Geographic Information Science, M.S.

Saint Louis University’s master’s program in geographic information science addresses an increasing demand for professionals with geospatial science skills. It offers a combination of geospatial theory and practical training.

SLU's interdisciplinary Master of Science in Geographic Information Science, also known as geospatial science, combines geospatial theory and practical training in geographic information systems, remote sensing and global positioning system, or GPS, software. The program prepares students to become experts who are well-qualified to meet the increasing demand for experts in geospatial analytics, imaging science, photogrammetry, spatial statistics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. As an interdisciplinary program, the M.S. in GIScience focuses on research to address environmental, social and economic issues. 

Students apply GIS, remote sensing, geovisualization, spatial analysis and statistics, database management and GIS programming within natural science, social science and integrative human-environment domains using innovative technologies and software programs (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, ENVI+IDL, SARscape, Python, GeoDA, R).

Curriculum Overview

Students in the program choose from the following completion options:

• A coursework-only, no-thesis option for students who do not plan to pursue a doctoral degree or academic career
• A coursework-plus-research-project option for students who wish to enhance their geospatial research skills in a particular area
• A coursework-plus-thesis option for students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree or academic career

Students who choose the coursework-only or the coursework-plus-research-project options can structure their coursework to complete the program in one year.

Other program highlights:

• Curriculum informed by the Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge (GIS&T BoK)
• Late-afternoon or evening classes that accommodate working professionals
• Instructors with advanced degrees who work and conduct research in the field
• State-of-the-art research labs equipped with modern computing, commercial and open-source software tools, various remote-sensing sensors and manned and unmanned aircraft

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geospatial Science faculty work and conduct research in the field. They have won grants from various institutions, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Geological Society of America, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, National Institutes of Health, National Park Service, National Science Foundation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Electric Power Research Institute, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Ameren and others. 

Careers

Graduates from SLU’s GIS master’s program have a very good employment outlook. Employment in this field is growing at an annual rate of almost 35%, with the commercial subsection of the market expanding by 100% each year, according to the Geospatial Information and Technology Association.

Recent graduates from this program have been employed by various environmental, remote sensing and GIS companies, including Bayer, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and U.S. Geological Survey.

Admission Requirements

Application Requirements

• Application form 
• Three letters of recommendation
• Transcript(s)
• Professional goal statement
• Résumé
• Test scores from the GMAT, LSAT, or GRE are not required but can be submitted to support the application 

Requirements for International Students

All Saint Louis University admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students applying to SLU must also meet the following additional requirements:

• Demonstrate English language proficiency
• Academic records must include an English translation. Unofficial copies may be accepted in some cases for initial admission review, however official copies must be received prior to enrollment. Course-by-course transcript evaluations are accepted. 

Students must submit financial documents to be issued an I-20 for their F-1 visa application. Proof of financial support must include:

• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University

Application and Assistantship Application Deadlines

The final deadline for fall admittance is May 1 for international students and Aug. 1 for domestic students. To be considered for assistantships, students should apply by Feb. 1.

Review Process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received.

Tuition

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award. 

Explore Scholarships and Financial Aid Options

1. Graduates will be able to discuss how GIS and remote sensing are used to investigate problems related to sustainability and environmental science.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the use of relational database management systems as applied to geospatial data.
3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective cartographic/geovisualization skills employing principles of map design and graphic representation techniques.
4. Graduates will be able to describe and interpret remote sensing spectra and imagery.
5. Graduates will be able to perform supervised, unsupervised and object-based classification techniques using remote sensing data.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Thesis Track Requirements

Completion of 30 total credit-hours, with six credits (2 x 3 credit hours) of Thesis Research (GIS 5990) to be taken during year two. Thesis Research credits substitute for two of the GIS Electives above. Thesis Track students must also successfully complete a Master’s Prospectus/Proposal, a Thesis, and Thesis Defense.

This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.

Roadmap notes:

• This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
• Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
• Course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Full-time Student (One Year)

Part-time Student (Two Years)

For more information about our program, please contact eegsgrad@slu.edu.