Studying geography in the USA will allow you to explore between people and the environment through the social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. The United States is known for its prestigious universities which are ranked in the top 10 universities in the world. Secondly, these universities enable students to have access to internships, opportunities, and quality education. As a result, The United States is one of the destinations that is rewarding for obtaining a degree in geography.

Studying geography in the USA will give you the skills to understand how the environment and people interact and influence one another. You will gain knowledge in areas such as human geography, physical geography and geographic representation and analysis. You can study geography at the undergraduate as well as postgraduate level. However, you must have the right qualifications before you can be able to study geography in the USA.

In this piece, I will walk you through the qualifications and documents that are needed for studying geography in the USA.

Requirements for Studying Geography in the USA

1. Complete your Secondary Education

   You must complete your secondary education to your 12th grade before you can study Geography at the University. This is an important requirement for studying Geography in the United States. Additionally, you must have a minimum of credits in your certificate. You must have subjects such as Geography, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and English Language.

2. English Proficiency

   International students are required to take an English Language Proficiency Test. You can take tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. Different universities have the preferred test that they use for screening. Therefore, it would be best if you verified from your school of interest to know the test you can take.

3. Write the Standardized Tests

   Some Universities in the United States might require you to write tests such as SAT(Scholastic Assessment Test) or ACT(American College Testing). Each university has a particular score that an applicant is supposed to meet. Therefore, you should verify from your university of choice. You need to know the university’s required score before applying.

4. Meet the Academic Requirements

   You must meet the minimum requirements for the University you are applying to. Each University might have specific requirements that they expect from each applicant. Therefore, you should verify the requirements before submitting your application.

5. Letters of Recommendation

   You need to have at least three recommendation letters. It should consist of 2 academic and 1 professional letter. These letters must be obtained from an employer or a previous lecturer. Therefore, recommendation letters from a friend or family will be rejected.

Requirements to Obtain a Masters Degree in Geography in the USA

1. Have a Bachelor’s Degree

   If you are applying for a postgraduate degree, you need a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to Geography. Additionally, you should have a minimum of second-class upper honours.

2. Submit Academic Transcripts

   You need to submit your academic transcripts during your application. Your transcripts should contain all the courses you studied as well as the grades. Additionally, your transcript must be submitted to the

3. English Language.

   English Proficiency
   International students need to take an English Language Proficiency Test. You can take tests such as IELTS or TOEFL. Different universities have the preferred test that they use for screening.

4. Graduate Recommendation Test(GRE)

   Some Universities in the USA will require you to write a GRE. Therefore, You need to write the GRE tests to gain admission. Additionally, each university has a minimum GRE score. Therefore, you must verify the university’s GRE score before submitting your application.

5. Letters of Recommendation

   You need to have at least three recommendation letters. It should consist of 2 academic and 1 professional letter. These letters must be obtained from an employer or a previous lecturer. Therefore, you should not use a recommendation letter from a friend or family.

6. Statement of Purpose

   You have to write an essay stating why you wish to study Geography in the United States. This is important for a postgraduate degree. This statement of purpose is a crucial requirement for admission. Additionally, you should also discuss your career goals and how your academic and personal background has prepared you to study Geography.

7. Submit your CV

   If you are applying for a postgraduate course in Geography, you need to submit a CV. This CV should contain your area of interest as well as your achievements. Additionally, it should contain your work experiences.

How to Apply

You can apply to study geography by applying through the school’s website. However, postgraduate applicants may be required to pay an application fee by some universities. The application fee ranges from 35 USD to 100 USD.

Duration

The duration of studying geography in the United States varies depending on the type of degree you are studying. The Undergraduate degree lasts for four years. However, the postgraduate degree lasts for about 1-2 years.

Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for studying geography in the USA is from $20,000 to $60,000 per year. However, this may vary depending on the university and the type of degree. Additionally, International students pay higher tuition fees.

Universities in the USA that Offer Geography

1. University of California – Berkeley, California
2. Stanford University, California
3. University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minnesota
4. Harvard University, Massachusetts
5. University of Washington – Seattle, Washington
6. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts
8. Cornell University, New York State
9. University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign, Illinois
10. Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania
11. University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wisconsin
12. University of California – Los Angeles, California
13. Columbia University, New York State
14. University of Texas at Austin, Texas
15. Princeton University, New Jersey
16. Ohio State University, Ohio
17. University of California-San Diego, California
18. University of Maryland – College Park, Maryland
19. Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas
20. University of Florida, Florida
21. University of California – Davis, California
22. Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
23. University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado
24. Yale University, Connecticut
25. Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia
26. University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
27. University of Chicago, Illinois
28. Arizona State University – Tempe, Arizona
29. University of Southern California, California
30. California Institute of Technology, California
31. Iowa State University, Iowa
32. Michigan State University, Michigan
33. Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania
34. New York University, New York
35. Purdue University, Indiana
36. Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New Jersey
37. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina
38. University of California – Santa Barbara, California
39. Duke University, North Carolina
40. Oregon State University, Oregon

In conclusion, studying geography in the USA can be quite challenging. However, this career path is not an impossible one to pursue. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have the right qualifications that will enable you to gain admission into the university. Additionally, you need to make sure that you verify all the requirements for the university you wish to apply to before making your application. You can reach out to us for further inquiries and assistance.

Good luck!

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