Geospatial analysis is a growing expertise with applications for a wide variety of fields and industries, including climate adaptation, retail and business location, spatial epidemiology, urban and environmental planning, and any other discipline in which spatially referenced data informs prediction and decision making. The Department of Geography and Urban Studies offers graduate work leading to the Professional Science Master’s (P.S.M.) degree in Geospatial Data Science. The program combines advanced training in data science and GIS core skills with professional development and business ethics to prepare students to enter the workforce. Our courses introduce students to statistical and computer programming and a variety of cutting-edge spatial analysis technology.
The Department of Geography and Urban Studies faculty have expertise in a range of GIS applications, including business, environment, geovisualization, health, location analysis, remote sensing, and urban. The program curriculum is informed by an advisory board of industry professionals and incorporates real-world experiences through project-based learning and an internship capstone requirement. The program is designed to attract professional data analysts seeking to deepen their understanding of the challenges of working with big geospatial data, as well as GIS specialists seeking to develop a more rigorous understanding of programming and statistics. Graduates are well prepared to pursue certification as a GIS professional (GISP).
Areas of Specialization: The program specializes in Geospatial Data Science and Geographic Information Systems and offers coursework in big data, geospatial programming, geovisualization, machine learning, and statistics. The Department offers students the opportunity to learn in research laboratory settings equipped with the latest technologies.
Job Prospects: The P.S.M. degree provides students with advanced technical knowledge and professional development for jobs in technology-based companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. The program trains a workforce that is highly competent to meet the challenges faced by public, regulated, and private sector industries and also adaptable to the future needs of industries. It provides access to a professional career, requiring both technical skills and professional development training in areas related to business, ethics, and policy. Students seek careers as data consultants, data scientists, geospatial engineers, and information officers.
September 2025
Temple University
1801 N Broad Street,
PHILADELPHIA,
Pennsylvania,
19122, United States
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree in any field is appropriate. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or an undergraduate GPA of 2.5 with 2 to 4 years of relevant professional experience is preferred.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
TOEFL iBT: 88
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 60
Application Deadline: Fall: March 1 – Application Deadline, July 1 – Late Application Deadline; Spring: November 1 – Application Deadline, December 7 – Late Application Deadline; Summer: April 15 – Application Deadline
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.