Graduate Application Overview
Thank you for your interest in our graduate degree programs in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences. We look forward to reviewing your completed application during the review cycle for the semester you seek admission.
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. All materials must be uploaded into the application system.
Applicants to the doctoral program that do not already hold a master’s degree need to reach out to the Graduate Program Director before completing the Ph.D. application. Very few applicants are admitted straight-to-Ph.D. and those who are, must hold a bachelor’s degree in geography or a related field and have some research experience.
Applications are reviewed holistically. The department is looking for applicants with clear research goals (for thesis and dissertation option applicants) or clear career goals (for non-thesis-based applicants). The applicant must reach out to a faculty member whose area of interest or research best aligns with their goals.
The Admissions Committee discusses all complete applications at one time, and the faculty member the applicant has connected with will present the applicant to the committee, so the connection is critical for all 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.
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 August 1, 2024).
We do not consider applications for spring or summer semester. Under certain circumstances an admitted applicant may defer their admission to a spring semester, but applications are not reviewed for spring admission.
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 2024 admission cycle there will not be funding from teaching appointments available. Prior to the deadline, 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 2024-25 academic year, no funding offer will be made. We encourage all applicants to seek funding though sources outside of the department.
If an international applicant finds outside funding, they must submit an Affidavit of Support form and financial proof (either letter from funding agency or bank statement) via the application portal.
Although departmental funding is not available this year, we hope to consider applicants for departmental funding again during the Fall 2025 application cycle.
Application Deadlines
Fall Semester Application Deadlines
- December 1. Deadline for application submission and fee payment (pending submission of additional application materials).
- December 15. Deadline for receipt of completed application with ALL required materials uploaded.
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 |
Geography majors:
- Master of Science (Thesis-based and non-thesis M.S.) = Geography (Masters)
- Doctor of Social Science (Ph.D.) = Geography (Doctoral)
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