PhD Geographical Sciences at University of Maryland, College Park

Entry requirements

Graduate admission requirements: Statement of Purpose Transcript(s) TOEFL/IELTS/PTE ( international graduate students ) | Programme-specific: Statement of Purpose: Why you're choosing UMD and the Department, who you'd like to work with in our program. Unofficial Transcript(s) (the UMD Graduate School will ask you to send your official transcripts if you are offered admission) Letters of Recommendation ( 3) CV/Resume TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students): UMD English Requirements . Publications/Presentations (submitted to the Upload Requirements section of the application) Writing Sample (uploaded to the Upload Requirements section of the application) (one required and up to two more optional for Ph.D. applicants.) Contacting Faculty: You will need a sponsor from the Department faculty for admission. You must select and contact a tenured or tenure track faculty member with interests that parallel your own. Plan to make an appointment for an interview in person or via Zoom with at least one. This is required as part of your application. Description of Research/Work Experience Portfolio PDF Upload (optional) The Department offers courses of study leading to the Ph.D. degree and the MPS (masters in professional studies in geospatial information sciences). The MPS program is administered separately and has different admission deadlines and requirements than the Ph.D. program. See the MPS GIS Program . Ph.D. Program The Department admits students to our doctoral program that have already completed a masters degree and exceptionally well qualified students who have only completed a bachelor’s degree. Admitted students are required to either possess or shall develop a strong foundation in the discipline of Geography. Admission to the Ph.D. program is not limited to students with a Geography degree. Those with degrees in related disciplines such as environmental, physical or biological sciences, anthropology, economics, history and social science are encouraged to apply but may be required to undertake additional background study. Some knowledge of data processing and statistics is necessary for all applicants. Applicants proposed program of study must clearly draw on the research strengths of existing faculty members. All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members (in person, by phone, or by email) to discuss their research interests and to identify potential advisors, as they will need a faculty to sponsor them for admission. In general, the Department admits between 10-15 students each year into the Ph.D. program. Virtually all students accepted are fully-funded through assistantships and fellowships. While there is no longer a formal M.S. program, a terminal masters degree may be received for qualified students who are unable to complete the Ph.D. program. Combined BS/MS Program The Masters of Science degree is only earned through the Department's combined five year BS/MS program. The combined BS/MS program enables some of the better performing students pursuing an undergraduate Geographical Sciences major to earn both their BS and their MS in five years by counting up to 8 credits of their Geographical Sciences graduate courses towards both degrees, thus significantly reducing both the time and cost of earning both degrees. Most students apply to the program at the end of their Junior year to begin graduate courses and be part of the program as of their Senior year. Admission into the program is strongly competitive. Students will be admitted with an undergraduate degree in Geographical Sciences, including those with an ENSP concentration in Geographical Sciences. Minimum requirements are: 3.5 GPA overall, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of research. Applicants' proposed statement of research must clearly align with the research strengths of existing faculty members. All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members (in person, by phone, or by email) to discuss their research interests and to identify potential advisors, as they will need a faculty member to sponsor them for admission. In general, the Department admits between 5-10 students each year into the combined BS/MS program. There is no Departmental funding available.