How to Request a Course Waiver

MUPP students who have significant previous graduate-level training or professional experience in GIS may be eligible to waive the required core GIS course (UPP 461: Geographic Information Systems for Planning and Policy).

Students may be approved for the waiver if they demonstrate a) mastery of course concepts and b) experience working independently on spatial analysis, visualization, and/or spatial data management projects. To apply for the waiver, students should review the course syllabus, and submit the following to the UDVL program director.

  • CV or resume
  • Brief cover letter summarizing your reasoning for requesting a course waiver
  • Portfolio of professional and/or academic projects or assignments completed that demonstrate fulfillment of course learning objectives and mastery of course concepts
  • Syllabi of previous GIS courses completed
  • Letter grade received for previous GIS courses (no transcript needed, just include this information in the cover letter)
  • Course waiver request form (also located on the student resources UPP website): https://uofi.app.box.com/s/7mi9ucwn4491xn7oics4pu87jk4946i2
If accepted, the waiver request will then be forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval.
Email acraft2@uic.edu with any further questions about required materials.