Master of Science (M.S.)

Geographic Information Science Administration

Prepare for an advanced career analyzing geographic data.

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Affiliated with the National Professional Science Master’s Association
Project-based capstone provides an opportunity to work with a real client on a GIS solution
Interdisciplinary degree that develops leadership skills through a combination of business and GIS courses

Geographic Information Science Administration, M.S. Overview

Join the growing field of geographic information science by developing skills in geospatial science and business management. UWF’s online M.S. in GIS Administration incorporates core coursework in both GIS and business — plus a capstone course focused on GIS leadership. Upon graduation, you will be a well-rounded GIS professional ready to pursue career advancement in virtually any industry.

Led by experienced educators dedicated to your success, you’ll explore the latest technologies in geographic information science. All of our faculty members hold advanced degrees, have extensive GIS experience, and some even continue to work in the field while teaching the online GIS master’s program.

“Because of the rigorous GIS curriculum that I completed at UWF, I have been applauded for being qualified and competent in completing high-level assignments and offering geospatial solutions.”

– Daniela McDougall, Graduate, online M.S. in GIS Administration

Students pursuing our online GIS administration degree benefit from our program’s competitive tuition and convenience. Our online GIS program offers remote desktop technology, allowing you to access state-of-the-art GIS software at any time and from any computer through a pre-configured virtual machine. You’ll have access to the latest versions of Esri ArcGIS Pro, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Leaflet and Erdas Imagine. Collaboration with fellow students and faculty in the online program provides opportunities to gain in-demand skills required for successful remote work positions.

The online geographic information science administration program covers topics such as:

  • Advanced business management skills in human resources, economics, finance and organizational behavior
  • Programming tools used to develop software applications for spatial analysis and automation tasks
  • GIS theories and practices used to visualize, measure, transform and optimize spatial data
  • The fundamental theory of cartography and map production and distribution, graphic design and how to communicate the data through various mediums
  • Database design and how to extract and use spatial data for GIS case studies
  • Web-based geographic information systems and their methods and processes, along with design considerations for web-based GIS in different browsers
  • Developing, implementing and managing GIS applications

Our online GIS degree program culminates with an experience-focused capstone course. You will work with a real client to research an issue and use GIS data to develop a solution. Then, you will create a video project to showcase your work to your professors, peers, and potential employers. Capstone topics for previous GIS degree online students include:

  • Rocky Mountain National Park Geohazard Coding
  • Web Mapping Water Quality
  • Human Impact Assessment on Northwest Florida Seagrass Ecosystems Using Remotely Sensed Data
  • Improving Searchability of Intranet with GIS

In addition, our program is affiliated with Professional Science Master’s. Created in partnership with the industry, PSM guarantees that students in the online GIS master’s degree gain real-world experiences and skills.

GIS Certificate Options

We also offer online undergraduate and graduate certificate programs that can be completed in 12 months. A total of seven courses, including a required internship, have been carefully combined to reflect real-world workforce requirements. With this knowledge, expect to better understand what’s happening behind the scenes in the software and become more efficient at work.

The GIS graduate certificate program is a pathway to the online GIS master’s program because it fulfills the foundation requirements plus 6 hours of GIS core courses.

Candidates for This Program Include:

  • Students currently employed in the geoscience field looking for advancement
  • Those seeking a career in GIS in many industries such as government, public health, political science, forensic science, agriculture and more
  • Students with a bachelor’s degree, basic computer skills and a desire to learn GIS

Learning Outcomes

  • Produce and utilize useful and current information from spatial data
  • Demonstrate advanced skills in cartography, geospatial scripting, spatial databases and web-based mapping
  • Effectively communicate ideas and make management decisions
  • Become experienced in spatial statistics, data science, database management, applied research, modeling and geo-visualization
  • Work in collaboration with local partners, faculty or your current employer to develop, execute and implement a real-world GIS application