Connecticut has 5 schools with verified geography or geographic information systems (GIS) credentials: the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, the University of New Haven, and Connecticut State Community College. The University of Connecticut offers degrees from the bachelor’s through the Ph.D. and two fully online graduate certificates. Central Connecticut State offers the state’s other geography master’s degree.
Connecticut Geography and GIS Programs at a Glance
Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut | Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Geography B.A. or B.S. in Geographic Information Science | In person (Storrs) | Geography: 24 (B.A.) or 31 (B.S.) upper-level credits, plus 12 related GIScience: 26 minimum, plus 12 related | GIScience electives in web, mobile, database, and big data GIS |
| Central Connecticut State University | B.A. in Geography, with five specializations (GIScience; Planning; Environmental Geography and Sustainability; General/Regional; Tourism) | Campus (New Britain) | Major: 39 | Required internship in three specializations; a minor is required |
| Southern Connecticut State University | B.S. in Geography, GIScience and Technology concentration B.A. in Environmental Studies and Geography GIS Certificate | Not stated (New Haven) | B.S.: 120 (major 40) B.A.: 120 (major 30) Certificate: 12 | Capstone seminar in both degrees |
| University of New Haven | GIS Certificate (undergraduate) | Not stated (West Haven) | 12 | Four-course sequence ending in a real-world GIS project |
Graduate Degrees and Certificates
| School | Credentials | Format | Credits | Distinguishing feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut | Master of Arts (M.A.) in Geography Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Geography | In person (Storrs) | M.A.: 30 | Thesis or non-thesis M.A.; GRE not required |
| University of Connecticut | GIS Graduate Certificate Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data Analytics Graduate Certificate | Fully online (GIS certificate also offered blended) | 12 each | GIS certificate can be completed in one year |
| Central Connecticut State University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Geography | Hybrid and evening options (New Britain) | 30 | Thesis, exam, or special project; GRE not required |
| University of New Haven | GIS Certificate (graduate) M.S. in Environmental Science, GIS and Applications concentration | Not stated (West Haven) | Certificate: 12 M.S.: 38–40 | M.S. capstone can be an internship, project, or thesis |
Credentials were verified against 2026–27 catalogs. Minors are not listed. The University of Connecticut’s catalog does not state a credit total for the Ph.D.
Community College Degrees and Certificates
| College | Credential | Units | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut State Community College | Geography Studies, Associate in Arts (A.A.) transfer degree | 61–67 | On-ground and hybrid, at 11 campuses |
| Connecticut State Community College | Land Surveying and GIS Technician Certificate | 20 | Hybrid, at the Three Rivers campus (Norwich) |
The Geography Studies A.A. is a Transfer Ticket degree. Graduates can transfer to a Connecticut state university as juniors, with about 60 credits remaining. The catalog names Central Connecticut State and Southern Connecticut State as the universities with matching geography majors.
Related Urban Planning Programs
The University of Connecticut’s B.A. in Urban and Community Studies, based at its Hartford campus, lists GIS as one methods option. Central Connecticut State’s Planning specialization, covered below, is the state’s planning-focused geography degree. See our urban planning guide.
Online Geography and GIS Programs in Connecticut
An online course is not the same as an online degree. The programs below have an official statement that the full credential can be completed online. The next list covers programs that only offer some coursework online.
Verified fully online options
- University of Connecticut GIS Graduate Certificate: 12 credits, available fully online or in a blended format, and designed to be completed in one year.
- University of Connecticut Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data Analytics Graduate Certificate: 12 credits, described as 100% online, taking 12 to 18 months.
Online coursework, but not a verified fully online program
- Central Connecticut State M.S. in Geography: offers hybrid classes (half in person, half online) and evening classes.
- Connecticut State Community College: the Geography Studies A.A. is listed as on-ground and hybrid, and the surveying and GIS certificate as hybrid.
- University of Connecticut degrees: the geography and GIScience bachelor’s degrees, the M.A., and the Ph.D. are listed as in person.
No Connecticut school describes a geography degree as fully online. For programs based in other states, see online geography schools.
Connecticut School Summaries
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut’s Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies offers two majors, each as a B.A. or B.S. The Geography major covers human or economic geography, physical geography, and a methods course. The B.S. requires Introduction to GIS and four courses from a methods or physical geography group. The Geographic Information Science major requires Introduction to GIS, Applications of GIS, Introduction to GeoComputing, and a cartography or data analysis course, with electives such as Web GIS and Spatial Database Systems. Neither major requires a capstone or internship. For its online programs, see our UConn Online Remote Sensing and GIS Graduate Certificates profile.
