Program Overview

Master of Spatial Analysis Program

The Master of Spatial Analysis (MSA) program is a graduate program offered by the Department of Geography at Toronto Metropolitan University. The program was one of the two founding graduate programs at the university and was granted full university status by the Province of Ontario in 1993.

Program Objectives

The MSA program aims to provide students with a comprehensive education in spatial analysis, including the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and geospatial data. The program is designed to prepare students for careers in professional fields, such as GIS analysis, database analysis, market analysis, business analysis, crime analysis, and planning.

Program Structure

The program structure consists of four mandatory core courses, two field-specific electives, a part-time internship placement, and an academically rigorous major research paper. The program is offered on a full-time and part-time basis, with a one-year full-time option and a two-year part-time option.

Fields of Study

The program offers three fields of study:

• Business information analysis
• Physical/landscape analysis
• Social and community information analysis

Internship Placements

Internship placements have been developed with a number of GIS and geospatial data vendors, major banks, retailers, real-estate developers, municipal and provincial government, non-government organizations, conservancies, environmental consultants, and hospitals.

Research Areas

MSA students have been involved in numerous research projects with their supervisors, including those funded by the GEOIDE Network of Centres of Excellence, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

Career Opportunities

MSA students are regularly finding employment before or immediately after graduation, including as GIS analysts and developers, database analysts, market analysts, business analysts, crime analysts, and planners in any of the three broad fields of application.

Program History

The MSA program was developed jointly with the University of Toronto and was approved as a Master of Spatial Analysis program with a unique degree designation of "MSA". The program has undergone periodic appraisal and has been successful in establishing a strong reputation in the field of spatial analysis.

Program Milestones

• The program was granted full university status by the Province of Ontario in 1993.
• The program was approved as a Master of Spatial Analysis program with a unique degree designation of "MSA" in 2000.
• The program's intake increased to 15-25 new full-time and part-time students each year under the direction of Dr. Shuguang Wang, Dr. Beth Carlson, and Dr. Claus Rinner.
• The 100th MSA graduate was celebrated in the fall of 2008, and the 200th graduation is expected for fall 2012.

Program Mission

The MSA program embodies the special mission of Toronto Metropolitan University to advance "applied knowledge and research to address societal need", and to offer "programs of study that provide a balance between theory and application and that prepare students for careers in professional fields".