1. Is CARRS the place for you?
2. Application and Admissions
3. Application Materials and Instructions

There is tremendous diversity within the Department of CARRS. We strongly encourage potential students to visit the department, talk with current students, and review the research, outreach and teaching interests of various CARRS faculty. These steps will help you identify potential advisors who share your interests and can help you determine if CARRS is the place for you to achieve your academic goals.

Successful applicants to CARRS typically have spoken with potential faculty advisors about common interests and opportunities for research and outreach work. Benefits of engaging in such conversations prior to submitting an application include identification of the best possible student/faculty match, stronger mentoring, and a higher likelihood of obtaining funding. Note that discussions or agreements with a potential advisor do not guarantee admission or funding; they do, however, provide additional support to your application packet.

You may not seek admission to more than one program at a time.

The deadline for completed applications for admission beginning Summer or Fall 2012 is March 1, 2012. Special consideration of late applications can be made if requested by potential advising faculty member.


The deadline for applications for admission beginning Spring 2012 is October 1, 2011. Special consideration of late applications can be made if requested by potential advising faculty member.


Applicants to the graduate programs in Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies are strongly encouraged to begin their programs during fall semester. Although students are allowed to begin their coursework in spring or summer semesters, advantages to fall entry include:

• eligibility for university fellowships;
• required CARRS foundations courses (ACR 800 and ACR 802) are offered during the fall only;
• the majority of students begin in the fall; and
• students who begin with their cohort tend to build strong peer networks that are beneficial throughout their graduate careers.

To be competitive for university-level and CARRS endowed fellowships and scholarships, all application materials must be received by December 1, 2011. To enhance opportunities for other types of funding, submission by December 1, 2011 is recommended.

Applications and all supporting documents and scores must be received by the department office by the relevant deadline. The Graduate Committee will review an application packet only after all supporting documents and test scores have been received in the CARRS Department. Please plan accordingly. Test scores may take 3-5 weeks to reach the department, from the testing center.

Please submit the materials for items 2-8 below to the CARRS Graduate Secretary, Diane Davis.  Item 1, the MSU application, should be submitted on-line.

1. MSU Application
Submit an on-line graduate application form, available through the University’s on-line application page at (http://admissions.msu.edu/apply.asp ).

Program codes for CARRS graduate programs, to be used on the official Michigan State University application forms, are:

M.S.:  5208

Ph.D.: 5209

Grad Information for Doctoral applicants that have received a masters degree from MSU
Beginning Spring Semester 2011...
If you have received a master degree at Michigan State University and would like to pursue a doctoral degree in the same program/department, you should do a MAJOR CHANGE through your department.
If you have received a master degree at Michigan State University and would like to pursue a doctoral degree in a different program/department (i.e. received a masters in English and want to pursue a doctoral degree in Rhetoric and Writing), you need to complete a new graduate application and pay the application fee.

2. Academic Statement
The academic statement is one of the most important parts of your application. Please use a separate sheet and do not exceed 750 words. Be sure to address each one of the following items:

•    Your plans for graduate study
Identify the degree program to which you are applying (MS-Plan A, MS-Plan B, or Ph.D.). Discuss WHAT you want to study during your degree program, including your intended focus area(s). Identify faculty member(s) who you believe most closely match your interests. Include a summary of discussions you and potential advisor(s) have had.

•    Your interests, passions, and career goals
Clearly explain WHY you want to earn this degree. What motivates your interest in this program? What experiences have led to this choice?

•    Why CARRS?
Explain why this interdisciplinary program is a good fit with your goals and how MSU's CARRS graduate program will help you meet your career and educational objectives.

•    Your contributions
What will you contribute to the CARRS department, MSU and your fellow students?

•    Weaknesses
If you have apparent weaknesses in your application materials, please explain them.

3. Personal Statement
Include a separate personal statement about how your background and life experiences, including social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree from CARRS. Describe how these experiences have prepared you or led you to your proposed degree work (note that “change of career” is OK as part of the rationale). Students who have overcome economic barriers or extreme personal, social, or cultural obstacles to seek a graduate degree are encouraged to include this information in your personal statement. Feel free to focus on a single aspect of your background or to write about multiple experiences. Maximum length: 500 words.

4. GRE Test Scores
Test scores must be no older than 5 years at the time of application. Results of required tests should be reported to MSU from the testing agency. Relevant codes are as follows:

MSU General Code: 1465

0110 Resource Management
0111 Parks and Recreation Management
0113 Renewable Natural Resources
5101 Interdisciplinary Programs

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5. TOEFL Scores
The TOEFL exam is required of all international students except for citizens of the following countries: Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Greenland, Granada, Guyana, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, U.S. Virgin Islands and prospective students who have graduated from a university where English is the primary language of instruction. In such cases, the prospective advisor, upon GACC approve, will request the Department Chair to request a waiver of the TOEFL exam from the Graduate School. Results of required tests should be reported directly to MSU from the testing agency. The Department of CARRS does not make exceptions for those who have studied and/or lived in an English-speaking country. TOEFL scores must be no older than 2 years from the time of application. Scores may take 3-5 weeks to be received by the Department from testing centers, so plan accordingly when scheduling your exam. To learn more about alternative assessments, click the link to download the International Student Information Form.pdf. MSU Code is: 1465

6. Letters of Recommendation (3 Letters/forms of recommendation are required)
Those writing your recommendation letters must:

• complete the MSU Recommendation for Admission Form.pdf
• write a separate letter to provide details about:
* your skills and abilities for pursuing the degree for which you are applying, and
* your suitability for interdisciplinary graduate study.

NOTE: Be sure your reference letter writers receive these instructions.

*The Embark system is now available for your letter writers use

7. Resumé (2 pages) – please include a summary of your:
•    Education
•    Professional experiences (paid and/or unpaid)
•    Other relevant experiences (if any)
•    Certifications, honors, awards
•    Professional organization memberships/involvement
•    Publications (if relevant)

 8. Official Transcripts
Arrange for ONE official transcript to be sent from each university listed. Only official transcripts are accepted. Photocopies and transcripts "issued to student" are not acceptable. Transcripts of work completed at MSU are not required. Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended, even if no degree is granted, must be submitted.

 9. International Applicants Only
Arrange for ONE official/certified university or professional school record of subjects and mark sheets, transcripts, diplomas, and/or certificates to be send to MSU from the principal or registrar of each school you have attended, or by the Ministry of Education in your country. The names of all certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned and dates received should be noted. Photocopies are not acceptable. Official translations must be furnished when originals are not in English. You must provide transcripts.