MSPCI for advanced training in homeland security
APPLICATION DETAILS
GRE Requirements
All applicants, except those who have already earned a masters degree (or higher) from an accredited university, are required by the UW Graduate School to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. However, departments are free to interpret and weigh the value of GRE scores according to the needs of their own programs. For the graduate program in Strategic Planning for Critical Infrastructures, the Department of Urban Design and Planning evaluates the whole person—your work and educational experiences, peer and colleague references, and your career plans and goals. Each of these elements is considered extremely important and your GRE scores are just one piece of the profile that you will present when applying for this program. In requesting that scores be sent to the UW Office of Graduate Admissions, use 4854 (University of Washington) under Score Report Recipients. The University of Washington accepts scores sent directly from ETS in paper roster, disk, or tape format. The GRE Web site can be found at www.gre.org.


Prerequisite Courses
Before beginning the program, students may satisfy these prerequisite requirements by completing coursework at a local college or through UW Online Learning: Individuals with education or work experience related to GIS and/or databases may petition to have one or both of these courses waived.


Application Materials Details
The Department of Urban Design and Planning requires a completed Departmental Application for Admission to the MSPCI program, accompanied by the following materials:
  1. Statement of Purpose
    The statement should outline your career objectives, reasons for undertaking graduate study in strategic planning and expectations about the program. The admissions committee uses this statement to understand your personal goals and desires with respect to the field of planning. The Statement of Purpose constitutes one of the major documents in the review of your application, and you are encouraged to prepare it very carefully. Please address the following in your statement:
    • Describe your long-term career objectives
    • Describe your most substantial professional contributions or the situation which helped you define your professional objectives
    • Identify the central skills, knowledge and experiences you will bring to this program
    • Explain the factors that led you to decide that the program of graduate study offered by the Department of Urban Design and Planning would be most helpful to your career development
    • Describe any special areas, issues or problems within strategic planning for critical infrastructures in which you would like to focus.
  2. Your résumé detailing education and work experience
    Ideal candidates will have at least three years work experience in a field related to the degree. Undergraduate coursework can have been in any field.
  3. Three letters of recommendation
    Letters should be authored by people who can judge your capacity to undertake graduate studies, including present or former professors, work supervisors or clients. No standard letter form is required; simply collect sealed letters of recommendation and include these with your other application materials or ask the author to mail his or her letter directly to the Department of Urban Design and Planning, Attn: Graduate Applications for Strategic Planning program.

Official Transcripts
  • Official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended must be sent to the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the time of application. Transcripts are not considered official unless they arrive sealed in their original envelopes.
  • International applicants (non-US citizens and permanent residents who earned a degree from a school outside the United States) must have an additional set of transcripts sent to the Graduate School at the time of application. These are in addition to the transcripts sent to the Department of Urban Design and Planning. Transcripts submitted to the Graduate School must include the date and title of the degree.
  • For US citizens, an additional set of transcripts will need to be sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions after an offer of admission is made and accepted.

Mailing Addresses

Department of Urban Design and Planning
ATTN: MSPCI Program
University of Washington
Box 355740
Seattle, WA 98195-5740

Office of Graduate Admissions
Box 84808
Seattle, Washington 98124-6108
Phone: 206-543-5929