application fee, they must do so before the December 1 application deadline.
|
Application Type |
Application Fees |
|
Graduate Domestic |
$65.00 |
|
Graduate International |
$75.00 |
Master’s Degree in Geography:
- Master of Science (Thesis-based and non-thesis M.S.) = Geography (Masters)
Additional Resources
If after reviewing the Application Instructions linked below, you still have questions, contact the Academic Program Coordinator. You can also review our program requirements by exploring our most recent Graduate Handbook.
For more information, please contact:
Joni Burns (she, her, Ms.)
Academic Program Coordinator
Geography Building
673 Auditorium Road, Room 116
East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone: 517-355-4650
Fax: 517-432-1671