South Carolina has 4 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials, all of them public universities. The University of South Carolina in Columbia is the only school with geography degrees, from the bachelor’s to the state’s only geography Ph.D. College of Charleston offers a graduate geospatial certificate, Coastal Carolina University offers a geography concentration and an undergraduate geospatial certificate, and Winthrop University offers a short GIS micro-certificate. No fully online geography or GIS credential was verified in the state, and none of the 16 technical colleges lists a GIS-named credential.
South Carolina Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Geography Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography (General, Geographic Information Science, or Physical/Environmental concentration) Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Certificate | Campus (Columbia) | B.A.: 120 (major 24) B.S.: 120 (major 24–25; some concentrations run longer) GEOINT: 21 minimum | GIScience concentration includes drones and GIS-based modeling; GEOINT certificate is accredited by the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) |
| Coastal Carolina University | B.A. in Anthropology and Geography, Geography concentration Geospatial Technologies Certificate | Campus (Conway); certificate delivery not stated | B.A.: 120 Certificate: 12 | Methods courses include spatial analysis, earth observation, and GIS for government |
| Winthrop University | Micro-Certificate in Geographic Information Systems | Not stated (Rock Hill) | 8–10 | Fits any major; ends in a GIS portfolio course, with an internship or research option |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | Campus (Columbia) | M.A. and M.S.: 30 thesis or 36 non-thesis Ph.D.: 33 beyond the master’s | Assistantships cover tuition and health insurance; no GRE |
| College of Charleston | Geospatial Graduate Certificate | Not stated (Charleston) | 12 | Remote sensing, advanced GIS, and Python options; open to students outside a master’s program |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs and bulletins. Minors are not listed. The GEOINT certificate is described on USC’s geography department pages but is not listed as a program in the Academic Bulletin.
Technical Colleges
None of the 16 colleges in the South Carolina Technical College System lists a GIS-named certificate, diploma, or degree in its current catalog. GIS appears as a required course in some civil engineering technology, forestry, and natural resources programs, described in the technical college summary. Midlands Technical College’s Associate in Arts has a Geography and Environmental Studies concentration for students planning to transfer; it is a transfer pathway, not a GIS credential.
Related Urban Planning Programs
Clemson University’s 48-hour Master of City and Regional Planning requires Introduction to GIS for Planning (4 credits) in the first fall semester. It is a planning degree, not a GIS degree, and Clemson does not offer a geography or GIS credential. See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in South Carolina
An online course is not the same as an online degree. No South Carolina school has an official statement that a geography or GIS credential can be completed fully online.
Verified fully online options
None verified.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Coastal Carolina Geospatial Technologies Certificate: earlier catalogs listed a separate distance learning version of the certificate, but the 2026–27 catalog lists only one version and does not state its delivery format.
- College of Charleston Geospatial Graduate Certificate: the catalog and program page do not state a delivery format.
- University of South Carolina geography programs: no geography credential is on USC’s list of specially priced online degree programs, and USC’s online degree-completion college, Palmetto College, does not offer geography.
For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
South Carolina School Summaries
University of South Carolina
USC’s Department of Geography, in the Columbia campus’s College of Arts and Sciences, offers the only geography degrees in South Carolina. The 120-hour B.A. in Geography has a 24-hour major: one techniques course (GIS, cartography, or remote sensing), the senior Seminar in Geography, and 18 hours of electives, 6 of them at the 500 level. It also requires a 12–18 hour cognate or minor. The B.S. in Geography has three concentrations. The Geographic Information Science concentration requires Geographic Information Systems plus two of Cartography, Remote Sensing, and Quantitative Methods, and three GIS electives such as Introduction to Drones for Airborne Spatial Data and GIS-Based Modeling. The other concentrations are General Geography and Physical/Environmental Geography. The bulletin gives 120 hours as the B.S. total, with some concentration plans running longer.
The department also awards a 21-hour Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Certificate accredited by USGIF. It requires GIS, cartography, and remote sensing, two specialization courses, a spatial elective, and a capstone, with a 3.0 program GPA. The certificate is described on department pages but is not listed as a program in the Academic Bulletin.
