Prospective Ph.D. Students 

The University of Maryland’s Department of Geographical Sciences (GEOG) offers a top-tier academic and research environment that makes it a leading choice for prospective students. The department is ranked #3 in remote sensing, according to 2023 Shanghai Ratings, and #6 in geosciences worldwide, according to 2022-23 U.S. News and World Report.

GEOG scientists are at the forefront of earth science and geospatial data science research with groundbreaking projects like NASA’s Carbon Monitoring System, GEDI, Harvest and Acres, along with global land surface and wildfire monitoring initiatives, among many others.

With a rapidly expanding faculty and substantial research funding, students have unique opportunities to collaborate on groundbreaking projects in earth system science, global climate change and sustainable development.

The department’s state-of-the-art facilities include advanced computer labs for geospatial data processing and analysis, offering students hands-on experience with innovative software tools and libraries. Additionally, Maryland’s proximity to federal agencies, research institutions, and international organizations, such as NASA, NOAA and the World Bank, provides unparalleled access to internships, research collaborations and employment post-graduation pathways.

UMD Geographical Sciences stands out for students passionate about contributing to impactful research and policy-driven solutions in a dynamic and resource-rich research and academic setting.

The specific geographic research specializations represented by the Faculty include:

  • Geospatial-Information Science and Remote Sensing: Collecting and interpreting geospatial data is central to everything we do as geographers, whether on computers or in the field. From local events to multi-scale processes, our faculty are developing and applying advanced remote sensing capabilities and GI Science that will help us to develop the next generation of GI technologies and understanding of the world’s geography. Our strengths include advanced computer modeling, scientific and geographic visualization, sensor calibration and design, image processing, geocomputing, spatial statistics, and semantic learning.
  • Human Dimensions of Global Change – Coupled Human and Natural Systems: The Department’s ultimate research goal is to advance an integrated understanding of the coupled Earth system including spatially distributed human processes. Our research addresses both fundamental and applied issues in coupled human and natural systems, such as population, socio-economic development, consumption and production, poverty, climate impacts and adaptation, vulnerability and mitigation, as well as the examination of policy options and trade-offs on sustainability. Our scientists investigate both the human socio-economic system and the climate system, and their linkages.
  • Land Cover and Land Use Change: Land cover and land-use change is a key interface between human and natural systems. Our scientists are world leaders in the remote sensing of land-cover changes. This information is actively combined with human socio-economic data to study past land cover and land use change and to inform advanced modeling of spatially-explicit future scenarios. These methods are actively being used to simultaneously address social, economic, carbon, climate, biodiversity and other aspects of land-use changes. We develop agricultural monitoring systems and look at societal impacts, adaptions and vulnerability to fire, droughts, floods, desertification, and other catastrophic events.
  • Carbon, Vegetation Dynamics and Landscape-Scale Processes: The department carries out a broad array of research focused on monitoring vegetation dynamics, with a particular focus on mapping and studying human and natural disturbances and their landscape-scale impacts, as well as changes to the earth surface as a result of climate variability. This research involves integration of field-based research with remotely-sensed observations to address key scientific uncertainties. Alterations to the global carbon cycle are changing atmospheric composition and climate with implications for human well-being and a particular focus of our research is on monitoring and modeling the terrestrial carbon cycle with unprecedented sophistication and resolution.
Who Should Apply

The Department admits students to our doctoral program who have already completed a master's 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. Ph.D. applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.3 and must provide a clear statement of goals and experience. 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.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Program in Geographical Sciences: 

  • 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): TOEFL, IBT 96 overall, 26 in reading, 24 in listening and writing, 22 in speaking; IELTS, 7 in overall, listening, reading, and writing and 6.5 in speaking. The University’s institutional score reporting code for the TOEFL is 5814. Click here for more information on the 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)
  • 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 Skype with at least one if you can. This is required as part of your application. 

Closing date for the PhD application is Dec. 12, 2024. Applications are reviewed from January to April for Fall entry; there is no Spring entry. Prospective Ph.D. students can start their applications.

International Applicants:

The Department welcomes applications from international students. The University of Maryland's International Students Scholar Services group offers useful guides and contact information for international applicants. International applicants who are offered teaching assistantships must also pass an International Teaching Assistant Oral Evaluation by the University's Maryland English Institute (MEI). 

Visit the academic catalog for the Department of Geographical Sciences course listings and availability.

Teaching Assistantships (TA) and Research Assistantships (RA) are available for Ph.D. students 
  • Salaries start at $35,760 for a full time (20 hour/week) 12 month TA or GRA appointment, and include up to 10 credits of tuition remission per semester (as of 2025). Health care benefits are also included, with insurance subsidies worth approximately $6,677 (individual) and $15,965 (family) based on the insurance level selected. 
  • Renewal for a second year and subsequent years are contingent on the availability of funds, job performance and evaluation, meeting academic benchmarks outlined in the Department's Ph.D. Handbooks, and maintaining a 3.0 GPA or better.
Dean's Fellowships

The Department selects and recommends applicants for College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Dean's Fellowships based on academic achievement. Dean's fellows typically receive $17,500 of stipend per academic year, and up to five credits of tuition remission per semester. 

Flagship Fellowships

The Department selects and recommends to the Graduate School  candidates for theUniversity of Maryland Flagship Fellowship during each application cycle. Flagship Fellowships are multi-year enhancement awards to be added to fellowship/assistantship offers made by graduate programs and may total $50,000 per student over the duration of the award. Each year, the Graduate School welcomes approximately 10 outstanding Flagship Fellows. 

President's Fellowships

The Department selects and recommends to the Graduate School candidates for the University of Maryland President's Fellowship during each application cycle. The goal is to increase doctoral program diversity by recruiting top doctoral students based on their demonstrated contributions to program diversity. President’s Fellowships are multi-year enhancement awards to be added to full assistantship and fellowship support offers normally made by graduate programs. The President’s Fellowship enhancement award may total up to $40,000 per student over the duration of the award. 

Graduate School Fellowships and Awards

Once you are enrolled in a UMD Graduate Program, you are eligible for several Graduate School Fellowships and Awards. The application process for these fellowships and awards typically spans from February to April each academic year. Your advisor and the Department's Graduate Director nominate several students each year to the Graduate School for award and fellowship consideration. 

Graduate School Policies on Assistantship and Fellowship 

The Ph.D. Handbook is the Department's comprehensive resource for academic policies and procedures. 

View our graduate student mentoring guidelines.