Program Overview

UMBC's Master in Professional Studies (M.P.S.): Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is for early to mid-career professionals interested in an understanding of GIS that goes beyond “GIS as a tool for analysis”. This forward-looking program is developing the next generation of GIS professionals: those that have a fundamental understanding of the importance of geography as well as an advanced knowledge of the technologies involved in the end-to-end development of advanced Geographic Information Systems.

The two-year program provides students with the knowledge, tools and techniques of database management, application development, and analytical assessment to appropriately address GIS requirements and answer spatial questions. Upon completing the program, students will be able to demonstrate technical leadership in planning, implementing, and managing the enterprise GIS.

The curriculum addresses five specific areas:

  • Advanced Analytical Methods and Tools
  • Enterprise Systems Management
  • GIS Application Development
  • GIS Databases
  • Reflection on Professional Practice

UMBC also offers a Professional Graduate Certificate in GIS, consisting of five courses (15 credits). The Professional Graduate Certificate is designed to provide students with a set of core technical and analytical tools which reflect the technical interdependence of the GIS career field. Students are able to earn this certificate first and then choose to transfer all of the credits into the M.P.S. program.

Click HERE for your copy of the UMBC-Shady Grove GIS Program Guide.