Master of Science in Geographic Information Science - Global and Community Health Applications

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.

The concentration in GIS for Community and Global Health Applications is intended for students interested in applications of geospatial technologies in areas of community and global health. The program is aimed at individuals who plan to work as GIS Analysts/Specialists in international health organizations (such as WHO, International Red Cross), federal, state and local government agencies (CDC, FEMA, state and municipal health departments), NGOs (Partners in Health, Planned Parenthood, etc.) or research organizations and Universities (Schools of Public Health, Health GIS Research Labs).

Putting information into a spatial context allows exploring the spatial relationships among health and behavior indicators, health outcomes, environmental risk factors, and demographic and cultural characteristics at a particular location. GIS and remote sensing allow visualizing and analyzing spatial patterns of disease distribution, accounting for spatial dependencies in the data, and investigating how health outcomes and processes that drive them differ from place to place. GIS maps may indicate connections and trends that would be otherwise not readily apparent, if the data were not integrated together via spatial overlays. Graduates with this concentration will have a solid understanding of health issues facing communities (both domestic and global), and of the policy environments affecting global and community health. They will also develop competency in a wide range of GIS analytical methods, with particular emphasis on techniques applicable to community and global health issues.