Michigan State University does not offer a fully online geography degree. Its geography majors and M.S. are campus programs. What MSU does offer online is a set of professional GIS certificates and a catalog of for-credit online geography courses, both run by its Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences through the onGEO program.
These options suit working professionals who want GIS skills without enrolling in a degree, and students at other schools who need transferable geography credits. If you want a full online degree, see our comparison of online geography degrees.
Program at a Glance
| Online degree | None |
| Professional certificates | GIS; Geospatial Data Analytics and Visualization |
| Certificate format | Four 7-week online courses, six sessions a year |
| Certificate cost | $1,000 per core course ($4,000 per certificate) |
| Academic credit | Certificates: none. Separate online GEO courses: yes, through Lifelong Education |
| Prerequisites | None for certificates |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (reaffirmed 2025) |
Professional GIS Certificates
| Certificate | Core courses |
|---|---|
| Professional Certificate in GIS | Introduction to Geospatial Technology; Geographic Information Systems; Remote Sensing; Cartography |
| Geospatial Data Analytics and Visualization | Cartography; Geovisualization: Temporal and Interactive Mapping; Python and ArcPy Geoprocessing; Spatial Statistics |
- Length: each core course runs 7 weeks. MSU says a certificate can be earned in two semesters taking one course at a time, or faster taking courses together. Expect 10 to 20 hours of work per week.
- 2026 sessions: six sessions, starting January 12, March 9, May 4, June 29, August 24 and October 19.
- Software: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online and Python. Software is free or provided through a department remote server, so students do not buy licenses. Textbooks run about $40 to $100.
- Electives: Criminal Justice Applications in GIS, Digital Image Processing, Drones in the Field and FAA Part 107 drone test prep ($500 or $1,000 each).
- Discounts: referral, group, military and veteran, and MSU alumni discounts are available.
Important: per MSU’s certificate FAQ, the certificate courses do not count for academic credit and do not appear on an academic transcript. MSU also lists Python and ArcPy Geoprocessing and Spatial Statistics as coming soon on some course listing pages, so confirm availability before enrolling.
Online Geography Courses for Credit
MSU’s online geography courses are open to current MSU students and to non-MSU students through Lifelong Education. They include:
| Course | Credits | Offered |
|---|---|---|
| GEO 151v Human Geography | 3 | Summer, fall, spring |
| GEO 204v World Regional Geography | 3 | Summer, fall, spring |
| GEO 206v Physical Geography | 3 | Summer, fall, spring |
| GEO 221v Introduction to Geographic Information (plus 1-credit lab) | 3 | Summer, spring |
| GEO 324v Remote Sensing of the Environment | 4 | Spring |
| GEO 325v Geographic Information Systems | 3 | Spring |
| GEO 326v Cartographic Design and Production | 4 | Fall |
| GEO 330v Regional Geography of the U.S. | 3 | Summer, fall |
| GEO 802v Geospatial Technology (graduate) | 3 | Fall |
Lifelong Education tuition for fall 2026 and spring 2027 is $978.25 per credit for Michigan residents and $1,222.25 for nonresidents, and some online courses carry up to $150 more per credit. Students later admitted to an MSU degree can apply up to 16 Lifelong undergraduate credits (or 9 graduate credits).
Department
MSU’s Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences has more than 30 faculty working on people-environment relationships, climate, GIScience, soils and geomorphology, urban structure and global change. It also runs Remote Sensing and GIS Research and Outreach Services, a geospatial unit founded in 1972 with a NASA grant that started a drone program in 2013.
Who These Options Fit
- Working professionals who need practical GIS or geospatial analytics skills quickly
- Career changers testing GIS before committing to a degree
- Students at other colleges who need transferable geography or GIS credits
- Not a fit for students seeking a full online bachelor’s or master’s in geography
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Michigan State offer an online geography degree?
No. MSU’s geography bachelor’s and master’s degrees are campus programs. MSU offers online professional GIS certificates and individual online geography courses for credit.
How much does MSU’s online GIS certificate cost?
Each 7-week core course costs $1,000, so a four-course certificate costs $4,000, plus textbooks.
Do MSU’s GIS certificates count for college credit?
No. MSU says the certificate courses do not count for academic credit. For credit, students can take MSU’s online GEO courses through Lifelong Education.
Looking for a full degree? Compare programs in our online geography degree rankings, or see campus programs in Michigan.
Official Sources
We verified this profile against the following school pages in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with the school before you apply.
- Professional Certificate in GIS
- Geospatial Data Analytics and Visualization certificate
- onGEO professional programs
- Certificate FAQ
- Online geography courses
- Lifelong Education
- Resident undergraduate tuition
- Nonresident undergraduate tuition
- Department overview
- Geography majors
- RS&GIS
- onGEO contact
- MSU accreditation