Master’s in GIScience

FSU now requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for Fall 2025 applicants and beyond that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES-approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate.

See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements.

Fall 2026: Admissions open August 1. International applicants are encouraged to apply by May 1, 2026, to ensure sufficient time for visa processing. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in late April or early May. The final Deadline to apply is July 1, 2026
Spring 2026: Admissions are now open. The deadline to apply is October 1, 2025.

*International applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications earlier due to the extended time for visa processing.
*Please be advised that individuals admitted to the MSGIS program should submit the Enrollment Intent Form within two weeks of receiving an official admission decision from the FSU Graduate School. Submission of this form constitutes a formal acceptance of the admission offer, secures placement in the program, and initiates subsequent steps such as academic advising, course registration, and other preparatory processes.

The department organizes a registration webinar, typically held shortly before the registration window opens for new graduate students. Please pay attention to the email from the Academic Program Specialist, who will announce the date and time. Attendance is mandatory for all incoming MSGIS students, including those admitted to the joint graduate pathway in Urban Planning and GIScience.

The Master’s in GIScience is an in-person program and is not currently offered online or in the evenings. Please click here for program requirements. 

We welcome students from all over the world to join are program!  Please check out the International Admissions page to learn more about applying to FSU as an International student.

MSGIS students are typically self-funded for all or most of the program, and no departmental funding is guaranteed.

Unofficial Transcripts:

• Unofficial Transcripts are required for your application to be reviewed. Please submit ALL unofficial transcripts from each College and/or University attended. Unofficial Transcripts must be translated to English for review. *Applications will show as incomplete until official transcripts have been submitted. Applications with incomplete status due to missing official transcripts will still be reviewed

Official Transcripts

• Official transcripts are required for admitted students and must be submitted prior to beginning classes. See the “Transcript Requirement” section on The Graduate School website, https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions, for detailed information on University transcript requirements.

International Student Requirements

• FSU now requires a course-by-course credential evaluation for Fall 2025 applicants and beyond that have degrees from a non-U.S. institution. International and domestic applicants with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator for transcripts from a non-U.S. institution. SpanTran has created a custom application for FSU that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. 
  https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions
  If the transcript/academic record does not indicate the degree earned and the date the degree was awarded, separate proof of degree is required.
  All transcripts/academic records that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations. 
  To be considered “certified,” documents should be true copies that are signed and dated by an educational official familiar with academic records. Any translated record should be literal and not an interpretive translation. Documents signed by a notary or other public official with no educational affiliation will not be accepted. 

GRE scores are waived by the University for all MSGIS applicants.
Students should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. However, meeting the minimum GPA requirement does not guarantee admission, as decisions may also be influenced by factors such as program capacity and available resources.

Please describe the following in 1-1.5 pages, single-spaced:

If relevant, feel free to discuss obstacles or hardships that you had to overcome in order to succeed, and how you surmounted these obstacles.

What is your motivation for applying to this program? How does this program of study advance your career interests? What is your previous experience working with GIS, remote sensing, statistics, and computer programming?

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. They should be written by faculty members and /or employers familiar with your academic, research, or professional background.  Relevant experiences may include education, employment, volunteer work, and internships. At least one letter must come from a faculty member.

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. Minimum scores required for admission and additional information can be found here. Applications are unable to be reviewed and will be cancelled if the minimum requirements are not met.