MS in Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems is a dynamic and versatile technology that enables visualization, analytics, and data management capabilities for an increasingly wide spectrum of industries. GIS has come to play a key role in empowering decision-makers, helping them understand various processes and make well-informed decisions. It is used in diverse fields, such as environmental planning, law enforcement, defense and intelligence, business, utilities, telecommunications, economic development, transportation, public health, and many others.
The MS in Geographic Information Systems program is fully online and provides a strong foundational education that delves into the principles and real-world applications of geospatial technology, allowing students to build their credentials and capitalize on a marketplace that continues to grow in its demand for skilled employees. The program is designed to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals and data scientists, skilled in all facets of geospatial technology, including programming and application development, geospatial data science, spatial and predictive analytics, visualization, big data technologies, enterprise GIS administration, and project management.
Designed for students who have little or no knowledge of the GIS field, as well as students with prior experience, the program introduces students to the most widely used commercial software, as well as open-source software, often utilizing cloud computing infrastructure. Hands-on experience is emphasized and students in the program can expect to work on real-world geospatial scenarios.
MS in Geographic Information Systems students can choose to follow one of two focus areas or customize the degree to suit career goals. The focus areas are general recommendations of logical course groupings that can be pursued. The goal is to maintain flexibility for the GIS program and allow students to choose courses that best fulfill their own interests. Focus areas are:
- Advanced Geospatial Technology
- GIS Programming and Application Development
- Geospatial Data Science and Predictive Analytics
Admissions Criteria for all Advanced Academic Programs
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the materials and credentials required for all programs, MS in Geographic Information Systems program applicant requirements are:
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose: Explaining how GIS is an appropriate venue of instruction for your career needs.
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Prerequisite Course:
- One semester of statistics or quantitative methods
Program Requirements
Students in the MS in Geographic Information Systems program must complete one required core course, three customizable core courses, and six electives.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses - Required: | ||
| AS.430.800 | Capstone for Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| Core Courses - Customizable | ||
| Select three of the following: | 12 | |
| Web GIS | ||
| Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | ||
AS.430.603 | ||
| Spatial Analytics | ||
| Programming in GIS | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select six of the following: | 24 | |
| Remote Sensing: Systems and Applications | ||
| Development and Management of GIS Projects | ||
| GIS and Spatial Decision Support Systems | ||
| Spatial Data Management: Quality and Control | ||
| Cartographic Design and Visualization | ||
| Drones in Geospatial Decision Making | ||
| Advanced Geospatial Technology (Focus Area) | ||
| Spatial Databases and Data Interoperability | ||
| GIS for Infrastructure Management | ||
| Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing | ||
| GIS for Emergency Management | ||
| Geo Apps | ||
| System Architecture for Enterprise GIS | ||
| Geospatial Data Science and Predictive Analytics (Focus Area) | ||
| Big Data Analytics: Tools and Techniques | ||
| Census Data Mining: Visualization and Analytics | ||
| Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Geospatial Technology | ||
| Advanced Spatio-Temporal Statistics | ||
| Urban Analytics | ||
| Programming and Application Development (Focus Area) | ||
| Geospatial Ontologies and Semantics | ||
| Advanced Python Scripting for GIS | ||
| Web Application Development | ||
| Spatial Algorithms and Data Structures | ||
| Total Credits | 40 | |