Admissions Requirements
Admission Requirements
A background in geography or related fields in the natural and social sciences is recommended for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Students are selected based on their academic background, professional experience, and letters of recommendation.
- Applicants to the M.A. program must have a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- A Master's degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Applicants without a Master's degree who are interested in the Ph.D must apply for the M.A. program.
Statement of Intent
Please write a statement of intent of 2-3 pages (single-spaced), in which you describe your background, interests, and goals in seeking an M.A. or Ph.D. Be as clear and specific as you can in writing your statement. It is not necessary to propose a particular research project, but your statement will be stronger if you can articulate your areas and direction of interest, and how they fit with the work of one or more of our faculty members.
Letters of Recommendation
You will need a minimum of two letters of recommendation (three preferred). Enter contact information for your referees in the online application. Your referees will be contacted directly by the University of Arizona..
Transcripts
Transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended or are currently attending are required. Photocopies of unofficial transcripts can be uploaded with your application. You will submit official transcripts later on, before you can be officially admitted by the Graduate College.
GRE Scores
The School does not request scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
*Current M.A. students must also apply online to the Graduate College and pay an application fee (which the School cannot pay). Finally, these students should indicate their plan to apply for the Ph.D. in their annual progress report due on 1 February.
In general, the School encourages our M.A. students to continue here if their goal is a Ph.D., and new students are often recruited and/or admitted to the M.A. program with that understanding. The procedure described here fosters orderly information-gathering and allows systematic review of Ph.D. applicants.
M.A. students progressing to the Ph.D. in Geography must have completed and passed the M.A. thesis before the start of their first semester in the Ph.D. program. Failure to do so will result in the student becoming ineligible for Ph.D. funding.
Standardized Tests
GRE Scores: The School does not request scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
TOEFL Scores (for international students): Either a score of 550 [PB], 79 [IBT], or IELTS [composite score of 7, no subject area below a 6]. To be considered as a TA, a citizen of a non-English-speaking country must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English via examination. This requires a score of at least 26 on the speaking section of the IBT TOEFL.
See Graduate College requirements for international students
Funding Opportunities
Every effort is made to provide some kind of financial support for incoming graduate students.
Teaching and research assistantships and graduate tuition waivers, available on a competitive basis, are used to waive nonresident tuition, registration fees, and/or health insurance premiums. Teaching and research assistantships offer a half-time academic year stipend that is competitive with other geography programs around the country.
Incoming students may also apply or be nominated for one of several available fellowships (e.g., see the Carson Scholars Program).
AAG Research Grants
AAG Education Grants
AAG Hoffman Award
AAUW American Fellowships
AAUW International Fellowships
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS)
Boren Fellowship
Czamanski Dissertation Prize
Lewis & Clark Fund for Research for Exploration and Fiedl Research
NSF Geography and Spatial Sciences Program Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement
Peace Corps Coverdell Fellowship
Philanthropic Educational Organization
Rangel Graduate Fellowship
Regional Science Assocaition International Dissertation Award
Thomas R. Pckering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Society of Women Geographers
Admissions Deadlines
Domestic Applicants:
- Fall: January 5
- Spring: There is NO spring admission
International Applicants:
- Fall: January 5
- Spring: There is NO spring admission
International Conditional Admission
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 2203
NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Geography
