The MS in GIS bachelors+masters (B+M) degree program allows students to complete both a Geography bachelor’s and the MS in GIS degree at an accelerated pace. Students currently enrolled in the BA or BS in Geography program may be admitted directly into the MS in GIS program and share up to 20 credits of graduate level credit. These shared credits are graduate level courses that are applied to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree. Students can potentially complete both degrees in 4 + 1 years.
Students to complete the MS in GIS B+M degree must meet both the geography bachelor’s and the MS in GIS degree’s requirements with their regular credits and the shared graduate credits. See Portland State University Bulletin (https://www.pdx.edu/academic-affairs/psu-bulletin) for geography program requirements.
Geography majors may apply for admission to the MS in GIS B+M program provided the following conditions have been met:
Completed Geog 210, Geog 230, and Geog 380U with a B or higher
Completed with a B or higher or currently enrolled in GEOG 488
On track to complete at least 139 undergraduate credits, to include at least 36 upper division credits, towards the Bachelor’s degree before the term in which the student wishes to begin the B+M program.
A GPA of 3.5 or above is required for all geography classes taken prior to entry into the program, along with a PSU institutional GPA of 3.3.
Students can apply for the MS in GIS B+M program before completing their junior year, usually in the Spring of their junior year, to be eligible to take 500-level courses in their senior year. The B+M program must begin in their final year as an undergraduate with enrollment in Geog 522: Research Design and Geog 591: GIS Professionalism in Spring of their senior year.
Students may submit an initial application to the B+M to the Geography MS in GIS Graduate Program Director. Initial applications will be accepted on a rolling basis with 3 annual deadlines:
May 1 for a Fall term start
October 15 for a Winter term start
January 15 for a Spring term start
Initial Application Materials: Applications will require evidence of having met the admissions criteria, a personal statement, the names of two Geography faculty members who support the application, and an (unofficial) transcript from PSU. The personal statement should include information on why you are interested in graduate work in the Geography Department, what you understand the field to be, where your greatest interests are within geography and GIS, and your career goals. Students will not be required to submit GRE scores.
If the Geography Department approves the initial application, the Geography Graduate Coordinator will email the student a letter inviting them to submit a formal application to the Graduate School for the B+M in GIS program in Geography. After receiving the invitation letter, students must submit a formal graduate application through Slate for the B+M in GIS program before they complete the bachelor's degree.
Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students who meet the admission and continuing requirements will be guaranteed admission to the master’s program with shared credits. Students who do not meet these requirements would need to apply for admission to the GIS master’s degree program without the benefit of B+M shared coursework.
Transfer students may also apply to the MS in GIS B+M degree program. However, in order to be eligible for the B+M program, students must meet PSU Residence credit requirements, that is, excluding credit by examination, to earn 45 of their final 75 or 150 of their total credits toward the bachelors from PSU.
After admission to the B+M program, students must maintain an institutional undergraduate GPA of 3.30 or higher throughout their bachelor’s program and earn a B grade or higher in graduate courses taken for shared credit, achieve a 3.0 or higher graduate GPA each academic term after admission to the B+M program, and resolve any incomplete courses before being officially admitted into the MS in GIS program. All undergraduate geography classes must receive a grade of C- or better. No P/NP credit accepted for either geography or MS in GIS program.
Before admitted students complete their bachelor's degree, they will be advised by the undergraduate advisor, in consultation with the MS in GIS Program Director, who will assist them in preparing their application for the B+M program and the selection of graduate level courses. Once students have completed their senior year and been officially admitted into the MS in GIS program, they will be advised by the MS in GIS Graduate Committee. It is highly recommended that, while applying to the B+M program, students start compiling their GIS portfolio, which is a required document for the admission to the MS in GIS program, and establish connections with the community partners with whom they want to do a GIS practicum to fulfill the MS in GIS program requirements.
B+M students must submit a request to have their graduate credits counted for their undergraduate degree requirements. They need to fill out this form and submit it to the Degree Requirements at the Registrar's Office (askdars@pdx.edu).