The M.A. in Geography has a thesis plan (21 credits of coursework and 9 of research) and a non-thesis plan (30 credits of coursework, a research paper, and a comprehensive exam). The Ph.D. requires comprehensive exams and a dissertation. Applicants submit three letters, and the GRE is no longer required. The department says its funding package includes a stipend and tuition remission, that it prioritizes Ph.D. students, and that funding for M.A. students is considered but not common.
- GIS Graduate Certificate: Fundamentals of Geographic Information Science, Applications of GIS, and two electives. No test scores or letters are required. The department does not offer financial support to certificate students.
- Remote Sensing and Geospatial Data Analytics Graduate Certificate: two remote sensing courses and two electives, such as drone and LiDAR mapping or Python scripting. It is offered by the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Sources: Geography B.A./B.S.; GIScience B.A./B.S.; Geography M.A. and Ph.D.; graduate admissions; GIS certificate; remote sensing certificate.
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State’s B.A. in Geography has a 39-credit major in one of five specializations, and all require a minor. The GIScience specialization requires Introduction to Geographic Information Science, Elementary Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, and an internship, with electives in remote sensing, field methods, and applied GIS. The Planning specialization requires Introduction to Planning, Community and Regional Planning, Urban Geography, an internship, and a statistics course. The other specializations are Environmental Geography and Sustainability, General/Regional Geography, and Tourism.
The 30-credit M.S. in Geography includes a research course and an internship or field methods course. Students finish with a thesis, a comprehensive exam and capstone seminar, or a special project. A Global Sustainability specialization is available. Applicants need a 3.00 GPA, with conditional admission possible from 2.40, and the GRE is not required. The university offers graduate assistantships with a stipend and fee waiver, but none are advertised specifically for geography.
Sources: GIScience specialization; Planning specialization; B.A. program page; Geography M.S.; M.S. program page.
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State offers a B.S. in Geography with a Geographic Information Science and Technology concentration. The 40-credit major includes Designing Maps, Research Methods, Introduction to GIS, GIS for Environmental and Spatial Science, and a capstone seminar. Students also choose three techniques courses from options such as Remote Sensing, Cartography, Land Use Planning, and Spatial Analysis.
The B.A. in Environmental Studies and Geography has a 30-credit major that includes Introduction to GIS and the capstone seminar. The 12-credit GIS Certificate is three four-credit courses. Southern says the certificate is not eligible for financial aid. The university has no geography master’s degree.
Sources: Geography B.S.; Environmental Studies and Geography B.A.; GIS certificate.
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven has no geography degree. It offers 12-credit GIS certificates at the undergraduate and graduate levels, each built on Introduction to GIS, two GIS Techniques and Applications courses, and an advanced applications course. The graduate certificate allows substitutions for students with GIS experience.
The M.S. in Environmental Science has a GIS and Applications concentration. It requires 38–40 credits, including the four GIS courses, and ends in an internship, research project, or thesis. The catalog notes that some courses require weekend field trips and lab sessions.
Sources: undergraduate GIS certificate; graduate GIS certificate; Environmental Science M.S., GIS concentration.
Connecticut State Community College
Connecticut’s merged community college offers the Geography Studies A.A. at 11 of its campuses. The pathway courses are Introduction to Geography, World Regional Geography, and Introduction to Human Geography, plus general education and electives. No GIS course is required, but Introduction to GIS is available as an elective.
The 20-credit Land Surveying and GIS Technician Certificate is offered at the Three Rivers campus. It includes Geomatics, Geomatics Spatial Analysis, Introduction to GIS, and an earth science lab course.
Sources: Geography Studies A.A.; surveying and GIS certificate; Transfer Tickets.
Schools not included
- Eastern Connecticut State University: offers geography and GIS minors, and a GIS concentration within its Data Science B.S., but no geography or GIS degree or certificate.
- Western Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College: no geography or GIS credential.
- Yale University: no geography major and no GIS certificate. GIS and remote sensing are offered as courses.
- Courses only: Wesleyan University, Connecticut College, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Hartford.
- No geography or GIS credential: Trinity College, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, the University of Bridgeport, Albertus Magnus College, Post University, and Mitchell College.
