Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers online geography and GIS programs at three levels: a fully online Bachelor of Science in Geography, a 36-credit M.A. in Geography and a 36-credit M.S. in Geographic Information Systems. The bachelor’s has two concentrations: Human Geography and Physical Geography. Courses run in 8-week terms with eight start dates a year, and transfer students can apply credit toward up to 75% of the degree.
Both concentrations share a GIS sequence, a research methods course and a faculty-mentored capstone. Liberty is a private Christian university, and faith integration is part of the curriculum: general education includes 12 credits of religion, Bible and theology, and one program outcome asks students to evaluate geographic concepts through a Christian worldview.
Program at a Glance
| Degrees | B.S. in Geography; M.A. in Geography; M.S. in GIS |
| Bachelor’s | B.S. in Geography (online only) |
| Concentrations | Human Geography; Physical Geography |
| Total credits | 120 (39–42 general education, 51–52 major, 27–42 free electives) |
| Upper-level credits | 30 at the 300–400 level |
| Residency | 30 credits through Liberty, including 25% of the major |
| Format | 100% online, 8-week courses, no set login times for most courses |
| Start dates | Eight per year (next: October 26, 2026; January 18, 2027; February 15, 2027) |
| Tuition (2026–27) | $410 per credit full-time; $475 part-time; $250 military |
| Transfer | Up to 75% of the degree, C- or better |
| Graduate tuition (2026–27) | $600 per credit full-time; $665 part-time; $310 military |
| Accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) |
B.S. in Geography Curriculum
The major has 51 to 52 credits, built from foundational courses, a shared major core and a concentration cognate. Course lists come from Liberty’s 2026–27 degree completion plans for the Human Geography and Physical Geography concentrations.
Foundational Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| GEOG 200 Introduction to Geography | 3 |
| GOVT 200 Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise | 3 |
| MATH 201 Introduction to Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| PHSC 210 Elements of Earth Science | 3 |
Major Core (24 credits)
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| CRST 290 History of Life | 3 |
| GEOG 310 Human Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 320 Regional Studies in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 370 Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG 371 Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| GEOG 490 Geographic Research Methods | 3 |
| GEOG 491 Geography Capstone | 3 |
| GLST 290 Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
GEOG 371 is built around the U.S. Department of Labor’s Geospatial Competency Model, and GEOG 370 uses ArcGIS. The GEOG 491 capstone is a research project completed with a faculty mentor.
Concentration Cognates (15–16 credits)
| Human Geography | Physical Geography |
|---|---|
| GEOG 373 GIS for Urban Planning | GEOG 305 Physical Geography |
| GEOG 380 Modern Military Geography | GEOG 374 GIS for Hydrological Applications |
| GEOG 405 Demography | PHSC 311 Oceanography |
| GOVT 440 Political Geography | PHSC 312 Meteorology |
| RSCH 301 Research Verification | PHSC 313 Mineralogy and Petrology, or an upper-level environmental science elective |
General Education
General education runs 39 to 42 credits and includes ENGL 101, a math course at MATH 114 or higher, and three 4-credit faith courses: RLGN 104, BIBL 104 and THEO 104. Students who transfer in 45 or more credits have RLGN 104 waived, and those with 60 or more also have THEO 104 waived.
Online Master’s in Geography and GIS
Both graduate programs are 36 credits in 8-week online courses, with transfer credit for up to 50% of the degree. Next starts include October 26, 2026 and January 18, 2027. Liberty notes that some graduate courses may use intensive or alternative formats.
M.A. in Geography
Every M.A. in Geography student takes a 27-credit core: Research Methods, Introduction to GIS, Quantitative Analysis, Human Geography, Historical Geography, Demography and Populations, Economic Geography, Transport Geography and Military Geography. Students then add 9 credits in one track. The M.A. has no thesis or capstone.
| Track | 9-credit cognate |
|---|---|
| Geographic Information Systems | Three of: Cartography and Geographic Visualization; GIS for Transportation and Logistics; Remote Sensing; GIS for Urban Planning; GIS for Disaster Management; GIS for Environmental Sciences; GIS Programming and Automation; Advanced Topics in GIS and Remote Sensing |
| Urban Planning | Geography and Urban Planning; GIS for Urban Planning; Community Economic Development |
| Disaster Management | GIS for Disaster Management; Introduction to Disaster Management; Hazard Mitigation |
| General (no concentration) | Three 500–600 level electives from approved disciplines |
M.S. in Geographic Information Systems
The M.S. in GIS is offered online only. Year one is shared: Research Methods, Introduction to GIS, Quantitative Analysis, Cartography and Geographic Visualization, Spatial Statistics, and Analysis and Modeling. Year two follows one of three concentrations, and every student finishes with a 3-credit internship instead of a thesis.
| Concentration | Year-two courses |
|---|---|
| Cartography and Remote Sensing | Remote Sensing; GIS Programming and Automation; Advanced Topics in GIS and Remote Sensing; two GIS electives; internship |
| Commercial Logistics | Transport Geography; GIS for Transportation and Logistics; Supply Chain Management; two GIS electives; internship |
| Geospatial Intelligence | Military Intelligence; National Security Structure and Responsibilities; GIS Programming and Automation; two GIS electives; internship |
Graduate Admission
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- 3.00 undergraduate GPA for good standing; 2.50 to 2.99 may be admitted on academic caution; below 2.50 is not admitted
- No GRE requirement listed for either program
- TOEFL if applicable
Source: M.S. in GIS catalog and M.A. in Geography catalog. Liberty also offers an 18-credit online GIS minor for undergraduates in other majors.
