Geography and geospatial science

M.S.
Online
delivery
$609 Based on current tuition rates. No additional charge for nonresident students. Does not include course materials and associated fees and expenses.†
per credit
3 This program starts in Fall, Winter and Spring terms.§
start terms

Technology reveals what a simple printed map never could. Oregon State University’s online M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science degree program connects the ancient discipline of geography with modern geospatial tools and techniques, uncovering insights you can apply to some of the world’s most pressing problems.

Learn to leverage field, laboratory and computational work to analyze geographic questions while building critical project management skills — such as data synthesis, clear communication and critical thinking — in a collaborative, non-thesis online program. Guided by Oregon State faculty with deep connections to regional, state and local agencies, you’ll be prepared for a rewarding career in ecological restoration, freshwater conservation, resilience-based resource management, sustainability and more.

Skills you’ll gain in OSU’s online geography and geospatial sciences master’s program

A mastery of both geography and geospatial science gives you transferable skills, broad employment potential and the capacity to identify and help solve a wide range of challenges in our rapidly changing world. As a student in Oregon State’s online M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science program, you’ll gain the in-demand skills you need to stand out in the job market and level up your career.

  • Geographic data analysis
  • Remote sensing principles and applications
  • Advanced spatial statistics
  • Web mapping
  • Hydrology for water resources management
  • Satellite image analysis
  • Political ecology
  • Conservation biology
  • Planning for resilient communities
  • Environmental assessment
Satellite image of the Mississippi Delta in Louisiana taken after Hurricane Ida

Program details

Three areas of faculty expertise shape the M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science program, including geospatial modeling, Earth system science and global change and resilience. You’ll learn to blend spatial data analysis and modeling techniques with Earth system science and gain the capacity to identify and help solve a wide range of ecological challenges.

The online M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science program is offered by Oregon State’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences.

Degree requirements

A total of 45 quarter credits is required to graduate with your M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science degree. Degree requirements and curriculum information are available on Oregon State's academic catalog.

A curved view of Earth and its atmosphere from space at night, showing city lights, clouds, and stars

Additional program features

Rather than complete a thesis, you'll take part in a rigorous capstone project that requires you to apply the skills and knowledge you’ve gained throughout the program to a focus area of your choosing in consultation with your faculty advisor.

Explore the detailed admissions information for the M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science program, including any application deadlines and required documents, on the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences website.

Students are admitted to this program three times per year, and you can begin your studies in fall, winter or spring. Visit Oregon State's academic calendar for term start dates.

Oregon State makes it possible for you to earn a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science online and apply all 19 credits directly toward the master’s degree in geography and geospatial science. This pathway makes it feasible to complete the master’s program in one year once you’ve earned the certificate.

Applying credits like this, an approach known as stacking, can help you build credentials over time and advance your career. It's also a great way to test a field of study through a series of courses before committing to a full degree program. For students like Ali Lanenga, stacking can make a journey to a degree feel more manageable.

You can gain highly specialized skills that are in demand by employers — and do it with less of a time and financial commitment — when you earn a certificate or microcredential online from Oregon State. Choose from a large collection of short-form offerings that can help you upskill quickly.

Careers in geography and geospatial science

The knowledge you acquire in Oregon State’s online M.S. in Geography and Geospatial Science degree program will help you fill in-demand jobs. You’ll graduate ready to pursue a meaningful career working for government, industry or non-governmental organizations. Graduates of this program possess the skills to address disaster risk assessment, land use planning, climate change, environmental hazards and justice, and natural resources challenges.

Job market outlook

Use the interactive tool on this page to discover employment trends, top occupations and salary details for professionals who have skills related to geography and geospatial science. Please be aware that completing a program related to the job market information shown here does not guarantee employment or a specific salary.