Sustainability, M.S.

Admission Requirements

All applicants should comply with the regular Admission Requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research, including:

• Evidence of a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution

• Having an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale from an accredited undergraduate institution

Scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) are not required for any applicant.

Applicants are also expected to have a background in other natural or social sciences, with a total of 16 credits of coursework from at least two of the following areas: biology, business, communication, Earth science, ecology, economics, environmental science, environmental policy and regulation, environmental studies and sustainability, geography, Geographic Information Science and Technology, geology (physical geology, hydrology, or soils), natural resources management, political science, and sociology. Other courses may be accepted with the approval of the department.

Applicants and/or their potential advisors may request special consideration for admission of students with backgrounds that do not meet these expectations. Written requests should be directed to the Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences Graduate Committee, which after consideration will make recommendations to the Department for final approval of admission recommendations. The Department and Graduate Studies may conditionally admit students with deficient backgrounds with the expectation that those individuals complete the necessary and relevant remedial coursework within a predefined time frame.

Applicants should identify a practicum or thesis advisor prior to admission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the advisor early in the application process. To identify the advisor, students should familiarize themselves with the EEGS faculty members listed at https://nmu.edu/eegs/faculty-and-staff. Contact faculty members with closely related interests to determine the willingness and availability of that person to serve as the advisor, as indicated by a memorandum from the faculty member to that effect.

All applicants must submit:

1. Submitting a graduate admission application and fee.
2. Personal statement 
3. Official transcripts from all secondary institutions
4. Two (2) letters of recommendation
5. Résumé / curriculum vitae
6. Additional requirements for International Student Applicants

Application Due Dates

Fall Semester admission only - applications will be accepted from December 15 through March 1 for the following Fall admission

Applicants interested in being considered for a fall‐awarded graduate assistantship (if funding is available) must have all materials submitted by February 1.

Applications must be complete to be considered for admission. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the department and only under extreme circumstances.