University of Utah offers the Master of Geographic Information Science MS as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Salt Lake City, United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for geographic information science ms and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 22, 2027.

About Geographic Information Science MS

What is the deadline for applying to the program?

Students entering Fall semester should apply by April 1. However, with the payment of a $30 late fee, applications will be taken until May 1. Students entering Spring semester should apply by November 1, late applications accepted until December 1. Note: International students should not apply for late admission due to the lengthy process it takes to generate the proper documents and visa in time for the start of the semester.

Is the GRE required for admission?

No.

Is student funding available for this program?

Unfortunately, we cannot support students in the professional program with assistantships. We do have assistantships available for students in our traditional Masters in Geography program.

Is there a special fee?

The program has a fee of $100 per student, each fall and spring semester (no fee charged during summer), for an MSGIS student enrolling in three (3) or more credits of coursework. The fee applies to both classroom and on-line classes.

How long does the program take?

The program can be completed in as little as 2 years, depending on the number of credit hours taken per semester.

What are the prerequisites for the program?

GEOG 1180 Introduction to Geo-Programming or equivalent

GEOG 3100 Introduction to GIS or equivalent

GEOG 4140 Advanced Methods in GIS or equivalent

GEOG 3020 Geographical Analysis or an upper division basic statistics course

Should I take the prerequisite courses before applying to the MSGIS program?

The Department requires that you have taken these courses or have equivalent competence.

What courses should I register for and when?

The following is a model program of study illustrating one sequence of courses:

Year 1 Fall Semester

GEOG 6150: Geospatial Big Data (4 Hours)
GEOG 6000: Advanced Geographical Data Analysis (4 Hours)
GEOG 6180: GeoProcessing with Python (3 Hours)

Year 1 Spring Semester

GEOG 6165: Geovisualization (3 Hours)
GEOG 6160: Spatial Modeling and Geocomputation (4 Hours)
GEOG 5320: Geography of Terrorism and Homeland Security or other elective (3 Hours)

Year 2 Fall Semester

GEOG 6120: Advanced Optical Remote Sensing or other elective (3 Hours)
GEOG 5170: Geospatial Field Methods: GPS and Drones or other elective (3 Hours)
GEOG 5340: Geography of Disasters and Emergency Management (3 Hours)

Year 2 Spring Semester

GEOG 6161: Capstone in GIS (3 Hours)
GEOG 6162: Project Management (3 Hours)

Are these courses available online?

Not at this time. However, the prerequisite courses GEOG 1180 Intro to Geo-Programming is available online.

Do I have to write a thesis?

No.

I already have the GIS Certificate and have taken many of the classes listed above. Can I use those credits for the MSGIS?

If credits are used for a previous degree at the University of Utah, they cannot be reused for the MSGIS. Otherwise, a maximum of 6 undergraduate credits or 9 hours non-matriculated credit from the classes listed above, taken no more than three years prior to approval, may be transferred into the program.

Can I transfer credits into the program from a different institution?

Credits transferred from another institution may be used for only one degree. Up to six semester hours of transfer credit may be applied toward fulfillment of graduate degree requirements if they are of high letter grade (B or higher; 'credit only' grades are unacceptable), are found acceptable by the graduate committee, and were taken within three years of semester of admission to the University of Utah.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Geographic Information Science MS at University of Utah

Entry Requirements

All graduate applicants to the University of Utah must meet the following minimum Graduate School requirements:

- A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university. The Office of Admissions will determine if an applicant’s degree meets the Graduate School's requirement of a recognized Bachelor's degree.

- At least a 3.0 or higher undergraduate weighted mean GPA on a 4.0 scale. If the undergraduate GPA is below 3.0, a GPA will be calculated based upon the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) if the student attended a U.S. institution.

- Meet the academic department’s admission standards and receive a recommendation for admission to their program.

English Program Requirements

You can use this chart as a reference to help you understand the ways you can most effectively provide proof of English proficiency based on the type of application you are submitting.

Please note: Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degrees must be earned from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university and be completed within two years of submitting your application and paying the application fee.

Tuition and Fee Information for Geographic Information Science MS at University of Utah

Application Fee 55

How to Apply for Geographic Information Science MS at University of Utah

Apply

Graduate applicants access the online application directly through their department’s website.
Pay the Application Fee

- The non-refundable graduate application fee for applicants is $55. Applications submitted after the application deadline will incur an additional $30 late fee, even if an academic department has a later deadline. Applications are not complete until the application fee has been paid. Please do not send cash.

- Some academic programs cover the cost (or the partial cost) of the application fee for their applicants. Please check the department’s website to determine the exact application fee. McNair Scholars are eligible to have their application fee waived, but they must upload proof of status to the online graduate application.
Upload all required documents

- Applicants must upload a copy of all post-secondary transcripts to their application. These transcripts will be used as working copies during the admissions evaluation process. Failure to list all schools previously attended or making false or misleading statements on the application may result in cancellation of admission status and/or loss of credit.

- Transcripts for all post-secondary schools attended.

- In addition to academic transcripts, applicants must upload any additional documents required by the academic department/program. Examples of items frequently requested by departments include:

1. Letters of Recommendation
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Resume/CV
4. Test Scores, such as the GRE or GMAT.

- The University of Utah ETS code is 4853. The Office of Admissions does not have a department code. Departments may require test scores sent directly to their department code. Please check the department's website for additional information.

- Unofficial transcripts are acceptable to complete the admissions application and can be scanned or e-mailed directly to [email protected].

- Before starting classes at the University of Utah, students must submit an official copy of their post secondary school transcript and proof of graduation directly to the Office of Admissions.

- Official printed transcripts can be dropped off in a closed envelope sealed with adhesive at the International Admissions service window in the Student Services Building (SSB) or mailed to:

         The University of Utah
Office of Admissions
         201 South 1460 East, Room 250s
         Salt Lake City, UT 84112 USA

*Please do not send official transcripts via email or fax as they will not be accepted as official.

- If your school uses the following electronic transcript services they will be considered official:

- Credentials Solutions
- Parchment/Naviance
- National Student Clearing House
- eScrip-Safe

*When requesting your transcripts using any of these services please use this email [email protected].
Complete and Submit the Application

The University of Utah will evaluate an application only after we receive all required fees and documents, including transcripts and proof of English proficiency. All documents submitted to the University of Utah become its property and will not be released to students or other institutions.
Track Your Application Status

Your application will be evaluated once we receive a completed application, application fee, and all required documentation. The status of your application can be tracked here.

Please allow 7-10 business days for the online tracker to reflect newly received materials.

Geographic Information Science MS at University of Utah