• 3 LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (ITEM 5)

Submit items 1-4 using applicant portal.

DOMESTIC APPLICATION DEPARTMENT OF

COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITYMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

Ask all former institutions to send o�cial transcripts and other o�cial academic records by postal mail in a sealed, o�cial university envelope to the address below.

U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/prospective_students

ITEMS 1 - 4 ITEM 5Request item 5 using applicant portal. Request item 6 from testing agency.

ITEM 6

• OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS (ITEM 7)

Request item 7 from former institutions.

ITEM 7

http://bit.ly/1N0y5I0 http://bit.ly/1N0y5I0

Order o�cial scores through ETS and ask ETS to send scores electronically directly to the MSU O�ce of Admissions.

Michigan State UniversityO�ce of AdmissionsHannah Administration Building426 Auditorium Road, Room 250East Lansing, MI 48824(517) 355-8332

DEPARTMENTDECISION

1 • Identify your 3 references on the portal.MS applicants, at least 1 (preferably 2) of your LOR’s should be academic references; PhD applicants, at least 2 (preferably 3) of your LOR’s should be academic references.

2 • References will receive an email from the MSU O�ce of Admissions asking them to complete an online LOR. Applicants should visit the applicant portal to view LOR progress.

3 • Applicants should follow up directly with references and remind them to complete the online LOR before the application deadline.

STEP

A

Notify Graduate Secretary when 7 application items are complete.

CONTACT

Graduate Applicationsc/o Department Graduate SecretaryMichigan State UniversityDept. of Community Sustainability480 Wilson Road, Room 131East Lansing, MI 48824

Completed applications will be sent by the Department GraduateSecretary to the CSUS Graduate Admissions Committee 1-3 days after they are received from the applicant.

All application items must bereceived by the deadline.

Applications with missing or incomplete items will not be processed.

• Completed applications arereviewed by the CSUS Graduate Admissions Committee - a committee of faculty in the Department.

• Applications that pass Admissions Committee review are made available to all faculty in the Department for review.

• Typically, applicants can expect an admissions decision by email 8-1o weeksafter their application items are received by the Department.

• If you are accepted, initial faculty advisor assignment and funding details are provided in your Department o�er letter.

• If you are accepted, the Departmentdecision is a preliminary acceptance.

APPLICATIONREVIEW

UNIVERSITYDECISION

• The MSU O�ce of Admissions reviews application items of applicants who are admitted by the department.

• An o�cial letter of acceptance from the MSU O�ce of Admissions will appear on the applicant’s portal if the applicant is admitted by the University.

• Notify the Department Graduate Secretary if you receive correspondence from the MSU O�ce of Admissions.

STEP A : Items 1-7 are outlined below. Items 1-7 are required of all domestic applicants and should be worked on simultaneously. Scroll down to follow detailed application instructions for each item.

APPLICANTDECISION

• If you are admitted by theDepartment and the University, please send an email reply notifying the Department Graduate Secretary that you accept or decline the admissions o�er.

• Please send an email reply to the Department Graduate Secretary no later than two weeks after you receive the University admissions o�er.

• MSU GRADUATE APPLICATION (ITEM 1)

• ACADEMIC STATEMENT (ITEM 3)

• PERSONAL STATEMENT (ITEM 2)

• RESUME (ITEM 4)

$50 application fee; scroll down for details.

Scroll down for instructions.

Scroll down for instructions.

Scroll down for instructions.

• GRE (ITEM 6)

https://www.ets.org/

GENERAL CODE 1465

Scores no older than 5 years at time of app.

STEP

B

csusgrad@anr.msu.edu

STEP B : The four components of STEP B occur in the order listed below. STEP B occurs after STEP A is completed satisfactorily by the applicant using the detailed application instructions.

APPLICATION DEADLINES I want to start my graduate program FALL 2016. Applications for FALL 2016 admission are accepted on a rolling basis from September 1, 2015 through March 1, 2016.

