Geography and Environmental Sciences
Chair: Peter Anthamatten, PhD, MPH
Program Assistant: Angela Carrington
Office: North Classroom, 3016
Telephone: 303-315-7525
Fax: 303-315-7526
Website: clas.ucdenver.edu/ges/
Overview
In the United States and around the world, balancing the preservation of the natural environment with concerns for social equality and well-being has led to a growing demand for broadly trained individuals who can identify and understand pressing social and environmental issues, collect and analyze relevant data, and develop and implement innovative solutions.
Geographers explore factors affecting the distribution of people and their activities on the surface of the earth with the goal of providing meaningful solutions to problems faced by society. Geography's broad and holistic approach is ideally suited for liberal arts majors interested in exploring a concepts and techniques on environmental and sustainability issues, socioeconomic problems and planning policies. Environmental Sciences constitute a multidisciplinary study of the environment that integrate work from chemistry, biology and ecology, physics, geology, geography, anthropology, engineering, political science, law, economics, and the health sciences. Students in all programs are introduced to coursework in the geospatial sciences, a set of techniques that enables scholars and policymakers to use maps and geographic information systems (GIS) to explore and analyze a huge range of topics.
Careers in geography and the environmental sciences encompass a broad range of professions, from those with a strong foundation in the natural/physical sciences or engineering to those based in the social sciences and/or humanities. The department of Geography and Environmental Sciences offers a broad range of programs designed for students at multiple stages of their career, including a BA in Geography, an MS in Environmental Science, and an MA in Applied Geography and Geospatial Sciences. In collaboration with the College of Architecture and Planning (CAP), we also support a PhD in Geography, Planning and Design. Students interested in exploring one of the subfields can pursue minors in Geography, Environmental Sciences, or Urban and Regional Planning. We also offer certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), FOSS4G (open-source GIS), Environmental Science Education, and Sustainable Urban Agriculture.
Requirements for Admission to the Environmental Sciences, MS
The program is for students who either have baccalaureate degrees or have a significant background in one of the natural/physical sciences or engineering. In addition, minimum undergraduate science and math requirements are:
- one semester of upper-division statistics
- either two semesters of general chemistry with lab or two semesters of general biology with lab or one semester of each
If an applicant is missing one prerequisite, they can be admitted but must take an approved course as an elective before the start of their second year in the MS in Environmental Sciences degree. If two prerequisite courses are lacking, students may similarly be admitted, but must take both courses in the first year in the program. Applicants who have fulfilled all prerequisites have a better chance of acceptance. Applicants may be required to take additional prerequisite courses (necessary for completing particular core or elective courses). The prerequisite courses will not count toward the MS in environmental sciences degree.
Application Process
We accept applications once per year, on February 1st, for admission in the following fall.
As part of the admission review process, applicants are required to submit:
- an online graduate application
- a minimum of three letters of recommendation (letters from both professional and academic sources are accepted, though academic letters are preferred).
- official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
- the GRE is not required. However, applicants will less than a 3.0 GPA are welcome to submit GRE scores as further evidence of their qualifications
CU Denver has a minimum requirement of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA for applicants to graduate programs. Admissions for students with a GPA below 3.0 may be possible under special circumstances. The program admits new students for the fall semester only, and the number of students admitted to the program depends, in part, on space availability. Applicants must submit all materials by the February 1st deadline.
Requirements for Admission to the Applied Geography & Geospatial Science, MA
Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
The University of Colorado Denver has a minimum requirement of 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (GPA) for applicants to graduate programs. The number of applicants admitted to the MA in Applied Geography & Geospatial Science in any year depends, in part, on space availability. The program is competitive, and we generally discourage applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0. Notification of acceptance or refusal for admission into the program is mailed to the applicant approximately six weeks after the deadline for submission of applications.
Application Process
We accept applications once per year, before or on February 1st, for admission in fall of the same year.
As part of the admission review process, applicants are required to submit:
- a graduate application
- statement of purpose that articulates the goals of pursuing a graduate degree in this program
- a minimum of three letters of recommendation (letters from both professional and academic sources are accepted, though academic letters are preferred).
- official transcripts from all institutions previously attended
- the GRE is not required. However, applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA are welcome to submit GRE scores as further evidence of their qualifications
Faculty
Professors:
Anne Chin, PhD, Arizona State University
Pamela Jansma, PhD, Northwestern University (CLAS Dean)
Rafael Moreno-Sanchez, PhD, Colorado State University
Gregory Simon, PhD, University of Washington
Professors Emeriti:
Rudi Hartmann, PhD, Technical University of Munich
Wesley E. LeMasurier, PhD, Stanford University
Martin Lockley, PhD, University of Birmingham, England
John W. Wyckoff, PhD, University of Utah
Associate Professors:
Peter Anthamatten, PhD, University of Minnesota
Christy Briles, PhD, University of Oregon
Frederick B. Chambers, PhD, Arizona State University
Brian Page, PhD, University of California, Berkeley
Bryan S. Wee, PhD, Purdue University
Assistant Professors:
Benjamin Crawford, PhD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
Katharine Kelsey, PhD, University of Colorado Boulder
Lisa Kelley, PhD, University of California Berkley
Assistant Professors Clinical Teaching Track:
Yi-Chia Chen, PhD, Louisiana State University
Thomas Duster, PhD, University of Notre Dame
Senior Instructors:
Amanda Weaver, PhD, University of Denver
Instructors:
Kirsten Christensen, MSS, MURP, University of Colorado Denver
Lecturers:
Richard Ashmore
Hope Dalton
Amy DePierre
Ricardo Oliviera
Mandy Rees