Geographic information science | Geospatial habitat assessment application area
Master of Science
Explore the science of space and place
From contributing to research projects on polar meteorology and remote sensing in arctic environments to understanding human adaptation to climate change in high altitudes, geographic information science (GIS) scholars are helping to solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
As a GIS graduate student, you’ll gain the technical skills to monitor natural disasters, assess climate change solutions, inform environmental decisions and more. Expand your career while deepening your understanding of spatial technologies, datasets and models. You’ll take a core set of advanced GIS courses and have access to research labs equipped for your area of specialization. Students pursuing the geospatial habitat assessment area will explore GIS principles in relation to landscape ecology, remote sensing, wildland habitat ecology and more.
With a thesis and non-thesis option, this program is well-suited for working students. Depending on your transfer credits, you can complete this degree in two semesters or take one course each semester.
Overview
Related Topics
Coordinated learning
Application information
Applicants for the M.S. in geographic information science, geospatial habitat assessment area program must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:
- Education level: Bachelor's
- GPA: 3.0
- GRE: No
- TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo: 79/6.5/115 (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language)
- Number of references: Three
Program availability
- Concentration: thesis and non-thesis
- Semester intake: Summer, Fall and Spring
- Eligible for 4+1 admission
- Eligible for expedited admission
- Eligible for international admission
- Deadlines: general application deadlines
Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.
Contact information
Earth and Spatial Science department contact:
Alistair Smith
alistair@uidaho.edu
Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001
Find Department of Earth and Spatial Sciences faculty advisors.
Costs, funding and research
To learn about various ways to fund your graduate degree, check out Graduate Funding.
For detailed information about the cost of attendance, visit Financial Aid.
Beginning Fall 2026, M.S. students appointed as Teaching Assistants will receive an annual support package that includes:
- Base stipend: $18,985.20 for the 9-month academic year
- In-state tuition: fully covered by the program
- Out-of-state tuition: waived for non-resident students
- Health insurance: fully covered
- Summer support: additional scholarship up to $8,000, depending on funding availability
Degree fit
This degree could be a good fit if you:
- Want to advance your career in environmental science
- Need to keep pace with technological advances in the field
- Like to choose your academic pace
- Want to continue working while you earn your degree
- Enjoy low student-to-teacher ratio
Related clubs and organizations
- Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)
- Geoclub
- Super Group
Real-world experience
Many of your courses will include a lab, and you’ll also have opportunities to contribute to faculty research projects, including:
- Polar meteorology and remote sensing in arctic environments
- Regional climate change in the western United States
- Forest disturbances and environmental change
- Human adaptation to climate change in high latitudes
- Natural resource applications of GIS in quantifying carbon fluxes
Career outcomes
Current job openings
587 in ID, WA, OR, MT and HIPotential careers and mid-career salaries
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
$115,833 - GIS Technicians
$116,707 - Remote Sensing Technicians
$56,025 - Urban and Regional Planners
$91,840 - Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
$85,793
* Career data provided by Lightcast.