Deadline:
2019-01-05
As part of a new collaborative partnership between the University of Arizona and the University of Cape Town we would like to encourage applications from South African students (including those from historically disadvantaged backgrounds) for the PhD in Geography with a focus on climate risk, resilience and sustainable development. The University of Arizona, School of Geography and Development has a number of faculty with interests in climate, water, and environment from physical and social perspectives and a strong reputation in scholarship on human-environment interactions in drier regions. For a list of faculty please consult the School web site at: https://geography.arizona.edu
Funds have been committed to support at least one student from South Africa who gains admission to the program for at least their first year of study as a research assistant in the Environment and Sustainable Development project within the School. It may be possible to support a student who wishes to do the PhD in Arid Lands Resource Sciences since many of us are associated with this program as well as the School of Geography https://alrs.arizona.edu/ Please note that you must gain admission to the PhD program through the normal channels to be eligible for the funding.
If you have questions about this special opportunity, or require assistance with your application, please contact Professor Diana Liverman (liverman@u.arizona.edu).
A US PhD takes 3-4 years and includes at least one year of coursework, taught mostly through graduate seminars (on topics such as climate, political ecology, arid lands, environmental governance, human dimensions of global change). Within the first two years students write a proposal and complete comprehensive written exams in several focus areas (including a minor program in areas such as global change, anthropology, women’s studies) and work with a committee of 3-5 faculty members throughout the program.
Students who gain admission to the program are usually funded through research or teaching assistantships which involve working 20 hours a week teaching discussion sections, grading, or working on a faculty research project. These assistantships include a waiver of tuition and currently pay about $17,000 for the two main academic semesters. If admitted with funding students are usually supported for at least 4 years so long as they maintain good progress.
Many students successfully apply for scholarships and grants that support their fieldwork or writing up. There is a charge to apply to the program of $95
(https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/procedures/apply-now)
INFORMATION FROM WEB SITE (https://geography.arizona.edu)
Apply to the School
SGD has a number of graduate programs. Links to instructions for specific master’s and graduate certificate programs are directly below, while directions for the M.A. or Ph.D. in Geography are described in detail below this list of links
Apply to the MDP program
Apply to the MS-GIST program
Apply to the CESD Graduate Certificate program
Apply to the GIS Graduate Certificate program
Apply to the Water Policy Graduate Certificate program
APPLYING TO THE M.A. or Ph.D. PROGRAM IN GEOGRAPHY
The deadline for fall admission is January 5 for both domestic and international applicants.
Please note that the SGD deadline supersedes Graduate College deadlines. A background in geography or related fields in the natural and social sciences is strongly recommended for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs.
Students are selected on the basis of:
- Academic background and performance (generally a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or 1st, Upper 2nd degree).
- Professional experience.
- GRE General Test scores (no required minimum but scores should be above average). (GRE tests are offered in several cities in South Africa; See https://www.ets.org/)
- Personal statement of intent.
- Letters of recommendation. (2 letters are required but 3 are recommended)
- TOEFL (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. (South African students are usually exempt from TOEFL)
NOTE: A master's degree is required for admission to Ph.D. program (applicants without master's degrees who are interested in the Ph.D. need to initially apply for the master's degree).
Graduate Progam Questions
Contact Dr. Carl Bauer
ENR2 Building, Room S525
(520) 621-1917
Email: cjbauer@email.arizona.edu
Graduate Application and Curriculum Questions
Contact Elizabeth S. Cordova
ENR2 Building, Room S433
(520) 621-7486
Email: elizabec@email.arizona.edu
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please make sure to read the information on the Prospective Students page, then complete the UA Graduate College online application.
The application process will require uploading, selecting, or indicating the following:
1. Official photocopies of your GRE scores*
2. Official photocopies of your TOEFL scores** (international students only)
3. Official photocopies of transcripts from ALL universities and colleges attended
4. Statement of Intent (no more than 3 pages single-spaced)
5. Top 5 areas of interest within Geography (from a dropdown menu)
6. Additional interests (fill in, optional)
7. Region(s) of interest
8. Faculty members with which you have an interest in working
The online application process will provide instructions for your referees to upload their letters of reference.
All test scores must be sent from ETS.
The GRE and TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Arizona is 4832.
*There is no minimum GRE score required, but scores should be above average.
**The minimum TOEFL score is 550 [PB], 79 [IBT], or IELTS [composite score of 7, no subject area below 6] (requirements)
Description of Statement of Intent
The main goal of the graduate admissions process is to select excellent and promising students whose interests and abilities are a good fit with the School’s faculty. The admissions committee considers a range of information about applicants including college transcripts and GPA, GRE scores, and prior life and work experience. Letters of recommendation and each applicant’s statement of intent are especially important. Accordingly, applicants are urged to be as clear and detailed as possible when preparing a statement of intent. Even for those at the beginning of their graduate school career and still exploring possibilities, the letter should indicate how the decision to attend (or continue) graduate school was arrived at (and here pertinent aspects of an individual biography are relevant), goals while in the program, and why the applicant finds UA and SGD particularly appropriate as a place for study. To the extent that applicants can already identify particular faculty members with whom they would like to work, or who share mutual research interests, applicants should indicate these potential relationships in their letter. The SGD website can be helpful in this regard, but personal email and telephone conversations can be valuable to clarify and define shared interests. For applicants with inter- or multi-disciplinary interests, demonstrating a familiarity with other appropriate units and faculty on the UA campus can also be an important part of the rationale for studying here, and should be included in the statement of intent.
Finally, because the statement of intent is used as an indicator of written communication skills and preparation to undertake graduate study, take care in composing it. The Admission Committee is not looking for any particular style, but applicants should strive to make their letter distinctive and interesting, as well as informative.
Still have questions?
For questions about the application process, contact the Program Coordinator Elizabeth S. Cordova .
For additional information about the graduate program, see the information for prospective students or Contact the Director of Graduate Studies Carl Bauer.