GIS

Welcome to GIS at Calvin University!

Distinct | Affordable - Classes Start Every Semester!

Let's face it, geography at Christian colleges and universities is lacking. Not at Calvin University. You can major or minor or do graduate work in geography and you can get the geospatial skills you need. Our GIS courses train students in foundations and advanced techniques in the state-of-the-art geospatial science. Students can take individual courses in GIS, complete the GIS Certificate Program or earn a Masters in GIScience. We do this as a Christian university with Christian faculty. 

You want GIS? You want drones? You want maps? You want to deepen your geospatial skills? You want to join our faith-based approach to geography? You've come to the right place.

GIS COURSES | GIS CERTIFICATE | MASTER'S IN GIS

GIS COURSES

• GEO 260/560 - Introduction to GIS and Cartography
• GEO 361/561 - Advanced GIS
• GEO 362/562 - Remote Sensing of Earth
• GEO 563 - Spatial Demographics
• GEO 564 - Spatial Statistics
• GEO 565 - Business Location Intelligence
• GEO 566 - Spatial Programming and Data Management

GIS CERTIFICATE

The GIS Certificate gives students a thorough introduction to GIS, cartography, and remote sensing (including drones!). To earn the Certificate, students must complete the courses:

• GEO 260 (4) or GEO 560 (4)
• GEO 361 (4) or GEO 561 (4)
• GEO 362 (4) or GEO 562 (4)

Student who complete the GIS Certificate will earn up to 12 hours of credit toward the Master in GISc Program. Leaving only 4 courses to complete to earn the Master's in GIScience at Calvin.

MASTER IN GIScience - ONLINE

Calvin University is the only place you can get a Master in GIS online at a Christian university. If you are starting out new or looking for a career change, wrapping up your undergraduate at Calvin already and want more GIS, or you are just curious about computer cartography and mapping science, join us for graduate education at your pace, at your style.

• Affordable | 30 Credit Hours @$660 per hour = $19,800
• 100% Online | All courses are asynchronous and online
• Scholarships Available | We award 4 to 8 scholarships per year at $3000 per student
• Semester length courses | 16-week courses give you time to hone and master your GIS skills & knowledge

There are two pathways for students - those with the GIS Certificate and those without.

With GIS Certificate (only four more courses)

• GIS Certificate completed
• GEO 563 (4) SP (Spring)
• GEO 564 (4) FA (Fall)
• GEO 565 (5) FA
• GEO 566 (5) SP

Without GIS Certificate (seven courses and can start any semester)

• GEO 560 (4) FA/SP
• GEO 561 (4) SP
• GEO 562 (4) FA
• GEO 563 (4) SP
• GEO 564 (4) FA
• GEO 565 (5) FA
• GEO 566 (5) SP

APPLY NOW!

GIS Online Apps

• Recycling Industrial Land in Grand Rapids

  • This Story Map illustrates industrial change in Grand Rapids, from the heyday of the "Furniture City" to the city's current postindustrial redevelopments.

• Recycling Industrial Land in Flint, MI

  • This Story Map explores the fate of former industrial land in Flint by examining three sites that were once GM manufacturing facilities: Buick City, Delphi Flint East, and Chevy Commons.

• Liberia Mapping System

  • he Liberia Mapping System v2.1, documents the geography and transformation of Liberia through clean water. You can interact, observe, and analyze a variety of geographical data on Liberia, including historical Demographic Health Survey data of Liberia, along with Clean Water Initiative data. Bolt GM, Jansen M, Koeman JL, & JE VanHorn. (2018). Previous version 1.0 was authored by VanHorn JE, L. Blanche, S. Haase, and TS Nam (2017).

• Re-Entry Mapping App for Returning Citizens

  • The returning citizen services application is designed for users to connect with and access local reentry services in Grand Rapids, MI. This application was created at Calvin University in geography and political science with funding provided by the Henry Institute.

• Understanding Your Geography

  • Live in the USA but don't know your neighborhood geography? An interactive map of demographic and economic data in the USA.

• Plaster Creek Watershed Mapping

  • A full interactive mapping platform dedicated to Plaster Creek learning, research, and restoration. Maps, History, Images, and Video all dedicated to learning about Plaster Creek.

• Michigan Dune Inventory GIS

  • An interactive map to explore dunes in Michigan. Include drawing, add data to the map, elevation profiles, geocoding, and several layers of imagery and vector data.

• Understanding Michigan Dunes

  • An interactive journal map to explore multiple aspects of dunes in Michigan! (Currently in development stage).

• Calvin Trees

  • An interactive map of all the trees on campus that are a diameter of 4 inches or more on campus.

• Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens GIS

  • Over 90 acres of temperate deciduous forest, wetlands and old fields await your exploration on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. While you're here, visit the Bunker Interpretive Center, a LEED-certified facility used for environmental education.

• Published Datasets

  • (Including the Kurdish Conflict Dataset (KCD))

• ArcGIS Rest Service Endpoints @ Calvin University

  • gis.calvin.edu

• ArcGIS Rest Service Endpoints @ Calvin University

  • gis-prod.calvin.edu