Geospatial Information Science and Technology
The Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology (MGIST) is a non-thesis, professional degree program that equips students with the necessary knowledge and tools to become high-end geospatial professionals. Graduates lead North Carolina and the nation in both the development of new tools to model and manage spatial phenomena and in the management and application of geospatial technology to a wide array of public, private and nonprofit venues. The curriculum is built on theory, innovation and experiential learning, covering many essential topics from professionalism and ethics, spatial data science and analytics, to geospatial IT and server deployment.
The MGIST can be completed entirely online, allowing flexibility for both students just entering the workforce and working professionals. The program also admits a small number of hybrid on-campus students each year. The schedule, structure, expectations, and rigor of the program are identical, whether you are on campus or in the online program.
Students in the MGIST program also receive the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) designation on their transcript upon graduation. The PSM program is a nationally recognized program focusing on preparing professionals with both the technical and professional skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. The NC State PSM Program and the National PSM Organization provide valuable resources for students in PSM degree programs, including mentoring, professional development workshops, and other resources.
Eligibility
Admissions to the Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology (MGIST) is based on an applicant’s undergraduate and postgraduate educational background and professional experience. At a minimum, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree and an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. We accept students from a variety of undergraduate degrees, if you are unsure if yours qualifies, please contact us.
- Some basic experience with (these are preferred but not required):
- Basic Geographic Information Systems
- Introductory programming (in any language, but Python is taught in our program)
The most successful students usually have some previous exposure to GIS, either through coursework, work experience or a combination. Generally, an undergraduate course or 1-2 years of using these skills in the workplace is sufficient. Professional experience is not required for admissions. For applicants concerned about not having one or more of these skills in place at the time of admission, the program may recommend one or more courses to be completed during the first semester of enrollment (or students may consider taking courses as a non-degree student prior to admissions to gain these skills). Please address these skills in your personal statement and resume/CV.
A full application consists of:
- Graduate School Application (indicate 'Distance Track' for the online program)
- Official transcripts from colleges and universities attended
- A resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation
Plan of Study
The Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology (MGIST) curriculum consists of at least 33 credit hours, 21 of which are required core courses. The additional 12 credit hours are electives and allow the student to focus on related areas of interest to supplement their GIS instruction and professional skills development. As part of the program students will complete a Capstone project and develop a Professional Portfolio.
Students are required to take at least one course per semester (fall and spring) for the duration of the program (unless financial aid or other considerations require half-time (4.5 hours) or full-time (9 hours) status). Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater in order to graduate. It typically takes a minimum of 4 semesters (2 academic years) to complete the appropriate sequence of courses. Students have a maximum of 6 years to complete the program.
Courses cover theory, application, and back-end development relevant for today's geospatial professionals using both open source and ESRI tools, including but not limited to:
- Geospatial professionalism and ethics
- Geospatial programming and customization
- Modeling, analytics, and spatial data science
- Data structures and management
- Geospatial web and mobile services
- Geovisualization
- Geospatial IT and server deployment and management
- Professional skills and client-based projects
Capstone Experience
An integral part of the Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology (MGIST) program is participation in a Capstone project during the last semester of the program. Students work directly with community and industry partners to apply the knowledge and skills they have developed in the program to real-world problems. The program works closely with each student to identify an appropriate project based on our partner’s needs and the interests of the individual students. Students present their final project to their peers and the greater geospatial community during our Digital Symposium.
Professional Portfolio
All students are also required to produce a professional digital portfolio. The digital portfolio will present personal MGIST program accomplishments to demonstrate individual competencies through the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a geospatial science professional.
Residential Component
A unique aspect of our online Master of Geospatial Information Science and Technology (MGIST) program is an emphasis on building relationships between our online students, faculty, and on-campus students. We feel this is an extremely important component of graduate education. It is important that our program provide a sense of community among our students, even those who may be studying in a different state or country. To facilitate this interaction, our program requires that students come to campus on two occasions during the program.
The first is orientation at the start of the program designed to introduce faculty and advisors, bridge relationships between our new online and on-campus students, learn about the details of the program, and have fun together!
The second on-campus experience takes place at the end of the program during our Digital Symposium. Students graduating will be asked to participate in a symposium to present their Capstone projects to our community partners, and the geospatial community at NC State. It is a great networking and professional development opportunity for graduating students.
Career Prospects
The job market for individuals with GIS development and analytic skills is excellent and growing. For example, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency alone will require 7,000 analysts per year for the foreseeable future. The U.S. Department of Labor currently identifies the Geospatial Technology sector as one of 14 high-growth industries in dire need of new professionals and targeted with special funding to develop this workforce.
