The MS-GIST / P-GIST Student Handbook provides an overview of program structure, academic expectations, key University systems, and student resources. It is intended to guide students from initial onboarding through degree completion by outlining policies, procedures, and essential points of contact within the School of Geography, Development & Environment and the University of Arizona.
Last updated: 8/19/2026
As you begin your journey to the completion of a professional degree or certificate in GIST, you are entering an exciting, growing, and crucially important field. Some of today’s most complex and pressing challenges are acutely spatial, ranging from environmental concerns such as global climate change, habitat destruction, deforestation, drought, to socio-cultural issues such as terrorism, human health, sustainability, urbanization, globalization, and resource consumption. As such, geographic information science will be a critical underpinning to research in both the natural and social sciences in the 21st century, allowing interdisciplinary collaboration and an understanding of the detailed spatial context of these phenomena in a way that has only recently become possible. Furthermore, geospatial technology has become ubiquitous, connecting underlying 80% of all digital data, and accessible to anyone in the world with a computer or mobile device. In fact, geospatial technologies are one of the fastest-growing industries today, offering numerous and varied employment opportunities across a broad range of applications.
Here at the University of Arizona, we believe that the best way to learn GIS and prepare to enter its workforce is through direct contact between professors, staff, and students, who forge a learning community that is not simply a transfer of information from a professor to a student, but is an interactive model of learning in which we help each other extend our knowledge. The focus on learner-centered education means that you cannot simply sit back, take tests, do lab work, and graduate. Rather, project-based learning is an integral part of this program. Geographic problem solving coupled with creative and critical thinking will develop your skill base. Peer interaction and professional critiques from your professors and your fellow students will hone your skills. Hands-on, real-world experiences will develop your time and project management skills, teach you data compilation and database design, help you learn how to choose the best analytical techniques to solve a given problem, and afford opportunities for the professional presentation of results. In the final analysis, what you put into the program is what you will get out of the program.
We are excited to begin this journey with you in the BS and MS GIST programs and PGIST certificate, and we challenge you to push yourself to expand your knowledge, skill base, and network to achieve your goals.
Welcome to the UAGIST Community.
Dr. Chris Lukinbeal
GIST Director
The faculty listed below serve as primary contacts for the MS-GIST programs and provide academic advising for students. Please direct program and advising questions to one of the faculty members listed here.
- Student Account (NetID)
- Used to access all University of Arizona services (e.g., email, UAccess, D2L)
- University Email
- The University of Arizona uses Outlook in Microsoft 365
- To access email - https://outlook.arizona.edu
- CatCard
- Official University of Arizona identification card
- Required for on-campus resources
- Physical/Apple Wallet/Google Wallet options
- D2L Brightspace
- The University of Arizona's Learning Management System (LMS)
- All courses and materials in GIST are accessed through D2L Brightspace
- The Cartographic Café
- The Cartographic Café (CC) is a digital GIS resource center available to all UA GIST students.
- Contains content and information designed to enhance students’ GIS education including modules on everything from GIS data, training, and job/internship postings to GIS community and networking resources to help develop students emerging GIS careers.
- Reach out to Andrew Grogan if you do not have access
- D2L Brightspace Notifications
- The Bell icon on the top right of D2L will indicate if new course content has been released.
- To set specific alerts to your email or mobile device, you can customize notifications for any topic of interest by clicking on your profile next to the bell icon.
- MS-GIST Listserv
- This Listserv is a primary method for communication across the MS-GIST community.
- You are automatically added to this listserv.
- Reach out to Andrew Grogan if you do not receive emails from the listserv.
- Stay connected with UA GIST Social Media
- Students should stay apprised of everything going on with the University of Arizona GIST Programs by keeping an eye on our many media outlets
- GIST Facebook Page: facebook.com/uagist (“Like” the Page!)
- GIST YouTube Channel
- GIST LinkedIn Page: linkedin.com/in/uagist
- GIST Podcast
The MS-GIST online program is a 30-credit hour program. The MS-GIST program offers two emphases as follow:
Timeline to Degree: The typical time to degree for either emphasis is five semesters, including summers. Most courses are offered in accelerated 7.5-week sessions, though the format of individual courses may vary. We generally recommend enrolling in two courses per semester to stay on track with this timeline.
Program Costs: You can view current tuition and fee details using the Bursar’s Tuition Calculator.
Courses/Schedule:
The MS-GIST Geospatial Analysis emphasis consists of seven required courses, one elective, and a capstone project course. Your individual course sequence will depend on your start term (Fall or Spring) and selected elective. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine the elective that best aligns with their professional goals and academic background.
