Aug. 17, 2022
Next Start Date
10
Courses Required
$658
Cost Per Credit Hour
31
Total Credit Hours
Next Start Date
Courses Required
Cost Per Credit Hour
Total Credit Hours
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis M.S. degree, offered by WVU’s Eberly College of Arts, with support from other programs across campus, is the first of its kind in West Virginia. There is an increasing demand for professionals trained in geospatial technologies, and WVU is answering the call with a program that incorporates predictive modeling, technical issues, programming, spatial hydrology, remote sensing, data science and analytics, machine learning, and applications in the environmental and health sciences. It is ideal for graduate students, recent college graduates, and working professionals who desire advanced training in this high-growth industry and who would like to explore a wide variety of topics and skills.
Online Courses
August 17, 2022
January 9, 2023
Curriculum developed and taught by faculty from
Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis
This program is a fully online Master of Science (MS) in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis led by the Department of Geology and Geography in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University, with support from other programs across campus. The program is designed for individuals who would like to enter the geospatial workforce or advance within it. It is appropriate for recent college graduates, individuals interested in a career transition, or those hoping to advance within the field. The time for completion of the degree is two years or four semesters.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 15% growth rate for cartographer and photogrammetrist careers over the next ten years, which is much faster than average. Geospatial professionals are in high demand within local government, state and federal agencies, consulting companies, technology companies, and institutions of higher education.
Coursework and the required professional project explore a wide variety of topics and skills of value in the growing GIS and geospatial disciplines including: geo-visualization; web GIS; spatial analysis, data science, and analytics; geo-computation; remote sensing; machine learning and deep learning; and applications in the environmental and health sciences. A bachelor’s degree is required to apply to the program, but no prior experience or training in GIS or geospatial data science is necessary. This program makes use of a variety of commercial and open-source software tools, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, Python, and R. It has a strong focus in spatial problem solving. The program objectives are as follows:
Curriculum
The program features 8-week courses. Student complete 16 hours of core courses and 15 hours of electives for a total of 31 credit hours of coursework, including a minimum of 3 credits in Resource Management.
Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, and a GPA of 3.00 in all courses applied to the graduate program.
In addition to completing the required coursework, students will be required to complete a professional project. This may include a written report or deliverables or products, such as software, maps, web maps, code, and/or web apps. Students will learn to collect, create, use, and manage geospatial data, as these are central skills necessary for all geospatial professionals.
All applicants must meet WVU’s general admission requirements, in addition to the following:
The GRE is not required for admission.
International students have the additional requirement to submit a minimum score of 550 on the paper TOEFL examination or 213 on the electronic TOEFL examination if their native language is not English.
Application Deadlines:
The Master of Science (MS) in Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis program admits students for all semesters.
Prerequisites:
Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis M.S. requires 31 credit hours to complete. Cost per credit hour is $658.
$20,398 – Residents and Non-Residents.
Credits | Cost |
---|---|
1 | $658 |
3 | $1,974 |
6 | $3,948 |
9 | $5,922 |
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Phone: (304) 293-0915
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“Being a WVU graduate and a first-generation college student, I’m happy to be back to help you navigate the WVU System. Something WVU Online wants to do is assist you in creating your sense of community and continuity, making sure you have the answers to any and all questions.”
Financial aid is available. Students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form to determine their eligibility for federal and state funds as well as scholarships. WVU’s FAFSA Code is 003827.
Students who graduate from WVU Online with the Master of Science in GIS and Spatial Analysis may be prepared for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities that will be open to you with this degree. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for some positions.
Information about careers on this list comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).