Getting Started in GISc at DU

Whether joining our online or on-campus MS in geographic information science (GISc) program, here are some helpful resources to guide you through the application process.

If you have general questions about the application process or graduate admissions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission.

Quick links:

• General admission requirements for the online program
• General admission requirements for the on-campus program
• Graduate policies posted in the official bulletin include information on admission, application requirements and graduate student support services.

   

Applications and deadlines

To apply to the program go to the Graduate Studies Office of Admissions and apply online for admission to the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Be sure to specify whether you are applying to the online or traditional master's of science in geographic information science.

Applications are accepted on a year-round basis, however students are admitted and will start their program in either the fall or spring quarters

Application deadlines:

• January 30 (spring quarter admission deadline)
• July 18 (fall quarter admission deadline)

   

   

Requirements and prerequisites

• What are the GPA and GRE requirements for admission?

  Students must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better and a combined score of 300 or better on the qualitative and verbal sections of the GRE. 

  Students who complete the GIS certificate program through University College and earn a GPA of 3.5 or better can substitute their certificate GPA for either the undergraduate GPA requirement or the GRE requirement.

• How can I fulfill the statistics requirement for the online MS GISc program?

  Preparation for the graduate-level statistics course in the online MS GISc program is up to you. An undergraduate-level statistics course will be ample preparation, and you may have already taken one as an undergraduate student. If not, community colleges also offer statistics, usually year-round.

  GIS 4110 is an online statistics course offered through University College.

   

Transfer credits

• I earned the GIS certificate when courses were three credit hours. Will they transfer?

  Yes. You may transfer up to 24 GIS certificate program credit hours earned at DU to the online MS program.

• How many credits hours can I transfer from another university GISc program?

  No more than 10 credit hours will be accepted from another institution.

• Do non-GISc classes transfer toward the online MS?

  No. Only GISc-focused classes will transfer toward your MS program, and no more than ten (10) transfer credits will be accepted from another institution.

   

Online GIS certificate and MS program

• What is the GIS certificate?

  Online students should complete the GIS certificate before applying to the online master's program. In the online MS program, most electives and one required course (remote sensing) are only offered through the certificate program.

  In addition, you earn a GPA of 3.5 in the GIS certificate program and had an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0, the GRE requirement for the online MS program will be waived.

  The GIS certificate is offered through University of Denver's University College.

• Will the GIS certificate program classes transfer to the online MS program?

  Yes. All of your certificate classes will transfer (up to 24 credit hours). However, if you are taking GIS 4101 or GIS 4110 to fulfill the admission prerequisite, these credit hours are not counted toward your MS GISc degree.

  If you take GIS 4700 (Remote Sensing) in the certificate program, it will transfer toward the GEOG 3200 MS program requirement. Other certificate courses will transfer as electives.

• What is the difference between a GIS class and a GEOG class?

  Classes with the prefix GIS are offered through the University College GIS certificate program. Classes with the prefix GEOG are offered through the Department of Geography and the Environment's MS program (online or on campus).