Degree Requirements

The Department offers admission only to the Ph.D. program. It also offers a Masters and Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies in Geospatial Information Sciences (see MPS GIS Program).

Requirements for admission to the doctoral program include a GRE verbal score of 160 (600 paper based test) with a good quantitative score of 148 or better (600 paper based test), and three letters of recommendation. For international students, the following additional minimum test scores apply: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, IBT 100, 26 in reading, 24 in listening and writing, 22 in speaking; IELTS, 7 in overall, listening, reading, and writing and 6.5 in speaking). International students who are applicants for teaching assistantships must also pass an International Teaching Assistant Oral Evaluation by the University's Maryland English Institute (MEI).

You will need a sponsor from the Department faculty for admission. Select and contact faculty with interests that parallel your own. Plan to make an appointment for an interview with at least one if you can.

The Department admits students to our doctoral program who have already completed a Masters degree and well-qualified students who have only completed a bachelor’s degree. In all cases, admitted students are required to either possess or shall develop a strong foundation in the discipline of Geography. Admission to the doctoral program is also dependent on the support of two tenured/tenured-track faculty. In addition to the GRE scores and the three letters of recommendation, Ph.D. applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.3 and must provide a clear statement of goals and experience.

Closing date for the PhD application is January 15. However, applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by December 15 for priority processing and early review. Applications are reviewed from September to February for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry. The Graduate School has initiated a "Priority Processing Date" of December 1 for applications for the following fall, and will accept applications up to May 1. Applications received in December receive earlier attention and processing. Applications received by the department after January 15 stand only a small chance of being considered for fall entry, since all offers of admission and financial aid are usually made by the end of March.

Admission to the graduate program is not limited to students with a Geography-first degree. Those with a good GPA in degrees in related disciplines such as environmental, physical or biological science, anthropology, economics, history and social science are encouraged to apply but may be required to undertake additional background study not for credit. Some knowledge of data processing and statistics is necessary for all applicants. Ph.D. applicants' programs must draw on the research strengths of existing faculty members.

Students must maintain a B grade level on all required courses. Award of degrees is granted only on sufficient evidence of high attainment, not simply for completion of course requirements. You may review all currently approved graduate courses here.