How are applications reviewed, and when can I expect to hear about the program’s admissions and funding decisions?
The program’s admissions committee is typically composed of the
graduate program director and three members of the graduate faculty,
representing different parts of our program (physical geography, human
geography, and GIS/remote sensing/spatial analysis). The admissions
committee meets around the third week of February to evaluate
applications and rank candidates for funding consideration (fellowships
and teaching assistantships). The committee then presents a set of formal
recommendations to the full graduate faculty, which finalizes admissions
and funding decisions in the first or second week of March. Decision
letters are typically mailed out shortly thereafter.
Can I apply to the program even if I do not have a bachelor’s degree in geography?
Yes, absolutely! While it can help to have a background in geography or a
related field, there is plenty of precedent for admitting students who have
never taken a geography course. If you do not have an academic
background in geography, we ask that you explain in your personal
statement why you are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in
geography. You might also highlight other aspects of your education,
training, and work experience that have led you to this decision––and that
you believe make you a strong candidate. If you do not have an academic
background in geography, this may affect your ability to transfer credits
from a prior master’s degree upon entering the PhD program. Requests to
transfer credits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis (see below).
If I have a master’s degree, can I transfer credits from this degree and have them count toward a PhD at Rutgers?
Yes, in most cases. A PhD at Rutgers requires a minimum of 48 course
credits and 24 research credits. You may be eligible to transfer up to 24
Grad FAQ 1course credits from a prior master’s degree. Normally, these credits are in
geography or a related field, such as urban planning, environmental
studies, anthropology, ecology, or biology (this list is not comprehensive).
Research credits, credits for work on a thesis, and credits for independent
study are not accepted for transfer.
If I only have a bachelor’s degree, should I apply to the MA/MS program rather than the PhD program?
We accept students in two categories: terminal master’s (MA/MS) and
PhD. The terminal master’s degree is designed for students who do not
expect to continue immediately on to a PhD following completion of the
master’s degree. This degree is typically sought by applicants who are
interested in professional training and advancement relevant to non-
academic careers. The PhD may lead to either an academic or advanced
professional career. For students entering the PhD program without a
master’s degree in geography or a related field, a master’s degree may be
awarded after successful completion of the PhD qualifying exams
(typically taken after coursework is completed).
I currently hold a full-time job in the area. Is part-time study permitted?
Yes. We have had a number of students pursue graduate degrees part-time
in recent years.
Are there special admissions procedures I need to follow as an international student?
Yes. Please follow the appropriate links for international students on the
Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions webpage, and consult
information available on student visas and other procedures through
Rutgers Global–International Student and Scholar Services.
Is there a minimum GRE score required to be considered for admission?
We don’t consider GRE scores for admission. We consider the materials
part of the admissions package––your academic and professional
Grad FAQ 2background (CV), personal statement, transcripts, letters of
recommendation, any writing sample you might voluntarily upload, along
with TOEFL scores for international students)––when making admissions
and funding decisions.
What are the average GPA of students who were granted admissions to the program in the past?
The average GPA for the 2018–19 cohort was 3.61.
Is there a minimum TOEFL score that I must achieve in order to be granted admission?
Yes. International applicants with TOEFL scores below 95 are not
normally granted admission to the program. Students who meet the basic
minimum TOEFL requirement for admission, but nonetheless have clear
difficulty with English upon enrollment at Rutgers may be required to take
an English language competency exam and enroll in further instruction at
the discretion of the graduate program director.
Do you have suggestions for what I should cover in my personal statement?
The personal statement is a very important part of your application. At a
minimum, you need to clearly answer the questions “Why Geography?”
and “Why Rutgers?” You should explain what it is you want to study and
how your previous education, training, and experiences have qualified you
and or compelled you to pursue graduate study in geography at Rutgers.
You should mention strengths or skills relevant to your research interests
that might not be evident elsewhere in your application, and you should
explain any discrepancies in your academic record (such as a slow start in
your undergraduate program, or a long absence from academics). For PhD
applicants, you should describe specific topics you intend to study and
explain a broad approach to independent research you might follow to
address those topics. Finally, if you have been in contact with certain
faculty members or have ideas about whom you would like to work with,
you should identify them by name and explain how your interests match
theirs.
