Johns Hopkins University

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a dynamic and versatile technology that enables visualization, analytics, and data management capabilities for an increasingly wide spectrum of industries. It has come to play a key role in empowering decision-makers, helping them understand various processes and make well-informed decisions. It is used in diverse fields, such as environmental planning, law enforcement, defense and intelligence, business, utilities, telecommunications, economic development, transportation, public health, and many others. It is this dynamism that the Johns Hopkins University GIS programs encompass in their offerings, the Master of Science in GIS and the Certificate in GIS.

These two programs are fully online and provide a strong foundational education that delves into the principles and real-world applications of geospatial technology, allowing students to build their credentials and capitalize on a marketplace that continues to grow in its demand for skilled employees. The Master of Science in GIS is designed to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals and data scientists, skilled in all facets of geospatial technology, including programming and application development, geospatial data science, spatial and predictive analytics, visualization, big data technologies, enterprise GIS administration, and project management.

Both programs are designed for students who have little or no knowledge of the GIS field, as well as students with prior experience. Students entering either program will be introduced to the most widely used commercial software, as well as open-source software, often utilizing cloud computing infrastructure. Hands-on experience is emphasized and students in the program can expect to work on real-world geospatial scenarios.

Students in the Master of Science program could choose to follow one of two focus areas or customize the degree to suit career goals. The focus areas are general recommendations of logical course groupings that could be pursued. The goal is to maintain flexibility for the GIS program and allow students to choose courses that best fulfill their own interests.