Information For Prospective Graduate Students

This page provides general information for students interested in graduate study in GIS, remote sensing, and spatial analysis in the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan.

First, you should look at a number web pages for more information about our program. Several useful pages are listed here

My web page describes by research interests and other background information. Although specific research projects come and go, this page should give you an idea of the kinds of research I do.
My publication list can help you locate papers that describe research that I've done. Some are available for download.
The SNRE web page lists other faculty, academic programs, and resources for incoming and visiting students. Note, in particular, the SNRE Office of Academic programs. Contact OAP if you have specific questions about the application process or about our programs.
The SNRE Environmental Spatail Analysis Lab page describes that research support facility.
All SNRE graduate programs are run through the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan.

Our Master's students have nine fields of study to choose from. I generally admit students into either the Environmental Informatics or Terrestrial Ecosystems fields of study. Masters of Science and PhD degrees are available. Although group projects on some real world problem may be used to fulfill the requirements for a Master's degree, it is also common for students to write a thesis on an individual research topic. The PhD requires a dissertation and requires a minimum number of credits, but there is only one required course. In order to be accepted into the program, a faculty member must agree to serve as the student's advisor. It's best to contact the faculty member(s) you think you want to work with before applying. Feel free to contact me. I also direct the University's Graduate Certificate Program in Spatial Analysis, which can be taken concurrently with one of our graduate programs, or within five years after completion of a graduate program at UM or elsewhere.

Funding is available to SNRE students through teaching and research assistantships, which require a work commitment from the student, as well as fellowships, which come without such time commitments. Teaching assistantships (called graduate student instructorships, or GSIs) and research assistantships usually come with a full tuition waiver and a health benefit. First year students are usually not guaranteed funding unless assigned to a research project. GSIs are allocated competitively each semester. Other opportunities for assistantships exist in the College of Engineering and various other departments on compus. Most students are able to find funding to offset the cost of at least some of their time here. At any given time, I may or may not have funding for a new student or know of other opportunities.

If you are interested in being considered for admission, you need to complete an application packet as described on the OAP admissions page.

Good luck to you.

December 20, 1999, updated September 4, 2006.