Master’s in GIS

Applied MS GIScience is a one-year fast-track program that provides students with the technical skills in Geospatial data management and analysis to enter the workforce. Students may opt to take the degree over a longer time period.

The GIS and spatial analytics market is projected to be worth $120 billion by 2027, and learning how to collect, integrate, and analyze geospatial data to support such applications as environmental planning, natural resource management, disaster mitigation, and health care will be key to success for FSU students now and into the future.

In FSU’s Geographic Information Science Master’s Program (MSGIS), students acquire technical and analytical skills being built upon geographic information systems, spatial analysis and modeling, remote sensing and digital image processing, and geovisualization, which propel them into careers across different sectors, from environmental protection, urban planning, and emergency management to public health and more)

*New for the 2023-2024 Academic Year*

The Geography Department is pleased to offer a limited number of scholarships ($4,000 per scholarship) to newly admitted MSGIS students for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Any person with a completed application meeting University requirements will be considered for the scholarship. Recipients will be selected based on a comprehensive review of their application materials in terms of their potential for contributing to the MS-GIS program. Selected recipients will be notified shortly after the application deadline, which is June 1, 2023 for Fall 2023.

The scholarship will be equally distributed over the two semesters within the academic year and contingent on satisfactory academic progress. These scholarships are merit-based and are only available for new beginning full-time students who enroll at least 9 hours for each of the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters in approved MSGIS courses. This scholarship is independent of any additional forms of University or Departmental funding.  For additional information on departmental funding please visit the MS GIS funding section below.

Admissions Deadlines

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Applicants from Ghana and Nigeria are now required to complete the WES evaluation for Fall 2023 and forward; WES will provide a report within 7 business days. For admitted students, the Graduate School will issue a Foundation scholarship in the amount of the WES evaluation to students who enroll and are in good academic standing after their first term.  For more information on WES, you can visit: https://www.wes.org/evaluations-and-fees/education/graduate-admissions/

Fall 2023 – International applicants are highly encouraged to apply by May 19 to ensure sufficient time for visa processing. The final deadline to apply is June 1.  
Spring 2024 – Admissions is now open. Deadline to apply is October 1.
Fall 2024 – Admissions will open November 1. The Deadline to apply is June 1.  

*International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications earlier due to the extended time for visa processing

Webinars

Please check back for information on dates and times for future webinars!

Program Requirements

The Masters in GIS is an in-person program and is not currently offered online or in the evenings. Please click here for program requirements. 

International Admissions

We welcome students from all over the world to join are program!  Please check out the International Admissions page to learn more about applying to FSU as an International student.

Funding

MS-GIS students are typically self-funded for all or most of the program, and no department funding is guaranteed. However, when departmental resources allow, we try to provide some form of financial support to our students. Please see below for additional information.

 *For any type of funding support offered ALL students are responsible for paying their own University Fees. 
Click here for information on Tuition and Fees.

Partial in-state tuition waivers may be available to unfunded students when department resources allow. Partial ​in-state tuition waivers are ​normally decided a few weeks prior to the start of each semester​; and are determined by the availability of department resources and the academic performance of the student in the program. Students will be informed by the department if they are receiving a partial in-state tuition waiver. International and out-of-state students will still be responsible for the out-of-state portion of tuition.

Departmental funding support may be provided to a small number of students in the form of a Teaching Assistantship each Fall or Spring semester; funding is per semester and is not automatically extended to future terms. Students will be informed if they have been selected for a funded Teaching Assistantship by the department a few weeks prior to each semester. These positions are determined based on the student’s academic performance in the program (e.g., GPA close to 4.0), educational and teaching credentials (such as holding a Master’s degree from an accredited university; prior TA experience), and the current teaching needs of the department. Students wishing to be considered for funding should highlight any prior teaching experience in their statement of purpose. For funded students, the current stipend is approximately $9,000 for one semester plus a 9 hour tuition waiver.

Transcripts

Unofficial Transcripts:

  • Unofficial Transcripts are required for your application to be reviewed. Please submit ALL unofficial transcripts from each College and/or University attended. Unofficial Transcripts must be translated to English for review. *Applications will show as incomplete until official transcripts have been submitted. Applications with incomplete status due to missing official transcripts will still be reviewed. 

Official Transcripts:

  • Official Transcripts are required for Admitted students and must be submitted prior to beginning classes. 

International Transcript Requirements

  • All transcripts/academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. 
  • To be considered “certified,” documents should be true copies that are signed and dated by an educational official familiar with academic records. Any translated record should be literal and not an interpretive translation. Documents signed by a notary or other public official with no educational affiliation will not be accepted. 
  • If the transcript/academic record does not indicate the degree earned and date the degree was awarded, separate proof of degree is required.

GRE Scores

FSU has waived the GRE requirement for Fall 2026 due to the COVID pandemic.
It is recommended to have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and GRE scores of at least 144 (Quant) and 153 (Verbal). However, Applications with lower GPA and GRE scores may also be accepted to the program.

Statement of Purpose

Please describe the following in 1-1.5 pages, single spaced:

  1. What is your motivation for applying to this program? How does this program of study advance your career interests? What is your previous experience working with GIS, remote sensing, statistics, and computer programming?
  2. If relevant, feel free to discuss obstacles or hardships that you had to overcome in order to succeed, and how you surmounted these obstacles.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation. The letters should be from faculty and/or employers familiar with your academic, research, or professional experience.  This may include but is not limited to education, work, volunteer, and/or internship experiences.

English Language Proficiency

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. Minimum scores required for admission and additional information can be found here. Applications are unable to be reviewed and will be cancelled if the minimum requirements are not met.

  • Exemptions: This requirement can be waived for students who have completed a Bachelors or Master’s Degree from a U.S. Institution or other Institution where English is the required language of Instruction. Exempt students who receive a teaching assistantship will still be required to take the Speak Exam, unless the citizenship is to a Native English Speaking country. 
  • SPEAK EXAM: The Geography Department requires ALL International students receiving appointments as Teaching Assistants to pass the SPEAK Exam. The Speak Exam evaluates the English-speaking ability of non-native speakers of English and is administered free of charge (First time) at Florida State University. 

Careers

Employers of graduates include many private software companies, as well as state and federal institutions (Environmental Protection AgencyDepartment of TransportationFish & Wildlife Conservation CommissionWater Management DistrictsNational Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyCensus Bureau and US Geological Survey). Check out current jobs at GIS Jobs ClearinghouseGIS JobsMy GIS Jobs and Geography Jobs. Learn about data science jobs at DiscoverDataScience.