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Home > MGIS Program : Requirements

Requirements

Degree Program Requirements

The MGIS degree program provides graduate-level work in the theory, applications, and technology of geographic information science. Courses for the program are divided into three broad categories. Core courses provide the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings for a comprehensive, well-rounded knowledge of GIS, including an introductory seminar for entering students (GIS 8501). A set of technology courses focus on specific software and techniques in GIS. Elective courses provide additional breadth to the program by allowing students to take courses related to their area of interest. Please refer to the MGIS course page for a specific listing of courses, course descriptions and useful links.

MGIS Plan B Degree Requirements

The degree is offered Plan B (without thesis) and requires 35 credits of course work, three Plan B projects, and a final examination. All students must have:

• A minimum of 35 total credits.
  • A minimum of 18 credits in core and technology courses.
    • A minimum of 12 credits of core courses, including GIS 8501, GEOG 5561, GEOG 5563 and GEOG 8290, 8291 or 8292.
    • A minimum of 6 credits of technology courses, including GIS 5571 and GIS 5572.
  • A minimum of 6 credits of elective courses. All electives must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Associate Program Director.
  • At least 6 credits of the total 35 credits (can be core or elective courses) must be taken outside the geography department (GEOG and GIS designators) but may include core GIS classes (e.g., FR and ENR designators).
  • There are six required courses that all students must take:
    • GIS 8501: Survey of GISci
    • GEOG 5561: Principles of GISci
    • GEOG 5563: Advanced GISci
    • GIS 5571: Introduction to ArcInfo
    • GIS 5572: Advanced ArcInfo
    • One of the following seminar courses:
      • GEOG 8290: Seminar in GISci and Cartography
      • GEOG 8291: Seminar in GISci, Society and Technology
      • GEOG 8292: Seminar in GISci, Spatial Analysis and Modeling

    All required courses must be taken for a letter grade (not S/N basis).

• Students must submit three Plan B projects that are typically performed as part of, or extensions to, assignments completed during their course work. Report content and medium must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with each student's adviser. Students may, with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies and their adviser, substitute a single project for the three Plan B projects.
• All students must complete a final oral examination with three faculty members. More information on the oral examination and degree requirements is available in the MGIS Graduate Student Handbook (see Advising page under Program).

Graduate Minor in GIS

Students majoring in other fields can do a minor in MGIS. A master's minor in GIS (PDF) is developed in consultation with a faculty adviser. Consult the MGIS director of graduate studies about selecting an adviser. The minor requires at least 9 credits (3 courses).

Completing Minors in Other Programs

MGIS students can earn a designated minor in other fields such as Computer Science, Water Resources or Planning depending on their interests and career goals. Check the Graduate Catalog for specific Masters degree program information under the subheading "Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields" and directly contact the director of graduate studies of the program for which you are interested in earning the minor.