The MS-GIST Geospatial Data Science emphasis consists of a prescribed set of required courses and a capstone project course. There are no electives in this emphasis, and this program only accepts students in the Fall semester.
Courses are offered in specific terms and may not be available every semester, so it is important to follow the recommended schedule to remain on track. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule an advising session during their first semester to review their plan of study and ensure timely progress through the program.
The Professional GIST (P-GIST) graduate certificate is available online, and full articulates with the MS-GIST Program. Students pick ANY 3 graduate GIST courses from the list below to customize the P-GIST Certificate.
Timeline to Degree: Because of the streamlined curriculum, the certificate can be completed in as little as one semester, depending on course availability and student enrollment plans. Students are encouraged to consult with an advisor to confirm scheduling and ensure timely completion.
Program Costs: You can view current tuition and fee details using the Bursar’s Tuition Calculator.
Transfer Credits from Another Institution
Due to the structure and requirements of the certificate and program, no transfer credits will be accepted to substitute for completion of any course in this curriculum.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To complete the MS-GIST degree, satisfactory academic progress must be maintained throughout the sequence of the curriculum. Satisfactory academic progress will be assessed through three main methods:
- Graded coursework
- Student assessments
- Successful completion of the GIST 909 Master's Project Paper and Presentation
If any of these requirements are not met, the degree will not be awarded until deficiencies are corrected and the student's progress is in accordance with University regulations.
Academic Probation
The MS-GIST Program follows the Graduate College policy on academic probation:
- Students must maintain a cumulative graduate 3.0 grade-point-average. If GPA falls below 3.00, the student is immediately placed on academic probation and must meet with an advisor to plan a course of action.
- Students on academic probation for two consecutive courses are removed from the program or certificate by the Graduate College and must re-apply for full readmission.
- A 3.00 average is required both throughout the program and for graduation.
Professionalism in the Program
The GIST programs and certificate are designed for working professionals, recently graduated students, and anyone seeking to apply GIS technology in a professional career. We do our best to accommodate students with demanding schedules and obligations.
This program strives to instill a professional environment that prepares students for the workforce. GIST students are expected to exhibit professionalism in the following ways:
- On-time submissions. Late assignments may incur a grade penalty, the severity of which depends on how late the submission is and the specific course.
- High-quality deliverables. Students should take pride in their work and consistently meet or exceed assignment expectations. Deliverables that are noticeably lacking in quality or accuracy will be penalized.
- Attention to detail. Misspellings, grammatical errors, improper labels, and similar mistakes will result in point deductions.
- Communication etiquette. Improper language or poor communication with GIST faculty and staff may impact final grades. Listserv usage is monitored by MS-GIST faculty and staff.
- Respect. Any disrespect toward classmates, MS-GIST Staff, or Faculty will result in a negative grade impact.
Student Appeal Policy
If a student wishes to appeal any of the aforementioned requirements, the appeal should be made in writing to the GIST Director. The appeal will be reviewed by the program faculty and may include a collective meeting with the student. The GIST Director will consult with the Director of the School of Geography, Development & Environment, and a decision will be rendered.
University Policies for Students
Graduate students at the University of Arizona are required to be familiar with policies related to them. Important policy links can be found in course syllabi and at the following resources:
- University Policy links are located on the Cartographic Café under the Content tab > University Policies.
- Professional development, health and wellness, and more: grad.arizona.edu/new-and-current-students
- Graduate College Policies and Procedures (fees, academic policies, admission, etc.): grad.arizona.edu/policies
- Graduate degree requirements (time limits, continuous enrollment, incompletes, and more): Master's Degrees | University of Arizona Graduate College
- University of Arizona grading policies: Grading Policies | Office of the Registrar
Advising, Mentoring, and Coursework Assistance
MS-GIST Faculty and Staff are here to support you throughout the one-year program. From the start of the program through your Master's Project, guidance is available by contacting any MS-GIST Staff member directly or attending their office hours.
Contact information and office hours for MS-GIST Staff will be listed here.
Conferences
Class education is only part of the philosophy in the MS-GIST Program; student participation and exploration in the GIS community is a major component in student success during and after our program. Students are encouraged to attend GIS-related conferences whenever possible during their time in the MS-GIST Program. There is a wealth of knowledge and networking contacts to be gained out in the real-world. Two primary conferences students should consider attending.
Esri Annual User's Conference – San Diego, CA (one week in July each year).