The M.A. and M.S. in Geography each require 30 hours with a thesis or 36 hours with an extended research paper, including Historical and Contemporary Geographic Thought and a graduate methods course. M.S. coursework centers on physical or environmental geography and GIScience. The Ph.D. in Geography requires 33 hours beyond the master’s, including 12 dissertation hours, a qualifying exam, a comprehensive exam, and one semester of teaching. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA, and the department no longer accepts GRE scores. The department says a limited number of teaching and research assistantships cover tuition and health insurance, with 9-month stipends of $14,000 for master’s students and $21,000 for doctoral students. Admitted students are considered for funding without a separate application.
Sources: B.A. bulletin; B.S. bulletin; GEOINT certificate; M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. bulletins; graduate admissions and funding.
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston’s 12-credit Geospatial Graduate Certificate is run by its M.S. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies program. It requires Geospatial Science (4 credits) and one of Fundamentals of Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Statistical Programming for Biologists, or a Python programming course. Remaining credits come from courses such as Advanced GIS: Environmental and Hazards Models, Satellite Meteorology, and Urban Applications of GIS. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA preferred. Current College of Charleston master’s students can add the certificate. The catalog does not state a delivery format or funding.
Sources: 2026–27 graduate catalog; certificate page.
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina’s 120-hour B.A. in Anthropology and Geography has a Geography concentration. Students take a shared anthropology and geography foundation that includes Digital Earth and physical geography, a theory course, two methods courses (for example Introduction to GIS, Digital Cartography, Earth Observation, Spatial Analysis Using GIS, or a geography and GIS internship), 12 hours of upper-level geography, and a capstone. A 12-hour cognate or minor is required.
The 12-credit Geospatial Technologies Certificate requires Digital Earth and Introduction to GIS plus two electives, such as Spatial Analysis Using GIS, GIS for Government, or Geospatial Intelligence. The 2026–27 catalog does not state its delivery format.
Sources: Geography concentration; Geospatial Technologies Certificate; certificate page.
Winthrop University
Winthrop’s Micro-Certificate in Geographic Information Systems is an 8–10 credit undergraduate certificate listed in the 2026–27 catalog. The department says it is designed to fit any degree and major and can be completed in as few as three semesters. It requires Introduction to GIS and a GIS Portfolio course. Students then add either one GIS elective plus an internship or research course, or two GIS electives, chosen from Introduction to Geospatial Technologies, Remote Sensing of the Environment, and GIS Analysis and Modeling. The catalog says completers receive an electronic badge. Delivery format is not stated.
Sources: 2026–27 catalog; micro-certificate page.
Technical Colleges
All 16 South Carolina technical colleges were checked against their current catalogs. None lists a GIS-named credential, so none is counted. Several programs include a required GIS course. Horry-Georgetown Technical College‘s Forestry Management Technology A.A.S. requires Geographic Information Systems I and Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing. Central Carolina Technical College‘s Environmental Engineering Technology and Natural Resources Management A.A.S. degrees include Geographic Information Systems I. Florence-Darlington Technical College‘s Civil Engineering Technology A.A.S. includes Introduction to Geographic Information Systems along with two surveying courses. Surveying certificates at Horry-Georgetown, Trident, Midlands, and Greenville focus on land surveying, not GIS.
Sources: Central Carolina natural resources; Florence-Darlington civil engineering technology; Horry-Georgetown surveying; Midlands geography concentration.
Schools not included
- Clemson University: offers a geography minor and GIS courses but no geography or GIS degree or certificate. Its Center for Geospatial Technologies offers non-credit workshops. Its planning degree is described above.
- Other USC campuses: USC Upstate and USC Beaufort offer geography courses only. USC Aiken offers a minor in Anthropology and Human Geography. The Palmetto College campuses list no geography or GIS credential.
- Minor only: Francis Marion University (geography minor). College of Charleston (Geography and Geoinformatics minors), Coastal Carolina (Geographic Information Systems and Human-Environment Geography minors), Winthrop (geography minor), and USC (geography minors) also offer minors, which are not listed.
- South Carolina State University: its latest posted catalog (2022–25) lists geography and GIS courses only. Its civil engineering technology and land surveying programs are not GIS degrees.
- No geography or GIS credential: The Citadel, Lander University, Furman University, Wofford College, Presbyterian College, Claflin University, Benedict College, Allen University, Anderson University, Columbia International University, Converse University, North Greenville University, Coker University, Bob Jones University, Erskine College, Southern Wesleyan University, and Charleston Southern University.
- Not fully verified: Newberry College, Morris College, and Voorhees University list no geography or GIS credential on their websites, but their current catalogs could not be opened. Limestone University closed after the spring 2025 semester.
