Earn Your Master’s in GISc From Anywhere
Build your career in a high-potential applied science role with the affordable, flexible online Master of Geographic Information Science from Kent State University.
Course Delivery
Total Credits
Approximate Cost per Credit
$705 out of state
Time to Completion
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Start Your Journey to a Higher-Level Career
There’s never been a better time to be in Geographic Information Science. Whether you’re interested in solving urgent global challenges or complex business problems, a 100% online graduate degree from Kent State University can help you map a clear path to success.
Download our guide to learn more about:
- Career Opportunities
- Customizing Your Degree
- The Student Experience
- Admission Requirements
- Tuition and Financial Aid
Chart a Brighter Future with Kent State
Prepare to lead analysis and response to large scale environmental, social and business challenges with your online Master of Geographic Information Science (MGISc) from Kent State University.
Geographical, informational and socio-political disciplines combine to create insights in Geographic Information Science, or GISc. GISc professionals design and use geographic information systems (GIS) to gather, store and analyze information for various applications.
These highly specialized tools combine geospatial information from sources including remote sensing technology, global positioning systems (GPS) and internet mapping technologies with other data inputs and software to manage and display the information in useful ways.
We Offer More Than a Master’s in GIS
Our 100% online MGISc program helps you advance your career through a combination of essential theory and applied skills, including technology, analysis and programming.
Rise above candidates from GIS graduate programs that focus narrowly on the technology with help from our program designed for busy working professionals and students seeking graduate education.
Learn from Leading Scientists
Award-winning scientists lead the online master’s in GIS program and model engaged science, using their expertise to address many of our most pressing challenges.
Kent State faculty members have won research grants from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA. Professor and department chair Scott Sheridan was recently named to help lead a diversity, equity and inclusion initiative at the American Geophysical Union. The honor exemplifies the engaged scholarship of our GIS graduate programs.
As a student in our online Master's in GISc, you will have the opportunity to learn from thought leaders in such diverse areas as applied climatology, agriculture, conservation, economic geography, public health, urban growth and sustainability, crime, disaster relief and spatial privacy.
We invite you to move forward with us, breaking down barriers and creating a brighter future.
Top-Ranked Military Friendly® University
Kent State ranks among the best in our category for our service to members of the extended military community, including active service members, spouses, and veterans. The Military Friendly® designation considers job placement, graduation and retention rates viewed through a mix of public and proprietary data and personal opinion surveys of veterans.
Careers Snapshot
Your master’s in GIS gives you an advantage in a growing career field that offers a high degree of personal satisfaction and work-life balance along with good salaries. Post-graduation salaries average from $68,900 to $104,100 depending on the job title and sector.2
$85,2203
$68,9001
#31 Best STEM Job5
GIS master’s degree graduates work in many sectors. Your online MGISc from Kent State can help you land an excellent job in a federal, state or local government agency, an educational setting, or a variety of professional, scientific and technical service organizations.
As a GISc professional, you can provide important insights on work ranging in scale from local to global. Kent State’s affordable tuition, the high caliber of our faculty, and the potential for personal and professional fulfillment create a bright outlook for your future with a master of geographic information science.
Move Forward with Kent State
Earn your MGISc in as little as two years, creating the potential for career-long impact, enhanced earnings and job security. Our admissions process is simple, and we have waived the GRE requirement in favor of a holistic evaluation of your background and achievements.
Whatever your life situation or background, our 100% online MGISc program has been designed to offer flexibility and the individualized attention you need to help you progress toward your professional goals while handling your other life commitments. Schedule a call with an Admissions Outreach Advisor to learn more.
A Degree Program That Fits Your Life
Our online GIS master's program includes:
- Four core courses that cover essential topics
- Four electives to shape the program to your interests
- A practicum where you can apply and demonstrate your skills
Once you enroll, your Admissions Outreach Advisor will help you craft your personalized degree plan, creating a clear course sequence and path to graduation.
The program is intentionally designed to create focused study and encourage collaboration. Each course is 7 weeks long, and you can take two courses sequentially each semester, focusing on each subject individually. Classes are small so that you can get to know and work with your classmates and professors.
You Have Career Options With an MGISc
Geographic Information Science (GISc) is a growing field with a wide range of career options. A GIS master’s degree can help you find satisfying employment in a variety of industries, including government, environmental science, urban planning, and marketing. As industries increasingly rely on data and technology, GIS professionals will play an essential role in helping organizations make better decisions, opening up more opportunities for you.
With training from our online master's in GIS, you can find your ideal career in a wide variety of industries. The affordable total cost of our program—a fraction of the annual salary for many roles you will be qualified for—means that you can quickly recoup your educational investment.
Secure Your Future. Achieve Your Goals.
GIS professionals are in high demand, and salaries reflect that. Many people enter the field with the goal of making a difference in the world. With the right experience and qualifications, you can earn a lucrative salary that will provide financial security and allow you to achieve your life goals. GIS is a growing field with good job security. Our online master’s in GIS program can help you develop the skills and professional connections to thrive for many years to come.
In-Demand Roles Across Industries
Read more
Build Your Skills with Recognized Experts
Expert faculty in our online MGISc program will help you master the various technical skills and professional knowledge crucial for thriving in this rapidly evolving field. Customize your expertise with electives and your practicum after building a solid foundation with core courses. Some of the skills you can develop include:
- Advanced theories and techniques for handling geographic information systems
- Principles of map design and the art of map construction
- Algorithms and tools used in computer science
- Emerging media and technology industries; basic programming concepts
- Urban and economic applications and analyses of spatial data
- The use of GISc in hazard research and management
- Essential spatiotemporal thinking and technical skills
- The geospatial methods and approaches used to understand and combat disease
- Essential concepts and skills needed to create and develop a geodatabase
- The basic principles of environmental remote sensing
Tuition and Financial Aid
| Ohio Residents | Out of State | |
| Per Credit Hour | $695 | $705 |
| Approximate Program Cost | $20,850 | $21,150 |
An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $12 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For comprehensive tuition information, please refer to the tuition rates posted on the Bursar’s website.