Do I need to supply a writing sample with my application?
Applicants are encouraged to submit writing samples in order to
demonstrate their critical writing and analytical skills, but there is no
formal requirement that you do so.
May I visit the program? How do I set up appointments with faculty members?
We encourage prospective students to visit our program and meet with
relevant professors and graduate students when it is feesible. You should
contact directly those faculty members with whom you would be
interested in working in order to set up appointments. We generally
discourage visits during the admissions review period of February 1–
March 1, however. Note that it is not customary for faculty members to
give feedback on drafts of personal statements, although discussion of
statements and applicants’ overlap/fit with the program is common. You
are welcome to use the departmental website to make contact with current
graduate students working on topics similar to your own. You can learn
more about faculty member interests, and find their contact information,
on the Graduate Faculty webpage.
What kinds of financial packages are available from the department to support graduate students?
Every year, the department has a certain number of financial packages to
offer the most competitive applicants. These are typically four-year
packages that consist of one to three years of fellowship support and
balancing one to three years of guaranteed support as a teaching assistant.
These packages cover tuition and provide a living stipend and health
insurance each year. In order to qualify for these multi-year funding
packages, you must apply to the PhD program. Terminal master’s degree
students are not eligible for these funding packages. The department has a
strong record of supporting PhD students for a fifth year of funding, but
this is not guaranteed nor offered at the time of admission.
All prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply for external
funding from, for example, the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Jacob K. Javits Fellowship
Program, and the Ford Foundation Fellowship Program. For more details
on these opportunities, please see the student handbook. Once enrolled,
students in the program have access to support with external funding
applications from GradFund.
How are advisors assigned?
Provisional advisors are assigned to all incoming students based on a
combination of factors, including your request to work with a particular
faculty member, a faculty member’s request to work with you, the match
between your research interests and those of our faculty, and a faculty
member’s current student load and commitments. You have the right to
request a change in advisor once you are in the program, and sometimes
advisors or the graduate program director may themselves suggest a
change, especially if your research interests change. We strongly suggest
that you learn about and contact faculty members with whom you might
wish to work before you apply, so that you can explore mutual interests
and lay the groundwork for future working relationships.
Is there an orientation for new students?
Yes. The School of Graduate Studies offers a series of orientation
meetings for new domestic and international students during the week
before classes begin in the fall. In addition, our graduate program offers a
mandatory halfday orientation during the same week, followed by a
luncheon with the graduate faculty, program staff, and current graduate
students. During the orientation, we cover the policies and procedures of
the program, introduce you to the staff and key faculty members, discuss
logistics such as keys and photocopying, and tour department facilities. If
accepted into our program, you will receive notification during the
summer about all of the orientation meetings.
What sorts of topics have Rutgers students chosen for master’s thesis and dissertation research?
The Department of Geography website maintains a listing of recent thesis
and dissertation abstracts. Electronic versions of all Rutgers theses and
dissertations since 2007 are available on RUcore via the RUetd database
(search Subject = Geography).
Is there a way to have the admissions fee waived?
Yes. As a member institution of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, U.S.
citizens with an undergraduate or master’s GPA of 3.0 or higher can apply
for a waiver through the FreeApp Waiver Request form. FreeApp is
designed to increase access to graduate education for students who possess
qualities and experiences that enhance the diversity of the intellectual,
cultural, and social environments. The priority deadline is November 15th
each year, but requests can be made beyond this deadline as well.
Students ineligible for or denied a fee waiver through FreeApp can make a
special request to the Graduate Program Director, who with a satisfactory
justification can make an administrative request for a fee waiver or
reimbursement.
Whom should I contact if I have additional questions?
Questions about the graduate program may be addressed directly to the graduate program director, Professor Laura Schneider ( or 848-445-0071), or administrative assistant Cleo Bartos ().
Revised September 2023