HOW TO APPLY
Undergraduate Program:
Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts
Geography is concerned with place and environment and the ongoing processes
of change within and between social and physical systems. Geography’s
importance to scholarly inquiry is rooted in the complexity of the social
and environmental problems with which the science deals. Its analytical
power comes from its ability to understand and work with complex systems
and with problems that require synthesis and integration. Three concepts
at the core of the discipline—space, place, and scale—provide
theoretical constructs and methodological tools for a science that investigates
the complex character of social and environmental phenomena.
Geographers examine issues such as distribution and consumption of natural resources, air and water quality, climate changes and ecosystem dynamics, growth and development of urban areas, population dynamics, politics and practice of international development, social justice, and gender relations. They view society and the environment as a physical/social/cultural system. They apply uniquely geographical perspectives and tools, as well as knowledge from other social and scientific disciplines, to analyze the emergent properties of these systems.
Undergraduates have the opportunity to study topics in:
To apply, students should follow the directions at The University of Iowa Undergraduate Admissions website.
Students currently enrolled at The University of Iowa wishing to declare Geography as a Major or Minor can contact the department at:
312 Jessup Hall
335-0151
geography@uiowa.edu
Graduate Program:
Graduate Students - We have a diverse graduate student body. Students present research papers at conferences, and have regularly won awards. Students also are involved in faculty research leading to coauthored publications. Students also publish on their own. Our students have competed successfully for intramural funding for graduate education and research.
Major Areas - Within the area of the environmental consequences of human decision making with a GIScience approach, our research and graduate education is concentrated in 4 fields. There is considerable overlap or cross fertilization among them, and some projects are identified with more than one:
Most admissions and funding are for the Fall semester. Occasionally, an outstanding student will be admitted into the program for the Spring semester. The deadline for applications is February 1, but applicants are advised to contact the department or individual faculty earlier. Consideration of applications occurs during February, and initial offers are made at that time. A second round of consideration may take place in early March.
To apply, students should follow the directions at http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/graduate/requirements.html
It is possible to apply online at that site or download the necessary forms.
If those options are not available, please contact
us.
In addition to the forms available there, it is necessary to supply official
copies of academic records from undergraduate work, GRE scores, and TOEFL
scores for students whose undergraduate work was in a language other than
English. These must be submitted to the Graduate College. Additionally,
submit three letters of recommendation (sent directly by the referees) and
a statement of your purpose in graduate education in geography at the University
of Iowa to the department.
