INTERNATIONAL & DOMESTIC APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Degrees Offered: M.A. and Ph.D.
Major (Code): Geography (GEOG)
GRE Code: 2203
Phone Number: (520) 621-1652
FAX Number: (520) 621-2889

Program Description: Particular subareas of study emphasized by the department include regional development, economic and population geography, climatology, biogeography and environmental geography, and cultural, social and critical human geography.

Deadlines: December 1 for international applicants; January 15 for domestic (U.S.) applicants; Fall admission only; Incomplete files will not be reviewed.
Note: Departmental deadline supersedes Graduate College deadlines.

1. GRE Scores (1100 combined verbal and quantitative expected).
2. Complete official transcripts (in sealed envelopes from issuing institutions). List of all courses in which you are currently enrolled that do not appear on transcripts. Minimum GPA of 3.0 required.
3. Letters of recommendation (in sealed envelopes, signed across the seal); minimum of two letters, three preferred. [Same letters will be used for both the admissions application and the application for Graduate Assistantship.]
4. Statement of intended research directions within the department including names of faculty with whom you might work. [See more detailed description of statement below].
5. Application for Graduate Assistantship (if relevant). Currently an assistantship pays approximately $14,622 for 20 hours of work per week or $7311 for 10 hours, plus remission of out-of-state tuition (approximately $8500 annually). Partial (50-80%) remission of in-state tuition fees and health insurance is also provided.
6. Legible copy of application (if applying by mail; copy not required if applying online).

1. To apply online: go to the Graduate College homepage at http://grad.arizona.edu/.
   Click the "Apply Now" button.
   1. In addition to completing the application, you will need to pay the application fee (currently $50) by credit card.
   2. bYou will need to print and fill out the domicile affidavit form and mail it.
2. To apply by mail: go to the Graduate College homepage at http://grad.arizona.edu/.
   Click the "Apply Now" button.
   1. Print the application and domicile affidavit form.
   2. Complete both forms and mail with application fee. The fee (currently $50) can be paid by either check or credit card.

Description of Statement of Interest/Intent

The central goal of our admission process is to assure, to the greatest extent possible, an appropriate match between an applicant's aspirations and the capabilities of our department to help an applicant fulfill those aspirations successfully. While a variety of indicators aid us in these decisions (GPA and GRE scores, transcripts, students' prior experience, and letters of recommendation), the Letter of Interest/Intent provides the opportunity for each applicant to specify not only what his/her goals actually are, but also to articulate why the UA GRD program is the right vehicle for achieving them.

Accordingly, we urge applicants, when preparing a Letter of Interest/Intent, to be as clear and detailed as possible. Even if you are at the beginning of your graduate school career, and are still exploring possibilities, your letter should indicate how you have arrived at the decision to attend (or continue) graduate school (and here you might also include pertinent aspects of your own biography), what you eventually hope to attain, and why you think the UA and GRD are particularly apt for you. To the extent that you can already identify particular faculty members with whom you would like to work, or whose interests you share, you should indicate these potential relationships in your letter as well. (Clearly the GRD website can be helpful in this regard, but personal email and telephone conversations can be quite beneficial in elucidating cognate interests.) If your interests are inter- or multi-disciplinary, demonstrating a familiarity with other appropriate units and faculty on the UA campus can also be an important part of your rationale for studying here, and should be included in your letter.

Finally, because we also utilize the Letter of Interest/Intent as one indicator of your written communication skills and your preparation to undertake graduate study, take care in composing it. We are not looking for any particular style, but applicants should strive to make their letter distinctive and interesting (without being gimmicky), as well as informative.