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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. We offer graduate study in four sub-disciplines: Nature-Society, Physical, Urban-Economic, and Geospatial Technologies.

The application system for admission during the fall of the following year opens on August 1 annually (i.e., the application for Fall 2026 opens on August 1, 2025).

There are two steps to applying:

  1. Completing the online application and submitting it with payment
  2. Submitting required supplemental materials (including receipt of 3 letters of recommendation DIRECTLY from the recommender)
  • Important Information for Applicants
    • 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, “save” your application, 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 look forward to reviewing your completed application after the application closes on December 1. All supplemental materials for your application MUST be received no later than December 15.
    • 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 materials unless we ask, or you are reaching out to a faculty member to discuss your research interests.
    • All materials that an applicant wants reviewed must be uploaded into the application system.
  • Application Review Process

    Applications are reviewed holistically. The department is looking for applicants with clear research goals (for thesis option master’s and doctoral applicants) or clear career goals (for course-based master’s applicants).

    Thesis-based master’s and Ph.D. applicants must reach out to a faculty member or members whose area of interest or research best aligns with their goals. Please use the directory (linked above) to review our faculty research areas. It is helpful to include your CV or resume when reaching out.

    The Admissions Committee discusses all complete applications at one time, and for thesis-based and doctoral applicants, the faculty member(s) the applicant has connected with will present the applicant to the committee. Faculty connection is critical for those applicants.

    We do not consider applications for spring or summer semesters. However, in certain circumstances, an admitted applicant may defer their admission to a spring semester.

  • Applicants Requesting Funding Support

    When funding is available, the Geography graduate programs may offer to fund a student.

    There are two forms of student funding:

    • Departmental Teaching (TA) and/or Grading (TE) Assistantships
    • Faculty Research Assistantships (RA): Prior to the application deadline, thesis-based master’s and Ph.D. 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, applicants may be considered for departmental funding.

    We encourage all applicants to seek funding through sources outside of the department whenever possible.

    International applicants must submit an Affidavit of Support form and financial proof (either a letter from a funding agency or a bank statement translated into English) via the application portal to be admitted unless they receive a faculty or department funding to offer.

  • Application Deadlines
    December 1. Deadline to submit the general university application and pay the application fee to receive admission consideration.

    December 15. Last day ALL required supplemental materials must be uploaded to the applicant portal for paid application received by December 1. This includes 3 letters of recommendation.

    Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

  • Graduate Application Fee

    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 Fee:  $75.00

  • Degrees available in Geography
    • Master of Science (Thesis-based and course-only M.S.) = Geography (Masters)
    • Ph.D. in Social Science with a major in Geography = Geography (Doctoral)
  • International Applicant Resources

    Graduate School Admission Information and Official Document Requirements

    https://grad.msu.edu/internationalapplicants

    Includes: Transcript requirements, Visa information, U.S. Degree equivalencies, Financial Proof (for self-funded and externally sponsored students), List of Countries approved as English Speaking

    English Language Proficiency/Competency Requirements

    https://grad.msu.edu/english-language-competency

    Office of International Students & Scholars Immigration Information

    https://oiss.isp.msu.edu/immigration1/visa-immigration/

Additional Resources

If, after reviewing the Application Instructions linked below, you still have questions, contact the Graduate 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.)
Graduate Program Coordinator
Geography Building
673 Auditorium Road, Room 101
East Lansing, MI 48824

GEOGrad@msu.edu

Phone: 517-355-4650
Fax: 517-432-1671

Graduate