In Geographic Information Science degree programs (often called GIScience programs), students leverage GIS technology and software for a variety of different use cases, from spatial analytics to imagery analysis and data visualization. These platforms are highly powerful for examining landscapes remotely and at scale; from locating and mapping the health of wetlands, rainforests, and croplands to developing efficient emergency management routes in a dense urban area, Geographic Information Science is the field of study that enables us to explore the world, both natural and human-made.
There are many GIScience degree programs, from Bachelors degrees to Masters programs, and a PhD/Doctorate. There are also many similarly-named academic programs (Geoscience, Geography, GIS, Spatial Data Science, Geospatial Studies, etc.) with overlapping coursework and disciplines.
Are there any online programs in Geographic Information Science?
There are several academic institutions that offer online GIS programs specifically with the title of Geographic Information Science(s). These universities and others often also offer degree programs in traditional geography, spatial data science, or Geospatial Information Systems degrees. The following are bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered entirely online.
Consider a sponsored online program currently accepting applicants.
https://asuonline.asu.edu/degree-programs/gisArizona State University Online BS in Geographic Information Science
https://advanced.jhu.edu/gisJohns Hopkins University AAP Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems
https://degrees.snhu.edu/programs/bs-in-geosciencesSouthern New Hampshire University Online BS in Geosciences
What is a Geographic Information Science degree and what can I do with it?
Geographic Information Science (often referred to as GIScience, GISc, or simply GIS*) is an umbrella term for the discipline that encompasses both geography and computer science. The most common degree types are the Bachelors in GIScience or Masters in GIScience. Upon graduation from a GIScience degree program, students will be expected to understand not only geographic phenomena, including human and physical geography, but also the advanced technological systems geographers have developed to manage, process, analyze, and display spatial data.
Using GIScience, physical geography (terrain and topology, soils and vegetation, hydrology and climate) can be predicted, managed, monitored, and analyzed using advanced software, which helps improve the relationship humans have with the planet and its resources.
In depth review of Geographic Information Science degrees
Arizona State University – Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science
Arizona State also offers an online degree in Geographic Information Science. Their online materials suggest that their program focuses on computer programming for geospatial applications, and the degree also requires an internship, supervised research, or a capstone seminar, which will be an opportunity to test your skills and knowledge on real-world applications.
The admissions requirements for a first-year student at ASU include high school coursework in math, English, lab and social sciences, arts, and foreign language, resulting in a 3.0 GPA. Like some other programs, ASU doesn’t require ACT or SAT scores, but these scores may inform placement for core courses like math and English. Base tuition for a non-Arizona resident comes to approximately $13,920.
Foundational to the program are three courses in Geographic Information Science, which aim to teach the student about spatial data (as well as its structure, storage, and synthesis), geospatial technology, spatial analysis, and data visualization. From there, students will go on to take courses in both statistics and programming for GIS.
Troy University – Bachelor’s Degree in Geographic Information Science
Troy University offers its undergraduate students the flexibility of taking their Geographic Information Sciences courses in person or online. Troy boasts that its coursework prepares students for careers in a variety of geospatially-enabled careers, from oceanography to urban planning. The department offers a General track and a Geography concentration, as well as several related minors: Surveying and Geomatics, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and Geography.
The general admissions for first-time Troy University freshmen suggest the applicant have a 3.0 GPA, and students beginning in 2026 are not required to submit ACT or RSAT scores. However, for context, students with a 2.0 high school GPA and a score of 20 on their ACT or 1030 on their RSAT have been accepted in previous years. Students must submit their transcripts as part of their application.
Coursework in the Troy Geographic Information Sciences program includes Cartography and Geo-Visualization, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Spatial Modeling and Programming, and Web Based GIS/ Spatial Data Applications.
Faculty in the Troy GIS department are experts in environmental modeling, remote sensing, geodesy, surveying, photogrammetry, machine learning, historic preservation, and more. Tuition for a single year of courses at Troy is estimated to be $19,584.
South Dakota State University – Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Sciences
South Dakota State University’s online B.S. in GIS emphasizes how their graduates are suited for careers in regional and urban planning, resource management, and climate change research. The coursework integrates software with geographic research, including requirements in Physical Geography (both weather and climate and natural landscapes), Remote Sensing, Sustainable Communities, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Students can also select from a variety of related electives to build out a concentration in either the Analyst or the Developer tract; the former focuses more on model building and cartography, whereas the latter emphasizes database management, application building, and web GIS.
