Take your GIS education further with a master's degree.
Professionals in the GIS (geographic information system) field learn harness software, data and hardware to extract geographic information. This may be something as simple as plotting a destination on a map to as intricate as determining why some populations appear more concentrated in certain areas of the world as compared to others. Colleges across the country offer degree programs in GIS; if you've already completed a bachelor's degree and want to go further into the GIS field, your next step is to enroll in a GIS master's program.
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands offers a three-year GIS master's program, which provides topics in statistics and special analysis, introduction to image data, fundamentals of geographic information, project concept and scope, programming for GIS, creating and managing geodatabases, working with GIS, project execution and GIS for the web. Students complete a final project as their last task before graduation. While on campus, students get hands-on experience through the university's GIS lab, recording devices, plotter and specialty GIS software. The college also offers the Redlands Institute, a GIS and special technology research center.
Although students with a bachelor's degree in any major can apply, the school requires a minimum of two years' experience using GIS or two college courses in GIS plus a GIS internship of at least four months. Candidates must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0, two letters of recommendation and GRE scores.
University of Redlands
1200 East Colton Avenue
Redlands, CA 92373
909-748-8128
redlands.edu
Arizona State University
The Arizona State University's Master of Advanced Study in GIS degree (M.A.S.-GIS) is a one-year program that begins every August. Courses are held in the evening with topics on programming in the GIS environment, remote sensing and air photo interpretation, GIS for the Internet, GIS and business, GIS project management and GIS implementation in the corporate and public sectors. There is no thesis or research project required, but students complete an eight-week summer internship prior to graduation.
Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in any field with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Two letters of reference from professionals in the GIS field (professors or supervisors also permitted) and a format written statement of the student's interest in GIS are also required. Students who do not meet the grade point average may be permitted if they have strong recommendations or can show a dedicated interest in GIS.
Arizona State University
School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
975 South Myrtle Avenue
PO Box 875302
Tempe, AZ 85287-5302
480-965-7533
asu.edu
The Pennsylvania State University
Students who want to continue their GIS studies but who aren't near a college offering the master's major may be interested in a distance learning program such as the one offered by Penn State World Campus, the online learning division of the Pennsylvania State University. The college's master of geographical information degree includes course work in problem solving with GIS, the nature of geographic information, geographical information analysis, geospatial technology project management, cartography and visualization, environmental applications of GIS and open web mapping. Students complete an individual capstone project and present the results for peer and faculty review prior to graduation.
A bachelor's degree in any field is required, along with a statement of professional experience and goals, GRE scores and three letters of recommendation. Because the program is conducted online, students must have high-speed Internet access, a webcam, a head set, a microphone, 10 GB of free disk space, a DVD drive, Adobe Reader, Quicktime and a soundcard.
The Pennsylvania State University
Penn State World Campus
128 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
800-252-3592
worldcampus.psu.edu
Tags: State University, bachelor degree, geographic information, Arizona State, Arizona State University, grade point, grade point average
