2023 Best Online GIS Degrees

Arizona State University (ASU) is a public university offering an online Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science that requires 120 credit hours. Typically, full-time students complete this program in around four years. The acceptance rate at ASU is 73%, with 52% of students earning their degrees.

At ASU, students use Canvas for their remote courses, which they can complete at their own pace (asynchronously). This program allows students to learn practical computer programming and data management skills as well as how to collect and analyze important geographical data. Required classes include Programming Principles in GIS, Geographic Information Science, and Statistics for Geography and Planning. An internship and professional seminar is also required. Graduates may explore roles as cartographers, data scientists, or forest rangers.

University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) is a private institution with an online Bachelor of Business Administration - GIS and Data Analytics requiring 120 credit hours. Students studying full time are likely to complete the degree in around four years. UMass Global also features the same degree through the MyPath program, which offers even more flexibility for working professionals. UMass Global accepts 95% of its applicants, while 57% graduate with degrees.

UMass Global uses the learning management system (LMS) Blackboard to deliver online coursework. This software allows students to finish their degrees 100% online and on a schedule that meets their needs through asynchronous course delivery. The core curriculum is designed to develop students' research, data collection, and project management skills through the lens of geography and the human experience. Required classes include Applied Data Wrangling, GIS Methods and Ethics, and Foundations in Spatial Communications. Students are also required to complete a capstone project. Career options include GIS technicians and business intelligence analysts.

Oregon State University (OSU) is a public university with a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Geospatial Science. This online degree requires 180 credit hours, which full-time students can complete in four years. Approximately 82% of students are accepted into OSU, with 65% finishing with diplomas.

OSU students use Canvas as their primary LMS, where they can complete courses online and asynchronously. The curriculum for this program engages students in data analysis and geovisualization, which are subjects that involve the study of built resources, climate, and human-environment relations. Among the required classes are Climatology, Transforming Environmental Conflicts, and The Human Planet. Additionally, students are required to complete nine credits of experiential learning. Career opportunities may be available as physical scientists, geographers, and geographic information systems technologists.

Troy University (TU) is a public university that hosts a Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Sciences. In order to receive this degree, students must complete 120 credit hours, which is typically achieved within four years while studying at a full-time pace. TU's acceptance rate is 92%, with 37% of students graduating.

Online students at TU use Canvas to complete their coursework, which is delivered online and in a blended format of synchronous and asynchronous learning. The curriculum teaches students to identify and translate complex geographic data and how to use field equipment and geospatial database systems properly. There are a number of required courses, such as Principles of Physical Geography, Spatial Information and Analysis, and Cartography and Geovisualization. Students are also required to complete either an internship or GIS project. Graduates may find employment as surveying and mapping technicians, remote sensing scientists, and geographers.

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public institution with a Bachelor of General Studies - Geoscience Studies requiring 120 credit hours. The average completion time for this degree is around four years for full-time students. FHSU also offers a number of bachelor's degrees with an emphasis on GIS, such as geography, geology, and environmental geoscience. Of all the students that apply to FHSU, 91% are accepted. The school also has a 51% graduation rate.

At FHSU, students use Blackboard as their LMS, where courses are delivered fully online and on a flexible timeline. The core curriculum for this program features a broad exploration of liberal arts subjects, such as mathematics, social sciences, and English composition, while the core concentration includes 21 credit hours of GIS topics. World Geography, Cartography: Theory and Concepts, and Environmental Geology are three examples of required courses from the curriculum. Alumni may explore careers as geographical scientists.