The department also suggests several related minors to add to your degree: Geospatial Intelligence, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, Land Valuation and Rural Real Estate, Informatics, Global Studies, Political Science, Statistics, Aerospace Studies, and Military Science. The diversity of these options speaks to the breadth of faculty experience at this university as well as the vast applications of GIS.
The South Dakota State Admissions Department requires incoming students to hold a high school GPA of 2.6 or above (or an 18 on the ACT, 970 on the SAT Math/Critical Reading). At a rate of $387 per credit hour (for non-residents), a 30-credit academic year comes out to be $11,610 in tuition costs.
Texas A&M University-College Station – Master of Geoscience
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, and you’re interested in gaining advanced skills in GIS, perhaps a master’s program is right for you. The Texas A&M College Station campus offers an entirely online master’s degree in Geoscience, with a particular emphasis on Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST). This tract of the geoscience degree requires courses such as GIS-Based Spatial Analysis and Modeling, GeoDatabases, and GIS Programming, along with electives that may pertain to your desired career path, from data governance to energy and oceanography.
In addition to an existing undergraduate degree, the applicant should have approximately two years of professional experience prior to enrollment.
The tuition cost per credit hour for a non-Texas resident is $1,254, bringing the total for the program to $45,117.
Ohio State University – Master of Geographic Information Science and Technology (MGIST)
Ohio State is a prestigious research institution with highly reputable degrees in arts, sciences, and technology, and the MSGIST program is no exception. Graduates from this program go on to work in urban planning, environmental science, government, land management, and more.
A total of 33 credits is required to complete the program, and the courses include Cartography and Map Design, GIS Algorithms and Programming, Web GIS Development, and more. There are a series of unique electives as well as a required Capstone project to finish off the degree.
To apply, students must have a 3.0 GPA from their completed undergraduate program, for which they must provide a transcript. Additional criteria include two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume. As a part time student (taking two courses per semester), a non-Ohio resident would pay $5,636.28 per semester, for a total of $33,817.68 for the whole program.
What are some courses you would take in a GIS program?
As mentioned in the descriptions of these programs, coursework in Geographic Information Sciences programs can vary greatly, from physical geography and environmental studies to spatial analysis, data visualization, geo-statistics, and programming and scripting.
The following is a description of some of those courses.
Physical Geography and Environmental Geography (or Environmental Science)
These courses will focus on the terminology and studies surrounding the earth, its processes and ecosystems, and terrain and topology. This knowledge is foundational to understanding the entire science of geography, including human geography, resource management, hydrology, and global studies.
Geology
Similar to physical geography, geology is the study of the earth’s history and internal formations. Understanding geologic history, while not a component of all Geographic Information Science programs, can be fundamental to a student’s understanding of geography.
Spatial Analysis
Also called Geospatial Analysis or Spatial Processing, this course begins to unpack the technological component of a GIScience degree. The student will likely be introduced to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) during a course like this, and they will begin to practice techniques to analyze patterns in spatial data.
Remote Sensing
Satellites, drones, and aircraft can all capture information about the earth’s surface from a distance; this data can be used to manage large-scale areas, monitor environmental processes, track and predict weather, and evaluate land cover types. Coursework in this field will teach students about spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution, as well as how to analyze this raster data.
Cartography and Data Visualization
A key component of the GIScience field is displaying the data to users. Data visualization coursework will teach students about the principles of cartography, visual hierarchy, and storytelling. These courses will also heavily rely on GIS technology, and students will likely become proficient in digital map making after a course like this.
Spatial Modeling and Programming
GIScience also increasingly relies on automation of what were once tedious or time-consuming processes. Modeling, scripting, and programming courses will teach students how to be more efficient with their time and work with huge datasets that may be too cumbersome to manually evaluate. This is a key skill for employers in the GIS marketplace.
Web Based GIS/ Spatial Data Applications
Many future employers will also be interested in interactive web maps and tools, rather than just static print maps. Building on the fundamentals of cartography, a web GIS course will teach students about how to build these important applications, which can be embedded in websites and mobile apps.
