Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Systems

Acquire advanced technical training in programming and geographic information systems (GIS) with a Professional Science Master’s in Geographic Information Systems in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. Students are trained in core skills, as well as professional development and business ethics, to advance their careers or prepare them to enter the geographic information systems workforce. 

GIS is a rapidly growing field that combines cartography, spatial databases and statistics to gather and analyze data. It provides an innovative platform that changes how businesses and organizations use and understand data. In this 30-credit professional master’s degree program, you will create and utilize maps to analyze and share information, reveal patterns and relationships, and provide actionable findings to help solve complex global problems.

Students learn in-demand technical and project management skills including programming, data analysis and visualization, Structured Query Language (SQL), statistics and design. GIS skills are exceedingly marketable within virtually all fields including business, disaster response, economic development, health and the environment. 

Temple’s Geography and Urban Studies Department faculty have experience across a broad range of GIS applications, including 

  • business,
  • environment,
  • geovisualization,
  • health,
  • location analysis,
  • remote sensing and 
  • urban issues. 

Professors within the Geography and Urban Studies Department are also active researchers with expertise in the following research methodologies.

  • GIS
  • Program evaluation
  • Qualitative methods
  • Remote sensing 
  • Spatial statistics

Research within the department focuses on geographic methods, globalization, social justice and sustainability. Graduate students play an active role in sponsored research projects. As a graduate of the Geographic Information Systems PSM, you will be prepared to take the Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) certification exam and participate in professional GIS work. 

A student works on a mapping project in the GIS studio.

Our Community

The College of Liberal Arts at Temple comprises many academic disciplines and research areas. Now more than ever, an interdisciplinary liberal arts education is invaluable for your future pursuits. It offers the opportunity to further push your drive to create real change in the world, here at Temple and beyond. In this graduate program, you’ll work closely with diverse faculty members who are highly esteemed in their field and with a curious, passionate community of peers.  

Program Format & Curriculum

Students have three years to satisfy the requirements of the Geographic Information Systems PSM program on a full- or part-time basis with classes offered after 4:30 p.m. on Temple’s Main Campus.

The 30-credit hour Geographic Information Systems PSM curriculum emphasizes job-ready practical skills including scientific writing, verbal communication, presentation skills and critical thinking. Completion of the degree requires core coursework, four electives and a GIS Capstone course. The capstone project provides an experiential and industry-relevant internship consisting of 140 hours and the creation of an original GIS-focused project.

Core courses include the following.

  • Advanced Statistics for Urban Applications
  • Cartographic Design
  • GIS Ethics and Professional Practice
  • GIS Programming
  • Spatial Database Design

Learn more about Geographic Information Systems PSM courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Related Graduate Certificates

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, this Professional Science Master's offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. These tuition costs apply to the 2023–2024 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $1,053.00 per credit
Out-of-state: $1,449.00 per credit

You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

LA-GIS-PSM

Additional Program Information