Rolling admissions means the applicant can submit application items to the Department of Community Sustainability (CSUS) at any time between September 1, 2015 through March 1, 2016. Rolling admissions allows the CSUS Graduate Admissions Committee to review applications as they arrive and to make an admissions decision typically within 8-10 weeks after the applicant submits all of the required application items to the Department of Community Sustainability.

If fall applicants submit all application items by December 1, 2015, they can be considered for:(1) university-wide fellowships http://grad.msu.edu/fellowships/(2) research assistantships http://grad.msu.edu/assistantships/

If fall applicants submit all application items by March 1, 2016, they can be considered for:(1) research assistantships http://grad.msu.edu/assistantships/

I want to start my graduate program SPRING 2017. Applications for SPRING 2017 admission are accepted on a rolling basis from October 1, 2015 through October 1, 2016.

Rolling admissions means the applicant can submit application items to the Department of Community Sustainability at any time between October 1, 2015 through October 1, 2016. Rolling admissions allows the CSUS Graduate Admissions Committee to review applications as they arrive and to make an admissions decision typically within 8-10 weeks after the applicant submits all of the required application items to the Department of Community Sustainability.

Spring applicants can be considered for research assistantships, but they cannot be considered for university-wide fellowships.

Applicants are highly encouraged to apply for fall admission as it allows admitted students to:(1) enroll in required foundations courses o�ered only in fall semester.(2) attend the once-yearly CSUS orientation held a few days before fall semester begins - no formal orientation takes place in spring.

DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

PROGRAMS AND DEGREES COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITYThe Department of Community Sustainability o�ers three degree types in the Community Sustainability (CSUS) graduate program.

CSUS GRADUATE PROGRAM http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/programs/csus

MS-A, MS-B, PhD DEGREES http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/programs_degrees

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM & PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENTThe Department of Community Sustainability o�ers three degree types in the Sustainable Tourism & Protected Area Management (STPAM) graduate program.

STPAM GRADUATE PROGRAM http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/programs/stpam

MS-A, MS-B, PhD DEGREES http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/programs_degrees

DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate

PEACE CORPS MASTERS INTERNATIONALThe Department of Community Sustainability o�ers the Peace Corps Masters International (PCMI) option in CSUS or STPAM to domestic MS applicants who are not returned Peace Corps volunteers.

PCMI OPTION http://www.csus.msu.edu/graduate/programs/pcmi

ITEM 1 - MSU ONLINE GRADUATE APPLICATIONSubmit item 1 using the applicant portal.

Please submit item 1 using the MSU O�ce of Admissions Graduate Education Student Portal (applicant portal) available here: https://admissions.msu.edu/gradportal/default.aspx If you forget your applicant ID and/or your password, please contact the MSU O�ce of Admissions for assistance. Please use the same name that appears on legal documents such as a passport or identification card to complete your online graduate application. No paper or email applications can be accepted. The online portal allows you to request letters of recommendation (LOR), request LOR cover forms from your references, view e-messagesfrom the department, send e-messages to the department, submit your application, and check the status of your application.

Select the major code for your desired graduate program on the applicant portal. Major codes are listed below.

MS CODES - Plan A, Plan B, and PCMI• 5389 - CSUS - Community Sustainability• 5376 - STPAM - Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management

PhD CODES• 5390 - CSUS - Community Sustainability• 5377 - STPAM - Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management

Applicants are required to answer the supplementary questions on the MSU online graduate application before submitting the $50.00 application fee.

Please leave the sections asking for PERSONAL STATEMENT and ACADEMIC STATEMENT blank on the MSU online graduate application. The Graduate Admissions Committee requires both statements to be uploaded as individual PDFs on the applicant portal - this method allows for the applicant to follow the required formatting instructions.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

ITEM 2 - PERSONAL STATEMENTSubmit item 2 using the applicant portal.

A typed personal statement is required of all applicants. The personal statement gives the applicant an opportunity to share personal experiences with the admissions committee. Prospective faculty advisors and other faculty members read personal statements during the selection process. The content below should be addressed in your personal statement. Upload the personal statement to the applicant portal.

