The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program (AGDP) in the Department of Geography provides opportunities for undergraduate students to complete the Master’s (M.S.) degree requirements at a faster pace while finishing their B.S. or B.A. Degree. These undergraduate students may count up to 12 (but not fewer than 6) credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies toward an M.S. in Geography within 24 months after completion of their B.S. or BA degree in Geography. This program will allow an undergraduate student majoring in geography to complete an accelerated Master of Science in Geography by completing 135 combined undergraduate/graduate credit hours. Applicants to the accelerated M.S. Program will be identified by faculty of the Geography Department as potential candidates and a faculty member must nominate the prospective student to the Graduate Advisor. The student must then meet with the Graduate Advisor in the Department of Geography to develop plans of work for the B.S., B.A. and M.S. programs. This process will be set up as early as the students’ sophomore year but no later than their junior year. Before admission to an accelerated program can be finalized, students must submit the standard application for admission to the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions including:

1. An application
2. Application fee
3. Copy of all transcripts
4. A plan of graduate work, signed by the prospective student and the graduate advisor.

The plan of graduate work for the M.S. must clearly indicate:

1. The 5000-level courses (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be counted for both the B.S., B.A. and M.S. degrees. As part of the preparation for the thesis requirement of the M.S., Geography 6610 and 6620 must be included as part of the 12 credits.
2. The graduation date for the M.S. degree that meets the time limit for the accelerated degree (obtaining an M.S. in Geography within 24 months of completing the B.S., B.A. degree.)

Any changes in the plan of graduate work for the accelerated program must be submitted in writing and approved by the Graduate Advisor, the Chair of the Department of Geography, and the Graduate Dean. Criteria for Admission to the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Permission to pursue an AGDP does not guarantee admission to the Graduate College.

Admission is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the AGDP:

1. Students must have completed a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 96 credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
2. Transfer students must have completed, as a full-time undergraduate student at WMU, a minimum of 15 WMU Geography credit hours and a minimum of 30 WMU credit hours.
3. Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 at WMU and 3.0 in Geography classes.
4. International students must clarify their visa status with the Office of International Students before submitting an admission application.

Admission Requirements

Applicants who possess a bachelor’s degree with a major or minor in geography OR a related academic discipline such as social science, biological, engineering, health, business, or physical science majors may apply for our master’s program.

The application involves a few steps:

1. You should follow normal Western Michigan University Graduate College application procedures to complete the online application process.
2. You must send a copy of your purpose statement, an official copy of your undergraduate transcript(s), three letters of reference, and score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to our department. International students should submit evidence of English language proficiency such as Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score to The Office of International Student Services (OISS) following standard WMU procedures. All applicants with applications completed on the annual due date, February 15, will be considered for graduate assistantship.
3. Visit wmich.edu/geography/academics/masters for additional information.
4. In addition to meeting the requirements of the Graduate College, all applicants must have basic facility in desktop computer operations and must have a basic knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics equivalent to the requirements in STAT 3660.