New students can start a degree or certificate during the Fall or Spring semesters. We accept applications on a rolling basis until 1 week before the semester starts. Current online students in other OU graduate programs can add a certificate in Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters.
Fall 2024
August 12, 2024
Spring 2025
January 6, 2025
$985 per credit includes fees and software. Textbook costs are additional in some classes. Learn more
(405)-325-5325
Geospatial technologies are on the cutting edge of data management, not just in geography and environmental sustainability industries, such as planning, surveying, GIS, and geointelligence, but also for professionals in diverse sectors like ecology and wildlife conservation, agriculture, energy, real estate, business, insurance, construction management, law enforcement, emergency management, and supply chain and logistics. Our programs can bolster and advance skills for those who already have a background in geospatial technology, but they also are designed to support skills development for those who have no existing knowledge of GIS or other geospatial technology. Unlike other programs, we do not require students to have preexisting work or academic experience, nor do we require remedial coursework before starting the program for those who do not have preexisting knowledge and training.
Our online students are Sooners first, online students second. What this means for the student is that the curriculum and instructors are the same as if you were sitting in the classroom in Norman, but you can access the courses on a schedule designed for working professionals. Bring world-class instructors and their research, experience, and knowledge out of their classroom and into your home. Unlike some online programs that are totally asynchronous and leave you feeling like you are teaching yourself, all courses include optional weekly meetings online to allow you to interact with your professors and classmates. Best of all, your transcript and diploma will not indicate this was an online degree. You receive the same degree as in-person students, and we encourage you to come to Norman to celebrate with us upon completion of that degree.
12 credits (4 classes). Can be completed in as little as 2 semesters.
Options to focus on GIS or Remote Sensing. Credits will transfer to the MS.
33 credits (11 classes). Can be completed in as little as 5 semesters.
Coursework includes GIS, Remote Sensing, Drone Imagery, Quantitative Analysis and Spatial Programming. Students will improve their professional development skills, build career networks, and complete an independent research project as part of the coursework.
This is a fully online program that is designed for working professionals. Taking 1-2 courses at a time allows you to maintain a balance between your career, your education, and your life.
100% Online with optional weekly online class meetings
12 credits for Certificate (fully transferrable to MS)
33 credits for MS
$985 a credit hour
As little as 2 semesters for Certificate and 5 semesters for MS. Time to completion is flexible for your schedule.
From aerial and satellite remote sensing imagery to the Global Positioning System, computerized geographic information systems are revolutionizing the way business, science, and government policy is carried out. Geospatial technologies have become a driving force for decision making across the globe.
With the mission to foster the insights, technical skills, and advanced training in geospatial technologies, the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oklahoma offer the online Master of Science and Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Technology* program. Representing the intersection of geography and technology, the program's curriculum was specifically designed to provide students with the theoretical and practical geospatial technology skills needed to advance in this rapidly growing field of study. An advanced degree from OU in geospatial technologies prepares you to leverage new technologies to support governmental, environmental, business, and societal decision-making affecting the future of our planet.
*The full name of the degree program is online Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Sustainability with a concentration in Geospatial Technologies. Graduates of the program will receive a Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Sustainability diploma.
Director of Graduate Studies, Assistant Professor, Director of Online Programs
Interim Department Chair
Students who want to focus on a few core concepts, prepare for professional level certification exams, or are considering a M.S. path may opt for a Certificate track. The online Certificate in Geospatial Technology* program is 12 credit hours and can be completed in two semesters.
The faculty who teach the classes online are the same world-class professors and industry professionals that you would encounter in a traditional classroom on the OU campus.
Assignments are designed by the instructors who are teaching the course. We never use free tutorials that you can already access to develop your skills. We value the money you spend on tuition and provide high-quality return on investment.
Even though you take your classes online from your home or office, your curriculum is the same as those students in the degrees offered on campus.
Your coursework is designed by renowned professors to reflect the cutting edge of geospatial knowledge. Students leave the program familiar with multiple geospatial technology software packages, as well as the coding languages R and Python. You will explore contemporary literature in the field, learn the newest skills, and engage with the latest software to advance your geospatial technologies skills in a diversity of areas.
The University of Oklahoma has a long history of serving the community and welcoming all who want to learn. Our program is military-friendly and we welcome students who have served or are currently serving in the military. We also are proud to continue OU's long heritage in serving indigenous Nations and welcome applicants from indigenous backgrounds seeking to support the geospatial needs of their communities.
Whatever your community, we want you to be a part of Sooner Nation and our program. We have solutions to meet your needs.
We place a premium on creating community among the students in the program, the OU faculty, and the geospatial professionals you meet through your classes. In each class, you are offered a weekly live session where you meet with your classmates and the professor. Live sessions do not fit with your schedule? No problem, asynchronous options are also available. We want you to use this program to not only advance your skills, but also to grow your professional network. The contacts you make in this program will continue with you as you advance in your career goals.
In addition to expanding your geospatial technology technical expertise, we also support you to get the career you want by helping you develop a portfolio, improve your resume, and expand presentation and writing skills.
Our program understands the demands of working professionals that are trying to balance work, home, and school at the same time. You are never taking more than two classes at once. If you want to take classes at a slower pace, we can help you do that. Need to take a semester off? We will help you jump back in where you left off so that you do not lose momentum toward your goal.
In this program you are not just an online student. You are a Sooner first, last, and always. Your diploma and transcript do not indicate you are an online student. You are always welcome to stop by the department and campus for a visit or tour. And when you complete the program, we invite MS graduates to join us in Norman and walk across the stage with all your fellow grads, joining a Sooner alumni network that spans across the globe.
Students in online programs have access to excellent student services including tutoring, mental health support, career services, and full access to the OU Library system through Sooner Express which can deliver books to your home.
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