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We are identifying uses for GIS beyond just a mapmaking tool. The field is constantly changing, so my classmates and instructors were great sounding boards for me to test ideas. 

Christopher Goranson
Director, GIS Center, NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene

Industry Highlights

  • expected job growth of 21% through 2016
  • median wage of $59,160 for GIS management professionals
  • job prospects best for those with a master’s degree

Information from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Geographic Information Systems - GIS (Master's Degree)

Summary

Credits Required 35
Tuition per Credit $716
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Andrew MacInnes
Master of Geographic Information Systems
Metairie, LA
Andrew MacInnes
"I had an immediate and critical need to use the techniques I was learning in my degree."
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Chris Goranson
Geographic Information Systems - GIS (Master's Degree)
New York, NY
Chris Goranson
"I couldn't imagine how difficult it would have been to apply this information if I had to wait two years while I was in school full-time."
Read More
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A GIS Degree for the Experienced Professional

Penn State’s online GIS program has been a leader in online education for more than 10 years. In 2009 The Sloan Consortium recognized the master of GIS program as the 2009 Most Outstanding Online Teaching and Learning Program.

We’ll help you navigate the degree process with confidence. You’ll have a faculty adviser from the day you’re accepted into the program through the day you graduate. Our faculty — experienced online professionals from Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences — are accessible to all students via email, phone, online discussion forums and chat space, and web conferencing that enables interaction with one another in real-time, using voice, text, and video. Many faculty also have years of professional experience in the field; that rich experience helps inform the online classroom.

The course work will allow you to stay current on the latest technology and methods in GIS. You’ll receive your first credential, a postbaccalaureate certificate in GIS, after your first year in the master’s program.

Geospatial Career-Oriented Course Work

Since developing its first online GIS courses in 1999, Penn State’s Department of Geography has expanded its GIS offerings to 26 online courses. The courses include, but are not limited to, GIS database development, geospatial system analysis and design, project management, LIDAR technology, open web mapping, and GIS mash-ups. Course ware modules used in many of these courses are available for you to review at http://open.ems.psu.edu.

Professional Development Opportunities

Penn State World Campus also offers more than 19 instructor-led online courses that geospatial professionals can take to fulfill continuing professional development requirements. For a calendar and a list of course offerings, visit our courses page.

Who Should Apply

If you are a professional — in such fields as environmental resource management, urban and regional planning, local government, facilities management, or transportation planning — the online GIS master’s degree can help you become a leader in your industry.

To apply to the program you should have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of two years of professional experience, preferably (but not necessarily) related to geographic information technologies.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

Penn State’s online master’s degree in GIS can help you start or advance your career in:

  • urban and regional planning: architects, engineers, scientific researchers, managers, technical consultants, local government, and GIS analysts
  • environmental resource management: environmental scientists, specialists, and health specialists
  • surveying and cartography: surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and mapping technicians

Online Education at Penn State

Penn State has a history of 100+ years of distance education and more than a decade of experience in online learning. We strive to create an online learning environment that brings you as close to the face-to-face experience as possible. Learn more about Penn State World Campus.