Department of Geography

Admissions | MS in GIS

The M.S. in GIS equips students with hands-on training in geospatial technologies and professional knowledge to become a GIS professional or advance GIS career. The Graduate GIS Certificate provides an accessible and flexible GIS curriculum for students entering the geospatial industry. All GIS Certificate credits can be used toward the MS in GIS degree to form a stackable GIS training path.

For admission to graduate study for the GIS MS degree, a student normally should have completed the minimum preparation for an undergraduate major in geography or GIS science-related fields with a 3.00 GPA in all work. Students with majors in other fields are encouraged to apply; normally such students are admitted on a conditional basis and required to take courses to remedy deficiencies.

Admissions Requirements

  • Meet PSU's minimum requirements
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
  • Prerequisites are GEOG 380, 496 and 488, or equivalents:
    • GEOG 380 Maps and Geographic Information or equivalent
    • GEOG 496 Introduction to Spatial Quantitative Analysis or STAT 243 AND 244 or equivalent (G 423 Statistics and Data Analysis in the Geosciences may be substituted)
    • GEOG 488 Geographic Information Systems I: Introduction (4 credits) or equivalent (G 424 Geographical Informational Systems for the Natural Sciences or USP Geographic Information Systems for Planners may be substituted)

Deadlines

MS in GIS students can be admitted in the fall, winter or spring terms.

  • Fall Term: May 1
  • Winter Term: October 15
  • Spring Term: January 15

Applications submitted after the deadline won't guarantee admission to the applied term.

How to Apply

New Students

New students who have not yet applied to PSU must first apply to PSU.

Start Your Application about this content

 

Current Students

If you are currently enrolled in a PSU graduate program, you do not need to submit the online university application. Instead, fill out a GO-19 Request for Change of Program Form and submit it with the departmental application materials.

Departmental GO-19 Guide about this content

Application Materials

Below is the list of the materials and information you will need to provide as part of your application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

  • Essay: In 2-3 pages, please tell us why you are interested in graduate work in the PSU Geography Department, what you understand the field to be, and where your greatest interests are within geography and GIS.
  • GIS Portfolio: A digital copy of your GIS portfolio that showcases your skills in geospatial technologies, including GIS, remote sensing, cartography, and/or surveying. We also accept online e-Portfolios. However, it is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that the e-Portfolio is accessible to the admission committee. 
  • References: Submit contact information for at least three individuals who can comment on your academic performance or attest to your skills as they pertain to your selected program of study. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms.
  • Copies of transcripts from each college or university attended (other than Portland State)
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
Start Your Application about this content

Contact

If you have questions, contact Geoffrey Duh at jduh@pdx.edu.