Departmental Unit № 1
Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences (GES)
PhD in Geography, Planning, and Design (Interdisciplinary)
100% Full Funding via Teaching and Research Assistantships
Funding Package: Tuition waiver + 9-month living stipend (~$22,000–$25,000/yr + summer support) + health insurance covered for funded graduate assistants.
Fall Priority Deadline: February 1 (Fall Priority)
GRE Policy: Not required / Waived
English Minimums: TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS 6.5
MA in Applied Geography & Geospatial Science
Departmental Teaching Assistantships Available
Funding Reality: UC Denver GES offers competitive TA positions covering tuition and a stipend for strong thesis and GIS-focused master's students.
Application Deadline: March 1
Admissions Advisory: If full funding is required and MS is self-funded, students are strongly advised to apply directly to the PhD track.
Vetted Matched Scholars (1 Profiles)
Prof. Rafael Moreno-Sanchez
Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences
In Plain Terms · What This Scholar Does:
He creates computer map-based decision software that helps city planners and forestry services see which mountain watersheds are at risk of severe mudslides and water pollution after forest fires.
Core Research Topics: GIS, spatial decision support systems, natural resource spatial modeling, watershed vulnerability analysis, open-source geospatial tools.
Recent 2024–2026 Works & Grants: Developing open-source spatial decision support tools to model watershed ecosystem services, wildfire runoff erosion hazards, and water supply vulnerability across the Colorado Rocky Mountain front range.
Laboratory Instruments & Methods: QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, Python, multi-criteria spatial evaluation (MCE), hydrological terrain analysis.
Recruiting Context: Focuses on applied spatial decision tools for watershed conservation and natural hazards.
Candidate Match:
GISHydrologyEnvironmental ModelingFlood Studies
Tailored Cold-Email Opening Hook:
"Discussing your interest in spatial decision support systems, GIS watershed vulnerability modeling, and open-source geospatial analysis in your group."