Geographic Information Systems Graduate Programs

Geographic Information Systems Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Almost all geographic information systems graduate programs will require you to take:

• Introduction to graduate geography
• Research design
• Univariate statistics in geography

GIS Ph.D. and master’s students should consult with an advisor to determine their area of specialization. Possible topics could include:

• Population growth
• Weather patterns
• Traffic patterns
• Development of roads and neighborhoods
• Transportation and spatial information
• GIS design
• Urban geography
• GIS algorithms and data structure
• GIS and environmental modeling
• Cartography and geographic visualization
• Landscaping modeling with GIS

Geographic Information Systems Career Paths

Geographic Information Systems specialists can work in a variety of fields, from urban and regional planning to surveying and mapmaking. While a master’s degree in GIS or a GIS Ph.D. may not be required, a graduate degree in geographic information systems will help you stand out in the crowd of applicants, especially if you’re seeking a government job.

Geographic Information Systems Future Job Outlook

Based on the Occupational Employment Statistics Survey done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a Surveyor was approximately $58,000 in May of 2010.

Pay levels vary with the industry of employment.

Data according to

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Ed.

Per the BLS, employment of surveyors, cartographers and the like is expected to grow by 19 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average national rate.

Data according to

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Ed