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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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