Curriculum & Course Sequence

The Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems at Elmhurst requires the successful completion of 10 courses for a total of 7.50 credits (30 semester hours).

The program also fulfills the educational requirements of the GISP (certified GIS professional). Curriculum will develop geospatial skill sets in correlation with the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM), as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Geospatial Technologies Center of Excellence (Geo Tech Center).

AGS 500 may be waived, per the program director’s discretion, for the following students:

• Individuals who hold a baccalaureate degree in geography, geospatial technologies or geographic information systems, which emphasizes basic skills of the current GIS software.
• Individuals with professional experience in the geospatial industry who are using the current GIS software.

Required Courses

• AGS 500 Fundamentals of Geospatial Technologies
• AGS 510 Remote Sensing Technologies
• AGS 520 Geospatial Programming
• AGS 530 Principles of Geodatabases
• AGS 540 Spatial Analysis and Web Mapping
• AGS 550 Advanced Spatial Analysis
• AGS 560 Graduate Internship Experience (current work/employment time may be extended and enhanced to fulfill internship with permission of program director)
• AGS 580 E-Portfolio and Research Symposium
• AGS 590 Geospatial Thesis or AGS 592 Geospatial Capstone Project in MS-GIS (for educators: AGS 591 Geospatial Capstone Project with Specialization in Human Geography)
• One approved elective:
  • MBA 509 Project Management (MBA course for Professional Science Master’s credential or sub-discipline elective)
  • AGS 554 Geopolitics and Geospatial Intelligence

Program Format

• Can be completed in two years
• Offered fully online
• Eight-week sessions
• Flexible enough to accommodate the schedules of professionals with work and family commitments

GIS Server

Students in Elmhurst’s GIS program may access ESRI ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro software with all extensions simply by logging in to the University server from any computer, including a Mac, with Internet access and the remote desktop connection Citrix Receiver. The server does the high-end processing so students do not require a robust computer to experience high performance.

Graduation Requirements

Graduates of the master’s program select between writing a thesis (AGS 590) or completing a capstone project (AGS 592), both of which require the application of GIS analysis in researching an issue or developing a use of GIS at the industry level. Educators who participate in the program complete the degree by submitting an article about the use of GIS in education (AGS 591), including a specific technology application, to a juried educational journal.

Sample Course Sequence

Elmhurst University reserves the right to modify courses, schedules and program format without advance notice to students.