BACKGROUND AND LIFE EXPERIENCES• How have your background and life experiences (social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, and/or other opportunities or challenges) motivated your decision to pursuea graduate degree from the Department of Community Sustainability?• Describe how these experiences have prepared you or led you to your proposed degree work. You can choose to focus on a single aspect of your background or you can write about multiple experiences.• Applicants who have overcome economic barriers or extreme personal, social, or cultural obstacles to seek a graduate degree are encouraged to include this information in the personal statement.

Please follow the format below when preparing your personal statement.• Essay format• Single-spaced• 12 pt. font• Maximum length: 500 words• 8.5” x 11” white paper - please use white paper only.• Use the title Personal Statement at the top of each page.• Include your first and last name as it appears on your online graduate application at the top of each page.• Include the program and degree to which you are applying (CSUS MS-A, STPAM PhD, etc.) at the top of each page.• Include page numbers at the bottom of each page.• Please do not include your MSU PID number anywhere on the personal statement.• Please do not include your phone number, address, or email on the personal statement.• Please do not include your photo on the personal statement.

ITEM 3 - ACADEMIC STATEMENTSubmit item 3 using the applicant portal.

A typed academic statement is required of all applicants. The academic statement gives the applicant an opportunity to share proposed academic and career goals with the admissions committee. Prospective faculty advisors and other faculty members read academic statements and consider the content during the selection process. The content below should be addressed in your academic statement. Upload the academic statement to the applicant portal.

PLANS FOR GRADUATE STUDY• Identify the program option to which you are applying (CSUS or STPAM).• Identify the degree option for which you are applying (MS-A, MS-B, MS-B+PCMI, PhD).• Discuss in detail what you want to study during your degree.• Identify faculty members you believe most closely match your interests.• Include a summary of discussions you have had with potential faculty advisors.

ACADEMIC INTERESTS, PASSIONS, AND CAREER GOALS• Explain why you want to earn this degree.• What motivates your interest in this program?• What experiences have led to this choice?• Explain why this interdisciplinary graduate program is a good fit with your goals.• Explain how the CSUS graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives.

CONTRIBUTIONS• What will you contribute to the Department of Community Sustainability graduate program, to Michigan State University, and to fellow students?

WEAKNESSES• If you have apparent weaknesses in your application materials, please explain them in your academic statement.

Please leave the sections asking for PERSONAL STATEMENT and ACADEMIC STATEMENT blank on the MSU online graduate application. The Graduate Admissions Committee requires both statements to be uploaded as individual PDFs on the applicant portal - this method allows for the applicant to follow the required formatting instructions.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

Please follow the format below when preparing your academic statement.

• Essay format• Single-spaced• 12 pt. font• Maximum length: 750 words• 8.5” x 11” white paper - please use white paper only.• Use the title Academic Statement at the top of each page.• Include your first and last name as it appears on your online graduate application at the top of each page.• Include the program and degree to which you are applying (CSUS MS-A, STPAM PhD, etc.) at the top of each page.• Include page numbers at the bottom of each page.• Please do not include your MSU PID number anywhere on the academic statement.• Please do not include your phone number, address, or email on the academic statement.• Please do not include your photo on the academic statement.

ITEM 6 - GRE SCORESRequest item 6 from testing agency.

GRE scores are required of all applicants. Applicants must contact ETS (https://www.ets.org/) and request GRE reports be sent directly to the MSU O�ce of Admissions using the codes below. The MSU general code is 1465. The general code identifies to ETS to which university you want your GRE scores sent. Select only ONE of the ETS codes below to identify your degree program interest. It does not matter which code below you select.

0110 – Resource Management0111 – Parks and Recreation Management0113 – Renewable Natural Resources5101 – Interdisciplinary Programs

• GRE scores must be no more than five years old at the time of application.• Contact the Graduate Secretary via email if the name on your GRE report is di�erent than the name on your MSU online graduate application. The Graduate Secretary must notify the MSU O�ce of Admissions of the name discrepancy to prevent a delay in the processing of your scores.• Copies of scores sent by the applicant to MSU or to the Department via email and/or postal mail are deemed uno�cial by the University and cannot be considered.• Applicant must order a GRE report from ETS well before the application deadline. GRE reports can take 1-3 weeks to arrive to MSU and an additional 2-4 weeks to process after they are received by the MSU O�ce of Admissions. It could potentially take a total of 7 weeks for your report to become available to the Department. Please plan accordingly. The Department cannot access the report until after the MSU O�ce of Admissions has processed it.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

ITEM 4 - RESUMESubmit item 4 using the applicant portal.

