Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, offers an online B.S. in Geosciences with a Geography emphasis. The department says the Geography emphasis can be completed entirely online through FHSU Online, at about $276 per credit for students in any state. FHSU also offers a fully online 9-credit GIS User certificate.
The degree’s official name is geosciences, but the coursework is geography: physical, cultural, world and U.S. geography, plus a three-course GIS and remote sensing sequence and an internship. The same department also offers online geology and environmental geosciences options.
Program at a Glance
| Degree | B.S. in Geosciences (Geography) |
| Credits | 120 |
| Format | Online or on campus; one required field course (see below) |
| Tuition | $275.65 per online credit on FHSU program pages; online rate is the same for all states |
| Application fee | $30 (domestic) |
| Transfer | At least 30 credits must be earned at FHSU |
| Certificate | GIS User, 9 credits, fully online |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission |
Curriculum
Course requirements below come from the FHSU catalog. The major totals 46 to 52 credits, with 32 to 40 credits of open electives and 34 to 35 credits of general education.
Major Core
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| GSCI 100 Exploring Earth | 3 |
| GSCI 240 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) One | 3 |
| GSCI 685 Writing in the Sciences | 3 |
| Statistics (Biostatistics, Geostatistics and Spatial Data Analysis, or Elements of Statistics) | 3–4 |
Geography Core
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| GSCI 101 Earth and Environmental Systems | 3 |
| GSCI 105 Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GSCI 110 World Geography | 3 |
| GSCI 290 Cartography: Theory and Applications | 3 |
| GSCI 321 United States Geography | 3 |
| GSCI 330 Remote Sensing Concepts | 3 |
| GSCI 360 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Two | 3 |
| GSCI 651 Field Studies in Geography | 1–6 |
| GSCI 695 Internship in Geosciences | 3 |
Students add 9 credits of upper-division GSCI electives. The four-year degree map suggests Advanced GIS or Remote Sensing and Aerial Photography in year three, and an internship or problems course in year four.
GIS User Certificate
The GIS User certificate is open to FHSU undergraduates in any major and to working professionals. It requires GSCI 240 and GSCI 360 plus one elective, such as Cartography, Remote Sensing Concepts, Advanced GIS or GIS Programming. All three courses must be taken at FHSU, with a C or better in each and a 2.50 average. At $275.65 per credit, the 9 credits cost about $2,481. No prior GIS experience is needed, and students use ArcGIS and ArcGIS Online through FHSU’s licenses.
How the Online Format Works
- Semester-based: online courses follow FHSU’s academic calendar, including late-start 8-week sessions.
- Learning platform: Blackboard.
- Field course: GSCI 651 Field Studies in Geography is required. FHSU’s field trip page describes in-person trips, with lodging and admission fees of about $55 to $100. Ask the department whether an online alternative is available before you enroll.
- Internship: GSCI 695 is required; ask the department how placements work for online students.
Admission Requirements
- Freshmen: 2.25 GPA (2.5 for non-Kansas residents), ACT 21 / SAT 1060, or top third of class; tests are optional
- Transfer students with 24+ credits: 2.00 cumulative GPA
- Official transcripts from all prior schools; military applicants also send the Joint Services Transcript
- $30 application fee for domestic students
FHSU accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited schools, and students must complete at least 30 credits at FHSU. Sources: admission requirements, transfer admission and degree rules.
Tuition
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Online tuition (program pages) | $275.65 per credit |
| Online tuition (FHSU Online, 2025–26) | $265.05 per credit |
| Online-specific fees | None listed |
| 120 credits at $275.65 | $33,078 |
| GIS User certificate (9 credits) | About $2,481 |
FHSU’s program pages list $275.65 per online credit, while the FHSU Online tuition page still shows the 2025–26 rate of $265.05. The higher figure likely reflects 2026–27. The online rate does not change with residency, and most students pay far less than the full 120-credit figure because of transfer credit.
Faculty and Department
The Department of Geosciences teaches geography, geology and GIS. Geography and GIS faculty include specialists in GIS and remote sensing, human and urban geography, physical geography and cartography, and ecological modeling. The department chair researches severe weather and climatology, and the department is affiliated with the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
Careers
FHSU lists geographer, environmental consultant, city planner, GIS specialist and sustainability manager for the degree. For the GIS User certificate it lists GIS technician, GIS analyst, remote sensing specialist, GIS business analyst and emergency response specialist.
Pros and Considerations
Strengths
- Low per-credit rate, the same in every state
- Broad geography core plus GIS, cartography and remote sensing
- Internship built into the degree
- Stackable 9-credit GIS certificate
Things to Consider
- Required field course has included in-person trips
- Degree is titled Geosciences, not Geography
- FHSU’s online tuition pages show two different rates
- No online graduate geography program
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you earn a geography degree online at Fort Hays State?
Yes. The department says the B.S. in Geosciences with a Geography emphasis can be completed entirely online through FHSU Online. Confirm how the required field course works for online students.
Is geosciences the same as geography at FHSU?
FHSU’s geography program is one emphasis within its B.S. in Geosciences. The Geography emphasis focuses on physical, cultural and world geography plus GIS, rather than geology.
How much does FHSU’s online geography degree cost?
Program pages list $275.65 per online credit, or about $33,078 for 120 credits before transfer credit. Online tuition is the same for all states.
Does Fort Hays offer an online GIS certificate?
Yes. The 9-credit GIS User certificate is offered fully online and costs about $2,481 at the current online rate.
Compare FHSU with other programs in our online geography and GIS degree guide, or see campus programs in Kansas.
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.
- B.S. Geosciences (Geography) program page
- Catalog: B.S. Geosciences (Geography)
- Degree map
- Undergraduate geosciences programs
- GIS User certificate
- Catalog: GIS User certificate
- Department certificates
- Department of Geosciences
- Faculty and staff
- Field trips
- FHSU Online tuition
- Admission requirements
- Transfer admission
- Admission and degree information
- Accreditation