MS in Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a dynamic and versatile technology that enables visualization, analytics, and data management capabilities for an increasingly wide spectrum of industries. It 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. It is this dynamism that the Johns Hopkins University GIS programs encompass in their offerings, the Master of Science in GIS and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in GIS.
These two programs are fully online and provide 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 Master of Science in GIS 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.
Both programs are designed for students who have little or no knowledge of the GIS field, as well as students with prior experience. Students entering either program will be introduced 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.
Students in the Master of Science program could choose to follow one of two tracks. The tracks are general recommendations of logical course groupings that could be pursued. The goal is to maintain flexibility for the GIS program, and allow students to choose courses that best fulfill their own interests.
- Core Geospatial Technology
- 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, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems program requires:
-
A semester of statistics, quantitative methods, or technology-oriented experience for a quantitative background.
Students who do not have the necessary quantitative background may be offered provisional admission if their other credentials are strong.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- Four out of five post-baccalaureate certificate courses
- Five electives from the following list
- Capstone Project
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Courses | ||
| AS.430.600 | Web GIS | 4 |
| AS.430.601 | Geographic Information Systems (GIS) | 4 |
| AS.430.603 | Geospatial Statistics | 4 |
| AS.430.604 | Spatial Analytics | 4 |
| AS.430.606 | Programming in GIS | 4 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| AS.430.602 | Remote Sensing: Systems and Applications | 4 |
| AS.430.605 | Development and Management of GIS Projects | 4 |
| AS.430.607 | Spatial Databases and Data Interoperability | 4 |
| AS.430.608 | GIS and Spatial Decision Support Systems | 4 |
| AS.430.609 | Spatial Data Management: Quality and Control | 4 |
| AS.430.611 | Geospatial Ontologies and Semantics | 4 |
| AS.430.612 | Cartographic Design and Visualization | 4 |
| AS.430.613 | Advanced Topics in Remote Sensing | 4 |
| AS.430.615 | Big Data Analytics: Tools and Techniques | 4 |
| AS.430.617 | Census Data Mining: Visualization and Analytics | 4 |
| AS.430.618 | Advanced Python Scripting for GIS | 4 |
| AS.430.619 | Web Application Development | 4 |
| AS.430.621 | GIS for Emergency Management | 4 |
| AS.430.623 | Geo Apps | 4 |
| AS.430.625 | System Architecture for Enterprise GIS | 4 |
| AS.430.627 | Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Geospatial Technology | 4 |
| AS.430.631 | Spatial Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 |
| AS.430.633 | Advanced Spatio-Temporal Statistics | 4 |
| AS.430.800 | Capstone for Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
Elective Courses
It is recommended that one of the four electives be a GIS programming course and one be a spatial data management course.
Students may also consider taking related courses in other divisions of AAP, especially the Environmental Sciences, Energy Policy and Climate, and Government Analytics programs. Students are permitted, with permission of the GIS Associate Program Director, to take up to two pertinent courses outside of the GIS curriculum to fulfill their requirements toward the degree.