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 Connecticut Geography or GIScience bachelor’s degree | $8,505 per semester (in-state) $13,014 per semester (New England Regional) $19,839 per semester (out-of-state) | Two semesters | $17,010 in-state per year $26,028 regional per year $39,678 out-of-state per year | $2,567 per semester, including a $285 book bundle that can be waived |
| Central Connecticut State University B.A. in Geography | $3,499 per term (CT resident) $5,249 per term (out-of-state) | Two terms | $6,998 resident per year $10,498 out-of-state per year | $3,036 per term |
| Southern Connecticut State University Geography B.S. or Environmental Studies and Geography B.A. | $3,499 per term (in-state) $5,249 per term (out-of-state) | Two terms | $6,998 in-state per year $10,498 out-of-state per year | $3,220 per term |
| Southern Connecticut State University GIS Certificate | $292 per credit, part-time, any residency | 12 credits | $3,504 total | $403 per credit, plus $105 per term |
| University of New Haven Undergraduate GIS certificate, taken within a degree | $24,670 per term (12–17 credits) | Two terms | $49,340 per year | $965 per term |
| Connecticut State Community College Geography Studies A.A. | $192 per credit (in-state) $289 per credit (New England Regional) $578 per credit (out-of-state) | 61 credits | $11,712 in-state total $17,629 regional total $35,258 out-of-state total | $305 per semester full-time in-state, plus activity and transportation fees |
| Connecticut State Community College Land Surveying and GIS Technician Certificate | $192 per credit (in-state) $289 per credit (New England Regional) $578 per credit (out-of-state) | 20 credits | $3,840 in-state total $5,780 regional total $11,560 out-of-state total | Service fee by credit load, plus course fees |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Graduate tuition
| School and credential | Published rate | Calculation basis | Estimated tuition | Required fees (not included) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut M.A. and Ph.D. in Geography | $9,756 per semester (in-state, 9+ credits) $15,204 per semester (New England Regional) $20,712 per semester (out-of-state) | Two semesters | $19,512 in-state per year $30,408 regional per year $41,424 out-of-state per year | $1,943 per semester. Funded students receive tuition remission. |
| University of Connecticut (online) GIS or Remote Sensing graduate certificate | $925 per credit, any residency | 12 credits | $11,100 total | None listed; the rate is a comprehensive program fee |
| Central Connecticut State University M.S. in Geography | $4,358 per term (CT resident, full-time) $6,537 per term (out-of-state) | Two terms | $8,716 resident per year $13,074 out-of-state per year | $2,923 per term |
| University of New Haven Graduate GIS certificate; M.S. in Environmental Science | $1,185 per credit | Certificate 12 credits; M.S. 38 credits | Certificate: $14,220 total M.S.: $45,030 total | $140 per term full-time; $120 part-time |
Rates are 2026–27 unless the row notes otherwise.
Why some rates do not compare directly
- From 2026–27, the Connecticut state universities charge domestic out-of-state students the same reduced rate as New England regional students. Their fees are nearly as large as resident tuition.
- The University of Connecticut’s online certificates charge one per-credit program fee regardless of residency, separate from regular graduate tuition.
- Part-time students at Central and Southern pay per credit, with fees built into the per-credit charge.
- The community college offers in-state rates to some residents of neighboring states at certain campuses, and Connecticut residents may qualify for free tuition.
How to Choose a Geography or GIS Program in Connecticut
Broad geography or technical GIS
The University of Connecticut separates the two: a Geography major and a Geographic Information Science major. Central Connecticut State lets geography students specialize in GIScience, planning, sustainability, or tourism. Southern Connecticut State’s B.S. is built around GIS and mapping. Read more about GIScience degrees and geospatial technology.
Certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or graduate degree
Twelve-credit GIS certificates are offered at Southern Connecticut State, the University of New Haven, and, at the graduate level, the University of Connecticut. The community college’s Geography Studies A.A. is designed to transfer into the Central and Southern geography majors. For a Ph.D., the University of Connecticut is the only in-state option. Compare bachelor’s and master’s programs nationally.
Online or campus
The only fully online credentials are the University of Connecticut’s two graduate certificates. Central Connecticut State’s M.S. offers hybrid and evening classes for working students. Bachelor’s degrees are campus programs.
Research or professional master’s
The University of Connecticut’s M.A. and Central Connecticut State’s M.S. both offer thesis and non-thesis routes. The University of New Haven’s M.S. is an environmental science degree with applied GIS. Students considering a Ph.D. should check research preparation and admissions requirements. A thesis can help demonstrate research experience.
Funding
- University of Connecticut: funding packages include a stipend and tuition remission and go mainly to Ph.D. students. M.A. funding is not common, and certificate students receive no departmental support.
- Central Connecticut State: university assistantships carry a stipend and a fee waiver, not a tuition waiver.
- University of New Haven: no program-specific funding is advertised.
Students open to nearby states can also compare programs in Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island, or browse all state guides.
Sources and Review Date
Reviewed October 2, 2026. Program details come from each school’s 2026–27 catalog or program pages. Tuition comes from each school’s 2026–27 tuition schedule.
- University of Connecticut: undergraduate tuition, graduate tuition, graduate certificate rates
- Central Connecticut State: 2026–27 rates
- Southern Connecticut State: tuition and fees
- University of New Haven: undergraduate tuition, graduate tuition
- Connecticut State Community College: tuition and 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.