Program Overview

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Geographic Information Science, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy program in geographic information science fosters training of the next generation of scientists and engineers, enabling them to excel in theoretical, computational, analytical and technical knowledge in transdisciplinary geospatial sciences.

Program Description

Students in this doctoral program have the opportunity to conduct research at the Spatial Analysis Research Center alongside distinguished faculty specializing in remote sensing and earth observation, GIS, geoinformatics, spatial statistics and spatial-temporal analysis. Researchers are investigating a variety of issues, including voting habits, health crises, altering landscapes and more --- all in an effort to better understand this complex and changing world.

At a Glance

• College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• An oral comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation
• Required Core (12 credit hours)
  • GCU 585 Geographic Research Design and Proposal Writing (3)
  • GIS 520 GIScience Issues and Debates (3)
  • GIS 521 Geographic Information Science Programming (3)
  • GIS 571 Spatial Statistics for Geography and Planning (3)
• Electives or Research (55 credit hours)
  • Remote Sensing (3 credit hours)
  • Other Requirements (2 credit hours)
    • GCU 591 or GPH 591 Seminar: Geography Colloquium (2)
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
  • GIS 799 Dissertation (12)
• Additional Curriculum Information
  • Students select electives, remote sensing and other requirements seminar coursework in consultation with their academic advisor.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements:
  • All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in geography, geology, earth science, computer programming, GIS, environmental science, geomatics or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Written statement
  • Professional resume
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: December 15

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Analyze scholarly literature associated with a research question for their doctoral research.
• Create a dissertation proposal that clearly demonstrates significance, innovation, and a scientifically justified approach to address a novel research question.
• Apply appropriate advanced research methodology in geographic information sciences to their doctoral research

Career Opportunities

Professionals with expertise in geospatial information science research, theory and practice are in high demand across sectors and industries, including in institutions of higher education, consulting firms and government agencies. Skills in geographical data science, mapping and data analysis are valuable to businesses and institutions that rely on data-driven approaches to solve complex problems.

• Career examples include:
  • Computer scientist
  • Conservation scientist
  • Geoscientist
  • Geospatial information scientist or technologist
  • Geospatial intelligence analyst
  • Remote sensing scientist or technologist

Research Areas

• GIS
• Physical Geography
• Remote Sensing
• Spatial Statistics
• CyberGIS
• Earth Observation
• Geographical Analysis
• Geography
• Geoinformatics
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Spatial-temporal analysis

Additional Information

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension. The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.