Accelerated M.S.
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Five years to earn two degrees
A student can earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years from the Department of Geography through an accelerated M.S. geography program. During the semester before the fourth undergraduate year (typically spring semester of the student's junior year), application for admission to the program is made through the Graduate School admission system. The application materials and process are the same as the M.S. Geography program, but the application must indicate the intention to seek the commencement of grwaduate work in the semester immediately after completion of the bachelor's degree. For example, if the student expects to finish their undergrad degree in May 2024, the application should seek admission to begin the Accelerated M.S. program beginning in Fall 2024.
The application consists of a CV/résumé, three letters of reference, writing sample, unofficial transcript, and an “Academic & Professional Goals Statement.” It is critical that a dedicated advisor is identified 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 seeking an Accelerated M.S. should be familiar with many of the faculty members in the Department of Geography, but finding the right person to agree to be an advisor is a key element of success. The list of faculty members who work with graduate students follows:
Graduate Faculty Subdiscipline
Timothy Baird Human Geography
Anamaria Bukvic Human Geography
Thomas Crawford GIS/Remote Sensing
Andrew Ellis Physical Geography
Eranga Galappaththi Human Geography
Luke Juran Human Geography
Lisa Kennedy Physical Geography
Junghwan Kim GIS/Remote Sensing
Korine Kolivras Human Geography
Robert Oliver Human Geography
Craig Ramseyer Physical Geography
Lynn Resler Physical Geography
Santosh Rijal GIS/Remote Sensing
Yang Shao GIS/Remote Sensing
Stephanie Zick Physical Geography
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 toward 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 year 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.
Master's candidates in this program should check with both their undergraduate advisors and Graduate Director Andrew Ellis to confirm which classes can be counted toward both degrees.
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 Andrew Ellis with questions about the program.
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