Professional Science Master’s in Geospatial Data Science
Expand your expertise in geospatial analysis with the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Geospatial Data Science in Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. One of the first of its kind in the U.S., this 30-credit master’s program is specifically designed to train data scientists and geographic information systems (GIS) professionals with geospatial analysis, programming and advanced analytical skills.
Data science is a growing field with roots in computer science, mathematics and statistics. It can be applied across disciplines and industries for which spatially referenced data informs prediction and decision-making, including climate adaptation, urban and environmental planning, retail and business location, and spatial epidemiology. This degree emphasizes advanced statistics and computer programming to meet the increasing demand for professionals with expertise in these areas.
Geography and Urban Studies Department faculty have extensive experience in
- cartography,
- GIS,
- machine learning,
- remote sensing,
- spatial analysis,
- spatial data science,
- spatial statistics and
- urban analytics.
Students learn the fundamentals of geospatial data science as well as the latest trends in the field. The program’s faculty imparts an in-depth understanding of ethics, preparing students to put them into practice in their careers.
Coursework addresses the geospatial aspects of core data science competencies in big data analytics, machine learning and simulation. You’ll use industry-standard tools such as SQL, R, Python and other emerging technologies, with an emphasis on open source tools, social coding and reproducible research.
Many of the program’s courses focus on programming and include peer review, code walkthroughs and live demonstrations of coding projects. You’ll learn to write documentation and leverage social coding platforms such as GitHub to share and publicize your work.
Choosing the Geospatial Data Science Professional Science Master’s
The Geospatial Data Science PSM distinguishes itself from the Geographic Information Systems PSM through a specific emphasis on big data handling, data mining, geospatial analytics, machine learning and geosimulation. Compared to the Geographic Information Systems program, the Geospatial Data Science program focuses on advanced statistical knowledge and computer programming. Graduates are trained to work outside the realm of traditional GIS jobs, including in corporate environments.
The Geospatial Data Science PSM program also produces different outcomes from the College of Science and Technology’s Computational Data Science MS and the Fox School of Business’s Statistics and Data Science MS by providing a distinctive focus on geospatial data and spatial analytics and through its curriculum designed for current professionals.