Students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Esri Student Assistantship Program which provides funding for students to attend with lodging and meals covered. Students will volunteer and participate in the annual conference using this program. You can apply here.
The Arizona Geographic Information Council (AGIC) Annual Symposium – Prescott, AZ (one week in August each year).
For the AGIC Conference, students can apply for the Tony Gonzales Scholarship which grants recipients free registration, lodging, and meals at the conference. More information will be available regarding these opportunities 1-3 months before the events and distributed via the GIST listserv announcements.
These are the main two conferences that we encourage students to attend, but there are many other conferences and conventions that students can choose to travel to, including the ESRI Developer's Summit, the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) Conference, the annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers (AAG), and others. Students miss out on valuable opportunities if they do not attend conferences and meetings.
Local:
In Tucson we have the GIS Co-op which holds local events in coordination with the Arizona Geographic Information Council. These Tucson GIS-Coop socials and meetings give you an opportunity to meet members of the local GIS community and gain insights to local GIS operations and opportunities.
National/Regional:
There are national level organizations which have national events, local and regional affiliations and offer student memberships to benefit from their resources including mentoring opportunities.
- American Association of Geographers (AAG)
- American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
- Geospatial Professionals Network
- Esri's Young Professional Network
You can find more information on these, and other, networking opportunities at GISDegree.org.
Internships, Volunteer, Project Work, Part/Full Time Employment
GIST curates and shares quite a few GIS career opportunities to include: volunteer, paid/unpaid internships/project work, and part-time and full-time GIS positions from a collection of affiliates, on and off campus, in Southern Arizona and regions across the United States.
These opportunities are posted in The Cartographic Cafe and announced over our program's email listservs. On the Cartographic Cafe you can find these opportunities in the Content tab under the GIS Jobs, Community and News section.
The GIST Program is hosted in the School of Geography, Development & Environment (SGDE). This is located inside of the awe-inspiring ENR2 Building (You can take a virtual tour here). SGDE is located on the 4th and 5th floors on the south side of the building and maintains many open spaces for students, faculty and staff to convene and interact.
ENR2 also contains our Spatial Analysis Lab (SAL). The SAL is located in the ENR2 Building, in the southeast portion of the building, on the 5th Floor, in Room S547. This computing lab is home to 35+ computing workstations containing all of the software needed to complete MS-GIST coursework.
If you are living in Tucson or just visiting, you can utilize these lab facilities.
- Disability Resource Center: At the University of Arizona, we strive to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please contact the Disability Resource Center (520-621-3268, https://drc.arizona.edu/) to establish reasonable accommodations.
- University Libraries: The University of Arizona Libraries are enterprising partners in advancing the University's priorities. We cultivate an environment that promotes inquiry, creative endeavor, scholarly communication and lifelong learning. Our resources, services and expertise enrich the lives of Arizonans, and contribute to an expanding global academic community.
- GIS & Geospatial Data at the University Libraries: The library has guides, tutorials, tool, data and consultations.
- University Information Technology Services: Provides technology services, resources and support, including free access to software.
- Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid: University has some resources to help with financial aid including information about FAFSA.
- FAFSA: Use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to learn if you are eligible for financial support. FAFSA can help with grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans for college or career school.
- Military-Connected Benefits & Certifications: With assistance and guidance through the benefit certification process, the Office of the Registrar, Military-Connected Benefits and Certifications, is committed to help you meet your personal, educational, and career goals throughout your time at the University of Arizona.
- Veterans Education & Transition Services: Resources for military-connected students, including how to get started with your GI BILL.
- VA Benefits Types and Full-Time Status: You will start by applying for your VA Education Benefits on the VA’s website. Use the GI Bill® comparison tool to determine which benefit you are eligible for based on your time in service and military status. The benefit estimator compares the estimated benefits paid depending on the GI Bill® and school. This comparison chart of payment rates and procedures is also a helpful tool in reviewing your options.
- Full Time Student Status: UA Catalog information about full time status.
- Center for Career Readiness:
- Prepare for student employment, internships and full-time jobs
- Search and apply for employment, internships and experiential learning
- Build career-readiness skills
- THINK TANK Writing Center: Graduate students can meet with a Writing Center tutor in-person or online or receive tutor feedback by submitting their writing through our asynchronous Feedback Loop. Our tutors offer helpful feedback on any kind of writing, at any point in the process—even before the words are on the page. During each session, tutors get acquainted with your writing, answer questions, identify patterns, make recommendations, and work with you to come up with a plan for moving forward.
- Professional Development for Graduate Students: Offerings designed to support your growth as a scholar, researcher, leader, and professional.