Geography: Geographic Information Science - Professional Science Master's, MS
For the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Geography
with Professional Science Master's in Geographic Information Science Concentration
This program is designed for careers in business management using geospatial technologies. Students build a flexible, cross-disciplinary expertise around a strong Geographic Information Science core, while acquiring business knowledge and professional skills. The business curriculum includes technology management, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, project and/or process management.
PSM students typically complete the program in 18 months consisting of 3 full-time, on-campus semesters and a summer internship. Graduates are awarded a master's degree in geography with the Professional Science Master's in GIS concentration.
Admission
Candidates for admission must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or comparable degree from a recognized institution abroad with a GPA or 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework. Application requirements include: 3 letters of recommendation, proof of funding, and English language proficiency scores for non-native English speakers. Transfer credit from Illinois or other institutions is not permitted.
GRE scores are no longer required or evaluated for admission to this program.
Financial Aid
Illinois PSM students may not hold assistantships or other tuition/fee waiver-generating appointments but may be eligible for student loans and graduate hourly appointments and paid internships. Statutory waivers and tuition scholarships are accepted.
for the degree of Master of Science in Geography
with Professional Science Master's in GIS Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Business courses prescribed by the Illinois PSM program | 10 | |
| PSM 501 | PSM Industry Seminar I | 0 |
| PSM 502 | PSM Industry Seminar II | 0 |
| PSM 503 | PSM Industry Seminar III | 0 |
| PSM 555 | PSM Internship | 0 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose from following list in consultation with the faculty coordinator. | ||
| GGIS 412 | Geospatial Technology & Society | 3 |
| GGIS 421 | Earth Systems Modeling | 4 |
| GGIS 439 | Health Applications of GIS | 3 |
| GGIS 460 | Aerial Photo Analysis | 4 |
| GGIS 473 | Digital Cartography & Map Design | 4 |
| GGIS 476 | Applied GIS to Environ Studies | 3 |
| GGIS 477 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GGIS 478 | Techniques of Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GGIS 480 | Principles of Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| GGIS 489 | Programming for GIS | 4 |
| GGIS 560 | Spatial Epidemiology | 4 |
| GGIS 570 | Advanced Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GGIS 590 | Graduate Independent Study | 1 to 8 |
Other GIS-related coures may be substituted with permission of the GIS-PSM Director. | ||
| Total Hours for GIS-PSM concentration: | 32 | |
Other Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Other requirements may overlap. | ||
| The PSM concentration is required. | ||
| Minimum hours required within the unit: | 16 | |
| Minimum 500-level credit hours (8 in GGIS): | 12 | |
| Evaulation conducted by the GIS-PSM Director and/or members of the GIS-PSM committee | ||
| Full-time enrollment (12 credit hours or higher) is required in fall and spring semesters; summer enrollment is required for the internship. | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | |
Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook for additional information and requirements.
For the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Geography
with Professional Science Master's in Geographic Information Science Concentration
- All PSM graduate students will have a firm understanding of the theories and applications of geographic information science and all its diversity and development trends.
- All PSM graduate students will have proficiency in at least one GIS toolbox and will have the technical skills for data manipulation, editing, and geospatial data visualization.
- All PSM graduate students will be able to effectively apply critical geospatial thinking to address real-world problems.
- All PSM graduate students will acquire foundational business knowledge and professional skills to work as a geospatial analyst in a pertinent professional team environment.
- All PSM graduate students will have a strong knowledge of proper ethical conduct in the context of developing and executing geospatial solutions.
For the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Geography
with Professional Science Master's in Geographic Information Science Concentration
Department Head: Dr. Shaowen Wang
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Minn
website: ggis.illinois.edu
email: geography@illinois.edu
phone: (217) 333-1880
Office address:
2044 Natural History Building
1301 W. Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
Illinois Professional Science Master's (PSM)
Graduate College Admissions