Admission Requirements

• Have earned a baccalaureate degree or a master's degree from an accredited college or university or demonstrate completion of work equivalent to the baccalaureate or master's degree given at this university.
• Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better ("A" is equal to 4.0).
• GRE: Not a required component of the MA application.
• Submit a 500 word or less Statement of Purpose that corresponds with graduate faculty in GES. Elements to include:
  • Your academic and professional background
  • What leads you to pursue an MA in Applied Geography at UCCS
  • Your research interests - as specific as possible
  • Which two or three GES faculty members you would be most interested in working with as your initial advisor.
• Complete an on-line application; fill out a tuition classification form; submit three letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your strengths, academic achievements, and research goals; provide copies of official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions attended; and pay a $60 non-refundable application fee. 
• Be aware that fulfillment of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. At the same time, students lacking one of the admittance requirements may be accepted provisionally on occasion. Provisionally accepted students must meet requirements to move to regular status within one year and demonstrate that deficiencies have been met to the MA director.
• For more information, and to apply, see 'Traditional Applicants' section on the Graduate School website.

• For currently enrolled students in the final term to completing the BA in GES or students who graduated with BA in GES within the last one year.
• Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 or better.
• Have a Statement of Purpose that corresponds with the graduate faculty of GES.
• GRE: Not a required component of the MA application.
• We require applicants to complete a "Streamlined Application," which should include the following: a completed tuition classification form, one letter of recommendation from an individual who can speak to your strengths, academic achievements, and research goals; a copy of your UCCS transcript; a Statement of Purpose (see below); and a $60 non-refundable application fee. 
• Note that applicants through this expedited process still need to be accepted for admission by the GES Graduate Faculty, and we strongly encourage you to contact specific faculty members in advance to discuss mutual research interests and the potential fit for advising.
• Submit a 500 word or less Statement of Purpose that corresponds with graduate faculty in GES. Elements to include:
  • Your academic and professional background
  • What leads you to pursue an MA in Applied Geography at UCCS
  • Your research interests - as specific as possible
  • Which two or three GES faculty members you would be most interested in working with as your initial advisor.
• Be aware that fulfillment of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. At the same time, students lacking one of the admittance requirements may be accepted provisionally on occasion. Provisionally accepted students must meet requirements to move to regular status within one year and demonstrate that deficiencies have been met to the MA director.
• For more information, and to apply, see 'UCCS Streamlined Application' section on the Graduate School website.

If you are resident of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, through Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), you qualify to pay in-state tuition at UCCS.

• English proficiency requirements are here. 
• Foreign transcripts evaluation:
  • UCCS works with a 3rd party to prepare a course-by-course foreign transcript evaluation for all applicants with foreign transcripts at no cost to the applicant.
  • Upon the successful completion of your online application, a private link is sent through which you will upload each foreign post-secondary transcript from institutions you have attended. These transcripts must include all courses and grades, must be issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. More details will be communicated via email after receipt of a completed application. Please make sure to check your email for the uploading instructions. More information here.
• Have earned a baccalaureate degree or a master's degree from an accredited college or university or demonstrate completion of work equivalent to the baccalaureate or master's degree given at this university.
• Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or better ("A" is equal to 4.0).
• GRE: Not a required component of the MA application.
• Submit a 500 word or less Statement of Purpose that corresponds with graduate faculty in GES. Elements to include:
  • Your academic and professional background
  • What leads you to pursue an MA in Applied Geography at UCCS
  • Your research interests - as specific as possible
  • Which two or three GES faculty members you would be most interested in working with as your initial advisor.
• Complete an on-line application, submit three letters of recommendation, provide copies of official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions attended, and pay a $60 non-refundable application fee.
• Be aware that fulfillment of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. At the same time, students lacking one of the admittance requirements may be accepted provisionally on occasion. Provisionally accepted students must meet requirements to move to regular status within one year and demonstrate that deficiencies have been met to the MA director.
• For more information, and to apply, see 'International Graduate Applicants' section on the Graduate School website

The deadline for receipt of all materials, including letter(s) of recommendation, for a fall term start is February 1. We do allow students to start our program in the spring term. However, a fall term start is preferred over a spring term start because, in fall, student begin the program in a larger cohort, there are significantly more opportunities for funding, and students take required courses in a more favorable sequence (GES 5770: History and Nature of Geography in fall, and GES 5010: Research Seminar in the spring). Please contact graduate director to discuss additional details.