Ƶ’s Online GIS Master’s Program Among Nation’s Best
Professor Jason VanHorn works with a student operating a drone.
Ƶ’s online master’s program in Geographic Information Science (GIS) is punching well above its weight. The most recent rankings , a leading independent education organization, ranks Ƶ’s program 14th in the nation.
The GIS program is ranked alongside top R1 schools like Johns Hopkins, UW-Madison, NC State, and USC. It’s the top ranked program in Michigan and the top-ranked program for its size, with all schools in the Top 15 at least twice Ƶ’s enrollment, some more than 20 times its size.
“Salary, retention, graduation rates, all of those things matter in getting a ranking,” said Jason VanHorn, professor of GIS and director of the GIS master's program. “So, to see us ranked inside the Top 15 lets me know a couple of things. First, our grads are succeeding, and secondly it indicates we have a strong set of offerings given we are ranked alongside the top GIS masters programs around the country.”
Built for success
The program is seven courses long, with each course capturing as many of the GIS&T Body of Knowledge concepts and sections as possible. The program is also intentionally project-based, with at least one hands-on project in every single course.
“Ƶ provides a very well rounded and robust set of skills, but more importantly builds a very strong understanding of those skills. You learn not just one way to do something, but multiple methods and why one method may be better than another in various circumstances,” said Liam Ferraby ‘20, who is working full-time in Ohio while going through the online program part-time. “When it comes to navigating complex problems where knowledge is lacking, I feel comfortable that I will be able to figure out possible solutions and determine the best course of action.”
Added value
Ferraby also appreciates both that Ƶ is a Christian institution and has a small student-to-faculty ratio, a combination not seen among any other school in the Top 15.
“Students have access to Christ-centered faculty who are also world-class experts in GIS and academic geographers that deliver the technical skills within a broad conceptual framework,” said VanHorn. “The professors bring real-world experience and a virtue-driven approach to every class to ensure students develop the skills and virtues needed for career success and to utilize GIS to make a meaningful impact in this world.”
Students who want to earn a master’s degree in GIS can either complete their undergraduate degree and enter into the MGIS program or apply for early acceptance which allows a student in their senior year to take one of the graduate MGIS courses (This is called the 4+1 early acceptance option.)