A typed resume is required of all applicants. Please do not include your photo. The resume must be two pages in length on 8.5”x 11”white paper - please use white paper only. Upload the resume to the applicant portal.

The content below should be included in your resume.• Education• Professional experiences (paid and/or unpaid)• Other relevant experiences (if any)• Certifications, honors, awards• Professional organization memberships and/or involvement• Publications (if relevant)

ITEM 5 - LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONRequest item 5 using the applicant portal.

Three letters of recommendation are required of all applicants. Applicants must request letters of recommendation from 3 di�erent references via the applicant portal.

• MS applicants, at least 1 (preferably 2) of your LOR’s should be academic; PhD applicants, at least 2 (preferably 3) of your LOR’sshould be academic.• After the applicant identifies a reference on the applicant portal, a request is sent (by email) via the portal to the reference for the recommendation.• Applicants can view recommendation status in the portal.• Applicants cannot submit the recommendation materials on behalf of their references.• Applicants must follow up with their references to ensure letters of recommendation are submitted before the application deadline.

ITEM 7 - OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTSRequest item 7 from former institutions.

O�cial transcripts are required of all applicants. Applicants must arrange for one o�cial transcript to be sent directly to the Department of Community Sustainability from every university and/or college listed on the online graduate application. Universities and colleges attended (even if no degree was granted) must be listed on the online graduate application and o�cial transcripts from those institutions must be submitted to the Department of Community Sustainability by the respective institutions.

• Transcripts are deemed o�cial if they are sent in a sealed envelope via postal mail directly to the Department from the respective institution(s).• Photocopies or scanned copies of transcripts are considered uno�cial transcripts and will not be accepted.• Any transcript received by the Department from the applicant or from an entity other than the institution is considered uno�cial and will not be accepted.• O�cial English translations of transcripts in a language other than English must be submitted along with the original o�cial transcript. Translations are deemed o�cial if they are sent with the o�cial transcripts in a sealed envelope via postal mail directly to the department from the institution.• O�cial transcripts of coursework completed at MSU should not be submitted. The Graduate Secretary is able to access transcripts of coursework completed at MSU.• Applicant must order o�cial transcripts (and o�cial English translations, if applicable) well before the application deadline and must ensure each institution sends the o�cial transcript at the Department. Transcripts can take 2-8 weeks to arrive to our department. International mail can often take longer to arrive. Please plan accordingly.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

DO NOT SEND OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS TO THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS.The Department cannot access o�cial transcripts if they are sent to the MSU O�ce of Admissions.

The applicant must contact each institution, pay the required transcript fee(s), if applicable, and request o�cial transcripts be sent to the address below.

Graduate Applicationsc/o Department Graduate SecretaryMichigan State UniversityDepartment of Community SustainabilityNatural Resources Building480 Wilson Road - Room 131East Lansing, MI 48824

I am a fall applicant. When should I submit the required application items? By the December 1 deadline or by the March 1 deadline?Opportunities for funding are greater at the beginning of the application cycle. Fall applicants are highly encouraged to submit all of the required application items before the December 1 deadline for fellowship consideration. Applications will be accepted through March 1 and will be considered for research assistantships, but applications received after the December 1 deadline will not be considered for university-wide fellowships.

What fellowship opportunities are available?Fall applicants can be considered for university-wide fellowships if all graduate application items are received by the December 1 deadline. University-wide fellowship descriptions and criteria can be found on the MSU Graduate School website: http://grad.msu.edu/fellowships/ The Department of Community Sustainability does not have fellowship opportunities for applicants, but admitted students can apply for endowed fellowships o�ered by the Department after fall orientation.

