MGIS Courses

Courses for the master's of geographic information science program are divided into three broad categories:

  • Required courses provide both conceptual/theoretical underpinnings and practical/technical skills for a comprehensive, well-rounded knowledge of geographic information science (GIS), including an introductory seminar for entering students (GIS 8501).
  • Elective courses allow students to focus on technical and conceptual courses that match their geospatial interests and career goals.
  • Outside courses provide additional breadth to the program by allowing students to take courses related to their area of interest. Students also have the option to add a graduate minor in a related field.

For a full listing of these courses, look under the Requirements tab of the MGIS program section of the graduate catalog. The outside courses listing gives examples of courses that can be used to fulfill this requirement. Alternative outside courses may be taken with approval from the director of graduate studies. For example, our students have taken courses in computer science, business analytics, environmental science, public health, and graphic design (GDES).  

Additional GIS Course Information

Course registration takes place through your MyU account. Active students can access all necessary information (for example, financial information, course materials, and other resources) after first logging into their MyU account. If you are not an active student at the University but interested in gaining some GIS training, it is possible to register on a course-by-course basis as a non-degree seeking student.

We have compiled a list of our fall and spring GIS course offerings for 2025-26 as a guideline to when key MGIS required and elective courses are offered on a semester basis. Please note that the course schedule may be subject to change depending on faculty leaves, inability to predict course offerings in other departments and other factors.

Additionally, U-Spatial offers several useful GIS courses through its training program and other GIS activities at the University of Minnesota. They also maintain a list of GIS courses offered on campus.