Abstract
Geographic information systems (GIS) have become central to applied spatial work, yet the structure and recent trajectory of master’s education in geographic information science and technology (GIS&T) in the United States remain underexplored. This study analyzes degree completion data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) between 2012 and 2024, drawing upon the Central Improvement Program (CIP)-based classification scheme to identify broader geography (GIS-related) and GIS&T (GIS-focused) programs and then employing a program-orientation typology (research, professional, mixed) to characterize them. Active GIS&T master’s programs as of 2026 are manually verified and depicted on a continuously updated interactive map that visualizes geographic patterns in program types. Results show that GIS&T degrees have grown rapidly and now exceed traditional geography master’s degrees in annual awards, even as the number of institutions offering geography programs has remained relatively stable. Mixed thesis/non-thesis designs and postbaccalaureate certificates have expanded, indicating diversification of credentials, while recent years show stabilization and selective program closure. Demographic analysis reveals persistent gender gaps, slow racial and ethnic diversification, and a modest but policy-sensitive role for international students. The study concludes that GIS&T master’s education has moved toward a more central and professionalized position within graduate geography, while also entering a possible period of moderation marked by consolidation, redefinition, and growing ties to workforce demand.