How the Online Format Works
- 8-week courses: most courses run 8 weeks, with some full-semester options in the Physical Geography concentration.
- No set login times: coursework is asynchronous for most classes. Liberty notes that some courses may use intensive or alternative formats with scheduled sessions.
- Materials: e-textbooks are included at no cost for online undergraduates. GIS coursework uses ArcGIS.
- Frequent starts: eight start dates a year let students begin soon after admission.
Admission Requirements
- Official high school transcript, GED scores or a high school self-certification form
- Official transcripts from all colleges attended
- 2.00 minimum GPA; applicants below that may be admitted on caution status
- No standardized test scores required
- English proficiency scores for non-native speakers (TOEFL 61 iBT, IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)
Students can take up to 12 credits while official documents are pending. Liberty accepts transfer courses with a C- or better and awards credit for military training, AP, CLEP, DSST and portfolio-based prior learning. Source: Liberty online admissions policy.
Tuition, Fees and Financial Aid
| Item | 2026–27 cost |
|---|---|
| Graduate tuition, full-time (9+ credits) | $600 per credit |
| Graduate tuition, part-time | $665 per credit |
| Graduate military tuition | $310 per credit |
| Undergraduate tuition, full-time (12+ credits per semester) | $410 per credit |
| Tuition, part-time (11 or fewer credits) | $475 per credit |
| Military tuition | $250 per credit |
| First responder tuition | $250 per credit (25% discount) |
| Technology fee | $349 per semester (waived for active military and spouses) |
| Application fee | $50 one-time, per the catalog |
| E-textbooks | Included for online undergraduates |
A student taking all 120 credits at the full-time rate would pay about $49,200 in tuition, plus technology fees. Most students pay far less because transfer credit can cover up to 75% of the degree. Liberty offers scholarships, payment plans and military and corporate tuition benefits. Sources: expenses and financial policy, online tuition and first responder discount.
A 36-credit master’s at the full-time graduate rate comes to about $21,600 in tuition before fees (graduate expenses). Note: Liberty’s program pages advertise no application fee, while the catalogs list a $50 one-time fee. Confirm with admissions.
Department
The program is housed in Liberty’s College of Arts and Sciences. Its catalog learning outcomes focus on analyzing quantitative and qualitative spatial data, assessing how space shapes cultural, economic and political systems, applying geographic tools to local and global problems, and evaluating geography through a Christian worldview.
Careers
Liberty lists these career paths for graduates:
| Human Geography | Physical Geography |
|---|---|
| Urban planner | Physical scientist |
| GIS analyst | Geospatial analyst |
| Development surveyor | Military geographer |
| Environmental consultant | Environmental consultant |
| Geographer | Geographer |
Liberty does not publish employment or salary outcomes for this program.
Pros and Considerations
Strengths
- Generous transfer policy (up to 75% of the degree)
- Eight start dates a year and 8-week courses
- Two GIS courses for every student, plus GIS applications in each concentration
- Low military and first responder rates, and free e-textbooks
Things to Consider
- Required faith-based coursework (12 credits plus CRST 290)
- Full-time tuition is higher than many public flat-rate online programs
- Some courses may use intensive formats with scheduled sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Liberty’s geography degree fully online?
Yes. The B.S. in Geography is offered online only, in 8-week courses with no set login times for most classes.
How much does Liberty’s online geography degree cost?
For 2026–27, tuition is $410 per credit full-time and $475 part-time, plus a $349 technology fee each semester. All 120 credits at the full-time rate come to about $49,200, but transfer credit usually lowers that substantially.
How many credits can I transfer to Liberty?
Up to 75% of the degree, from accredited schools with a grade of C- or better. Liberty also awards credit for military training and exams such as CLEP and DSST.
Does Liberty’s geography degree include GIS?
Yes. All students take GIS I and GIS II. Human Geography adds GIS for Urban Planning, and Physical Geography adds GIS for Hydrological Applications.
Does Liberty offer an online master’s in GIS?
Yes. Liberty offers a 36-credit online M.S. in Geographic Information Systems with Cartography and Remote Sensing, Commercial Logistics or Geospatial Intelligence concentrations, plus an online M.A. in Geography with a GIS track. Graduate tuition is $600 per credit full-time for 2026–27.
Does Liberty require religion courses?
Yes. General education includes RLGN 104, BIBL 104 and THEO 104, and the major includes CRST 290 History of Life. Some faith courses are waived for transfer students with 45 or more credits.
Compare Liberty with other schools in our online geography degree rankings, or see campus programs in Virginia.
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. in Geography (online)
- Human Geography concentration
- Physical Geography concentration
- Catalog: Geography major
- Catalog: Human Geography degree plan
- Catalog: Physical Geography degree plan
- GEOG course descriptions
- Online admissions policy
- Online expenses and financial policy
- Online tuition and fees
- First responder discount
- Online M.A. in Geography
- M.A. Geography: GIS
- M.A. Geography: Urban Planning
- M.A. Geography: Disaster Management
- Online M.S. in GIS
- Catalog: M.S. in GIS
- Catalog: M.A. in Geography
- Graduate expenses
- GIS minor