What funding opportunities are available?Funding opportunities provided by MSU are available on the MSU Graduate School website: http://grad.msu.edu/funding/ The MSU O�ce of Financial Aid has information on additional funding opportunities: https://finaid.msu.edu/ Funding opportunities provided by the Department of Community Sustainability come in the form of research assistantships that are o�ered to qualified students by individual faculty members in the Department.

What is an assistantship?Find out more about assistantships at Michigan State University on the MSU Graduate School website: http://grad.msu.edu/assistantships/Assistantships - FAQ: http://www.hr.msu.edu/hiring/studentemployment/gradasst/GradAsstFAQ.htmAssistantships - stipend ranges: http://www.hr.msu.edu/hiring/studentemployment/gradasst/stipendRanges.htm

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

What is an assistantship? (continued)Research assistantships at MSU include a stipend (bi-weekly paycheck) + tuition waiver of 9 credits per semester (fall and spring) + health insurance. Individual faculty members in the Department of Community Sustainability provide research assistantships to qualified applicants. The Department encourages applicants to speak with faculty in the Department about assistantship opportunities. Assistantship amounts vary depending on many factors. Admitted students who are o�ered an assistantship will receive an o�er letter with details about the faculty supervisor, assistantship level, hours per week, and stipend. Not all admitted students are o�ered an assistantship. Applicants increase their chances of assistantship fundingthrough conversations with potential faculty advisors in the Department of Community Sustainability. View faculty biographies and faculty contact information here: http://www.csus.msu.edu/people/faculty

Does the department o�er teaching assistantships?No, only research assistantships are available via individual faculty members. Department-funded research and teaching assistantships are not available.

Does the department accept summer applications?No, the department does not accept summer applications. Applicants can apply for spring or fall admission. Applying for fall admission is highly encouraged and preferred as it gives admitted students the best opportunity to (1) enroll in required foundations courses o�ered only in the fall and (2) interact with peers and faculty during the once-yearly orientation that takes place a few days before fall semester begins.

I haven’t taken the GRE or I took it more than 5 years ago. Can I still apply?No. GRE scores are required and they must be no older than 5 years at the time of application.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DOMESTIC APPLICATION - U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS

How are the application items evaluated?Application items are reviewed by the admissions committee - a committee of faculty in the department - and by the faculty at large. All items, including o�cial test scores and letters of recommendation, must be received by the application deadline before the application will be reviewed. The review process takes time. Please be patient.

How soon is an admissions decision made after I submit all of the required application items?Applicants typically receive an admissions decision from the Department via email no later than 8-10 weeks after all of the required application items are received. The Graduate Admissions Committee cannot evaluate an application until all required items are received by the application deadline. The applicant can view an o�cial letter from the MSU O�ce of Admissions granting or denying the applicant admission to the University on the applicant portal soon after the Department emails the applicant with a decision. The applicant is o�cially accepted to MSU only by the MSU O�ce of Admissions.

What is the minimum GRE score accepted by the Department?The Department does not have a minimum GRE score requirement. GRE scores by themselves are not a singular admissions criterion. We assess the entire application as a whole. This is not to say that GRE scores are irrelevant. In making admissions decisions, the Graduate Admissions Committee considers (1) the degree program for which an applicant is applying, (2) the age of the GRE scores (GRE scores must be no older than five years at the time of application), (3) experiences between the GRE test-taking and application dates that might have enhanced abilities in the low-score area, and (4) comments in the letters of recommendation. Applicants with a low GRE score (low percentile) should address the low score in the academic statement.

May I send my transcripts by email?No. Applicants may not send transcripts by email. Contact your former institutions and ask them to send o�cial transcripts in a sealed, o�cial envelope to the Department of Community Sustainability. Anything sent by the applicant is considered uno�cial and will not be considered.

May I send my GRE scores by email?No. Applicants may not send GRE scores by email. Contact ETS and ask them to send your o�cial scores to the MSU O�ce of Admissions. Anything sent by the applicant is considered uno�cial and will not be considered.

May I send any application materials by email?No. Applicants should follow the detailed application instructions (found in this PDF) and submit items as instructed.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY - JANUARY 2016