Geography: Geographic Information Science - Professional Science Master's, MS
for the degree of Master of Science in Geography with Professional Science Master's and Geographic Information Science Concentrations
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. Please visit the GIS Overview page at Illinois PSM for more information.
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
The PSM is a self-supported degree program, please visit their website for tuition and fee estimations. Illinois PSM students are not eligible for assistantships or other tuition waiver-generating appointments but may take paid internships and graduate hourly appointments. Statutory waivers and tuition scholarships are accepted.
for the degree of Master of Science in Geography with Professional Science Master's and Geographic Information Science Concentrations
PSM Concentration Requirements:
| 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 |
Geography: Geographic Information Science, MS Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose from following list in consultation with the faculty coordinator. | ||
| GGIS 412 | Geospatial Technologies & 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 | Environmental Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GGIS 477 | Introduction to Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GGIS 478 | Techniques of Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GGIS 480 | Principles of Geographic Information Science | 4 |
| 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 | 32 | |
PSM Concentration Requirements
| 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 |
| Total Hours | 10 | |
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 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Hours for the Geography: Geographic Information Science & Professional Science Master's, MS | 42 | |
Please refer to the Graduate College Handbook for additional information and requirements.
for the degree of Master of Science in Geography with Professional Science Master's and Geographic Information Science Concentrations
- 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 in Geography with Professional Science Master's and Geographic Information Science Concentrations
Department Head: Dr. Julie Cidell
PSM Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Minn
(217) 333-1880
Natural History Building, Second Floor
1301 W. Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
geography@illinois.edu
Department of Geography & GIS website
Illinois Professional Science Master's (PSM) - GIS Program overview