Tuition Comparison
Estimated tuition is our arithmetic from each published rate and the stated basis. Each figure is labeled “per year” or “total.” None includes fees, housing, books, or other costs.
Undergraduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina B.A. or B.S. in Geography | $6,144 per semester (resident, full-time) $19,050 per semester (nonresident) | Two semesters | $12,288 resident per year $38,100 nonresident per year | $500 per semester (technology $200, athletics $150, student union $150) |
| Coastal Carolina University B.A. in Anthropology and Geography | $5,820 per semester (in-state, 12–18 hours) $15,651 per semester (out-of-state) | Two semesters | $11,640 in-state per year $31,302 out-of-state per year | $260 per semester (library $75, transportation $135, health and wellness $50); technology fee is included in tuition |
| Coastal Carolina University Geospatial Technologies Certificate | $487 per credit (in-state, part-time) $1,300 per credit (out-of-state) | 12 credits at the part-time rate | $5,844 in-state total $15,600 out-of-state total | $5 per credit technology fee is included; other fees vary |
| Winthrop University Undergraduate degree with the GIS micro-certificate | $371 per credit (in-state, 12 or more hours) $839 per credit (out-of-state) | 30 credits per year | $11,130 in-state per year $25,170 out-of-state per year | $117 per credit (technology $15, activity $80, Eagle Books $22), plus $240 wellness, $75 library, and $35–$70 environmental safety per semester |
| Winthrop University GIS micro-certificate taken part-time | $488 per credit (in-state, under 12 hours) $1,071 per credit (out-of-state) | 8–10 credits | $3,904–$4,880 in-state total $8,568–$10,710 out-of-state total | $117 per credit, plus per-semester fees |
All undergraduate rates are 2026–27.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Carolina M.A., M.S., or Ph.D. in Geography | $6,867 per semester (resident, full-time) $14,880 per semester (nonresident) $572.25 / $1,240 per credit part-time | Two semesters | $13,734 resident per year $29,760 nonresident per year | $500 per semester; health insurance ($4,000 per year) is required for most graduate students. Assistantships cover tuition. |
| College of Charleston Geospatial Graduate Certificate | $660 per credit (resident) $873 per credit (nonresident) 2025–26 rates | 12 credits | $7,920 resident total $10,476 nonresident total | $5 library and $14 technology per credit, capped at $60 and $170 per semester; $15 part-time fee |
USC rates are 2026–27. The College of Charleston had not posted 2026–27 graduate rates when reviewed, so its row uses 2025–26 rates.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- Winthrop charges every student by the credit hour, with a lower rate at 12 or more hours, so the annual estimate depends on course load. USC and Coastal Carolina charge a flat full-time semester rate.
- Coastal Carolina includes its technology fee in tuition. USC and Winthrop bill it separately.
- The College of Charleston’s 2026–27 cost-of-attendance page shows the same graduate tuition for residents and nonresidents, which conflicts with its separate nonresident rate. Confirm the rate with the college.
- USC began requiring health insurance for most graduate students in fall 2026, which adds $4,000 per year unless covered by an assistantship.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in South Carolina
Full degree or add-on certificate
USC’s B.A. and B.S. and Coastal Carolina’s Geography concentration are the only bachelor’s options with geography in the name. Coastal Carolina’s 12-credit certificate and Winthrop’s 8–10 credit micro-certificate add GIS skills to another major. Compare bachelor’s programs nationally.
Broad geography or technical GIS
USC’s General and Physical/Environmental concentrations cover the wider discipline, while its GIScience concentration and GEOINT certificate focus on mapping, remote sensing, and spatial analysis. College of Charleston’s certificate is technical and environmental. Read more about GIScience degrees.
Graduate study
USC is the only South Carolina school with geography master’s and doctoral degrees, and its funded assistantships include a stipend. Students who want a shorter credential after a bachelor’s degree can consider College of Charleston’s 12-credit certificate. Compare master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
No South Carolina geography or GIS credential is verified as fully online. Students who need an online program can browse online geography schools in other states, or compare nearby programs in Georgia and North Carolina, or all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 14, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages unless noted above. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule, except College of Charleston graduate tuition (2025–26).
- University of South Carolina: tuition and required fees
- College of Charleston: graduate tuition
- Coastal Carolina: tuition, fees
- Winthrop: fall and spring fees
Program-level source links appear at the end of each school summary. Programs, rates, and requirements change, so confirm them with each school before applying.