Geography—Accelerated MS
The Master of Science in Geography at Western Michigan University is designed to:
Assist you in acquiring the skills needed for independent geographic research, including organizational and communication skills.
Enable you to develop a concentration in a particular aspect of the field.
MS IN GEOGRAPHY
The Master of Science in Geography is a broad program without specific concentrations or tracks. However, faculty expertise is particularly suited to (but not limited to) supporting thesis research in these areas:
Community development and planning prepares you for:
Planning related careers in local and regional governments and as urban and regional planners, land use planners, transportation planners, county planners and zoning administrators.
The private sector where planning consultant firms carry out substantial work on contract for public agencies using students' specialized skills.
Environmental and resource analysis prepares you for a career as an environmental or groundwater analyst with:
Local health departments, state agencies like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources or Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, National Park Service, Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Geological Survey or Soil Conservation Service.
Many environmental and resource analysis careers are located in the private sector too, in consulting firms or resource development and analysis corporations.
Geographic Information Science prepares you for a career:
Either wholly or partly involved in developing, training or applying geographic information science methodologies.
In both government (local, regional, state and federal) and the private sector. The long-term outlook for careers related to Geographic Information Science in the private sector is extremely promising.
By giving you as much time as you have available in the geographic information science labs to experiment with our state-of-the-art software. Each geographic techniques course offers about 30 hours of lecture and 30 hours of lab exposure, much more than a single in-service training course offered by companies.
Several flexible courses (individualized independent study courses or professional internships) may be used in any concentration area when relevant to your program of study.
Intakes
- Jan
- May
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Career and student employment services supports students by empowering them to develop the skills necessary for reaching their career goals. Through career advising, and learning about career pathways, WMU students get ready for the world of work or service after graduating.
Specific services and programs include:
- Access to Bronco alumni to help answer career questions.
- Assistance finding a campus job.
- Career coaching to learn about career pathways.
- Creating a professional “brand” using social media and technology.
- Eight job fairs every year to meet with potential employers.
- Getting an internship.
- Perfecting resumes, curriculum vitae, cover letters and job applications.
- Practice interviewing sessions with professional HR recruiters.
Evaluation training at Western Michigan University is offered at the following levels:
Master's prepares graduates for staff positions in evaluation in diverse settings.
Ph.D. prepares graduates for leadership positions in evaluation in many settings.
Career possibilities
- Assessment specialist
- Data analyst
- Evaluation coordinator
- External evaluator
- Internal evaluator
- Measurement consultant
- Monitoring specialist
- Policy associate
- Program officer
- Project manager
- Quality assurance manager
- Research analyst
- Statistical programmer
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Minimum English proficiency test scores (for most programs):
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 71 iBT undergraduate, 80 iBT graduate (WMU Institutional Code: 1902)
- TOEFL Essential: 7 Undergraduate; 8 Graduate
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic: 6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 graduate
- Pearson Test of English, Academic Module (PTE): 48 undergraduate, 54 graduate or
- Duolingo: 100 undergraduate, 115 graduate.
- International Baccalaureate, grade of 5 in English at the Higher Level.
- General Certificate of Education: A grade of A, B, or C in English from one of the five British-based examining boards undergraduate, a grade of A or B in English from one of the five British-based examining boards graduate.
- Successful completion of ESL level 112.
- Successful completion of either four years of upper secondary school or one year of full-time, tertiary (university-level) education from select countries meets WMU English language proficiency requirements.
- Successful completion of a WMU Pathway II or the final level in the WMU Center for English Language and Culture for International Students (CELCIS).
- Completion of a WMU degree.
- Cambridge Advanced English Certificate: A grade of A, B, or C undergraduate, a grade of A or B graduate.
- SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing Subscore (EBRW): 500 (for most programs).
- Michigan English Test (MET): 48 undergraduate, 57 graduate (for most programs).
- Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): B2 undergraduate, C1 graduate (for most programs).
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Masters/PG Degree
- Duration: 02 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
34964 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 100 USD
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