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 email the following to the UDVL director.

  • Brief cover letter summarizing your background and eligibility for the course waiver
  • CV or resume
  • Portfolio of relevant academic or professional GIS work (e.g., project reports, maps, website URLs)
  • Syllabi of previous GIS courses completed, if available
  • Letter grades for any GIS coursework (you can include this in your cover letter; no transcript needed)
  • The Course Waiver Request Form (also located on the student resources UPP website): https://uofi.app.box.com/s/7mi9ucwn4491xn7oics4pu87jk4946i2
Email acraft2@uic.edu with any further questions about required materials.