If your goal is to be a leader in the GIS field, our Master's in Geographic Information Science (GIS) is designed for you. The GIS master's program is a natural extension of our internationally recognized work on the frontier of geospatial technology, and we are pioneering the interpretation of remote sensing, mapping, and analytics, continually revealing new information about our world.
The M.S. in Geographic Information Science (GIS) is a collaboration among three areas of the university: the Graduate School of Geography, the Department of Sustainability and Social Justice (formerly IDCE), and Clark Labs, a leading developer of software-based geospatial solutions, founded and housed here at Clark University. The TerrSet/IDRISI platform developed at Clark Labs has quickly become one of the most widely used GIS systems in the world and is shaping approaches to geospatial problem-solving.
Our students work closely with faculty experts to research, assess, and apply inventive geospatial approaches to some of the most pressing societal challenges. We work at the leading edge of areas such as conservation GIS, land-use change, public health, environmental justice, food security and humanitarian assistance, and earth systems information science. Our four concentration tracks provide an opportunity to study these topics at even greater depth, positioning you for immediate impact upon graduation.
International students who graduate with a STEM degree may be eligible to work in the U.S. for up to 36 months on Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Clark's master's degree in GIS combines rigorous academics with widely varied, highly applied learning opportunities. Our two-year program offers ample opportunities to take what you learn in the classroom and put it to work in the wider world through creative engagements with communities, nonprofits, government, and the private sector. By working hands-on with partners, you gain valuable experience applying theories and implementing your creative solutions to complex problems.
The M.S./GIS program requires the completion of 12 course units, including a series of required courses, prerequisites and electives that vary according to the concentration.
Conservation GIS is concerned with the application of Geographic Information Systems and related geospatial technologies to the needs of Conservation Biology, Landscape Ecology, Wildlife Management and Conservation Planning. The MSGIS in Conservation Applications builds upon the history of close partnerships between Clark University and Clark Labs with organizations such as Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Through these relationships, for example, Clark Labs has developed a distinctive set of geospatial software tools for Conservation such as the Land Change Modeler, the Habitat and Biodiversity Modeler, the Climate Change Adaptation Modeler, the Ecosystem Services Modeler and the Earth Trends Modeler. Clark is also in the process of becoming the home of the New England chapter of the Society for Conservation GIS.
The objectives of the Master of Science in Conservation Applications are to gain spatial analysis skills required in ecological and conservation applications including: vector and raster spatial data analysis, analysis of image time series, remote sensing applied to environmental monitoring, GIS programming skills, spatial conservation planning, spatial modeling of species distributions, and effective map communication.