We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Outreach Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.
Please contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor for more information on tuition and fees either by email at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844‑234‑4073.
Courses
The Master of Geographic Information Science degree is comprised of three major components:
- Four core courses (12 credits each)
- Four elective courses (minimum 12 credits)
- One practicum (6 credits)
Core Courses and Practicum
GEOG 59071 Fundamentals of GIS 1 (3 Credits)
GEOG 59081 Fundamentals of GIS 2 (3 Credits)
Advanced theories and techniques for handling and analyzing geographic data, analytical functions and modeling approaches. Topics covered include: two- and three-dimension processing of geographic information, detection of geographic patterns through spatial analysis and spatial statistics, network analysis, modeling of geographic processes and an overview of GIS programming tools.
GEOG 69164 Cartographic Design (3 Credits)
GEOG 69231 Environmental Remote Sensing (3 Credits)
GEOG 69392 Practicum in Geographic Information Science (6 Credits)
Culminating experience for students in the MGISc program. It will be taken in place of two carousel specialist courses on the schedule for the student’s final semester. It is designed to provide practical experience in the application of MGISc course content in real-world professional settings. Students will select a professional project in consultation with their employers and program faculty and then will design, implement and report on their activities in a culminating professional paper.
Elective Courses
Additional course options may be available at the department’s discretion.
GEOG 59072 GIS and Health (3 Credits)
GEOG 59075 GIS Applications for Social Problems (3 Credits)
Urban and economic applications and analyses of spatial data, especially theoretical and conceptual issues, including the possibilities and concerns associated with GIS, ethical considerations, and the various forms of data collection, visualization, analysis and dissemination.
GEOG 59076 Spatial Programming (3 Credits)
Examination of the design, development and use of geographic information technologies with computer programming to model, process and visualize geographic phenomena.
GEOG 59078 Geographic Information Science and Environmental Hazards (3 Credits)
GEOG 69004 Quantitative Methods in Geography (3 Credits)
GEOG 69007 Spatiotemporal Analytics (3 Credits)
Equips students with essential spatiotemporal thinking and technical skills in mapping, analyzing, visualizing, communicating and simulating the spatiotemporal data. ArcGIS and free packages in R and Netlogo will be used in the instruction.
GEOG 69073 Geographic Information Science: Global Health (3 Credits)
GEOG 69074 Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analysis for Health Geography (3 Credits)
Spatial analysis is used to verify patterns and associations in health data maps. These results can then be used to further hone the scientific question or help design an intervention strategy. This course will introduce spatial analytical approaches used by health researchers and practitioners in the exploratory investigation of health data. Students will also be exposed to new mobile technologies that can be used to enrich more traditional spatial data sources.
GEOG 69079 Environmental Geographic Information Science (3 Credits)
GPS and environmental spatial data are commonly used in a variety of management and assessment plans in fields related to environmental science to achieve effective decision-making and environmental resource management. This course will focus on techniques used to process, manage, visualize and analyze environmental data using GIS. Students will learn how to collect and process GPS and online sources of geospatial data and how to employ techniques such as suitability modeling, measuring distributions and calculating landscape metrics.
GEOG 69083 Geodatabases (3 Credits)
Essential concepts and skills needed to efficiently create a geodatabase, add data to it and realistically model the real-world spatial relationships inherent to the data. Students will learn about geodatabase features that help ensure data integrity over time and about storing and managing geographic data.
CS 61002 Algorithms and Programming I (4 Credits)
CS 61003 Algorithms and Programming II (4 Credits)
EMAT 64210 Data Science (3 Credits)
Admissions Requirements
The master’s and graduate certificate programs have the same straightforward requirements:
- Completed online application
- Complete bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), from an accredited university
- Two letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
- Application fee: $45
- Official transcripts
- Goal statement
- Resume/CV
- No GRE required for admission
Our Admissions Outreach Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or call us toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.
Talk to an Admissions Outreach Advisor Download Admissions Checklist
Important Dates
Application Resources
Our step-by-step application checklist will help ensure the success of your application submission.
Application FAQs
Create an account in the online application system to save your work and track the progress of materials submitted via the application system.
I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
Division of Graduate Studies
Kent State University
Cartwright Hall
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242
Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9-digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA
For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.
Technology Requirements
Courses are delivered through our course management system, Canvas. Course content consists of text, narrated PowerPoint presentations, video and audio, live chats, discussion groups, and other learning enhancements.
Course requires access to GIS software to complete coursework. Ensure that your computer meets ArcGIS Pro requirements.
To participate in this online program, you will need a computer and broadband Internet connection. Your program may have further requirements that include the ability to record video and audio. If you have questions regarding technology requirements for the program, please contact your Admissions Outreach Advisor at onlinedegrees@kent.edu or toll-free at +1 844-234-4073.
Build Your Career with a Degree Built Around You
Immersive Online Curriculum
Multi-Disciplinary Faculty
GISc Career Potential
- Retrieved on June 15, 2022, from www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/cartographers-and-photogrammetrists.htm
- Retrieved on June 15, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2099.01
- Retrieved on June 15, 2022, from www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geographers.htm#tab-5
- Retrieved on June 15, 2022, from money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/geographer
- Retrieved on June 15, 2022, from money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/cartographer