Accelerated M.S.
To enable the completion of both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years, the Department of Geography offers an Accelerated M.S. Geography degree. During the semester before your senior year (typically spring semester of your junior year), apply for admission to the program through the Graduate School admission system. The application materials and process are the same as the M.S. Geography program, but when you apply you must indicate that you seek to begin studies in the semester after you expect to complete your undergraduate degree. For example, if you expect to finish your undergrad degree in May 2023, you would apply for admission to begin the Accelerated M.S. program beginning in Fall 2023.
The application consists of the same required materials as the M.S. Geography degree, including a CV/résumé, three letters of reference, writing sample, unofficial transcript, and an “Academic & Professional Goals Statement.” It is critical that you identify a dedicated advisor before applying to the Accelerated M.S. program, and this advisor must be mentioned in the Academic & Professional Goals Statement. The Accelerated M.S. Geography program cannot admit applicants without a dedicated advisor.
Students in the Accelerated M.S. Geography program must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3. Students are allowed to ‘double count’ 4000-level courses towards the bachelor’s and master’s degrees; up to 6 credit hours with a GPA of 3.3-3.49, and up to 12 credits with a GPA of 3.5 and above. Double counted courses must be taken during the final 12 months of the bachelor’s degree, and Accelerated M.S. students are expected to complete their bachelor’s degree within two semesters after being accepted into the program. You should check with both your undergraduate advisor and Graduate Director Dr. Andrew Ellis to confirm which classes can be counted towards both degrees.
Note that the Accelerated M.S. Geography program is intended to be a terminal degree and that graduate funding is not prioritized for students in the program.
Contact your undergraduate advisor and Graduate Director Dr. Andrew Ellis with questions about the program.
Additional Resources: