Ph.D. in Geospatial Analytics
Our innovative Ph.D. program brings together departments from across NC State University to train a new generation of interdisciplinary data scientists skilled in developing novel understanding of spatial phenomena and in applying new knowledge to grand challenges.

This one-of-a-kind degree focuses on integrative thinking and experiential learning:
- Multidisciplinary advising unites expertise from across complementary academic departments
- Cross-cutting curriculum spans core classes in solution-driven analytics and discipline-specific electives
- Geospatial externship enriches practical understanding through a one-week internship with an external partner
If your research goals intersect geospatial problem-solving from any number of fields, you will find your fit here. Our Faculty Fellows advise students interested in a range of disciplines––from design, to cognitive science, natural resources and the environment, computer science, engineering and more––and approach their work in a range of geospatial research areas. Students with strong backgrounds in quantitative methods in geography, geomatics/informatics, remote sensing and earth sciences are strongly encouraged to apply. Find recent publications by our faculty through NC State’s Libraries Citation Index.
Program News More From Our Students
Apply for a Ph.D. in Geospatial Analytics
Twelve fully funded Ph.D. graduate assistantships with $25,000 salary, benefits, and tuition support are available for Fall 2020 through the Center for Geospatial Analytics. Students are encouraged to suggest prospective advisor(s) and describe shared research interests in their application’s personal statement. Applications are due February 1st, 2021.
Admission Requirements
Minimum requirements include
- Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0
- Graduate GPA ≥ 3.0 (if entering with a Master’s degree)
- GRE Scores (within last 5 years). Note: Students applying for Fall 2021 admission are encouraged to include GRE scores with their application; however, this requirement is waived for those who were unable to take the exam due to COVID-19. There is no minimum, but students accepted for Fall 2020 admission earned the following average scores:
- Quantitative: 158 (70th percentile)
- Verbal: 157 (75th percentile)
- Writing: 4 (59th percentile)
- IBT TOEFL Score ≥ 80 overall (18 in each section) (International Applicants; the Office of International Services offers additional helpful information)
Required supporting documents
- Official NC State Graduate School application.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities attended (official transcripts will be required if admitted to the program).
- A personal statement, not to exceed 2 pages. We encourage you to consider the following:
- Your academic and career goals
- Special interests and prior research in the area of geospatial analytics
- What makes you well-suited to our program
- Describe any computational, quantitative, and/or geospatial training
- You are encouraged to suggest prospective advisor(s) and describe shared research interests
- 3 letters of recommendation. Submit the names and contact information for your recommenders through the online application, and they will receive an email with instructions for submitting their letters online.
- Curriculum vitae/resume.
If you have questions about the application process, please contact Rachel Kasten, Graduate Services Coordinator (rachelkasten@ncsu.edu, 919-515-2800).
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program consists of
- 72 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree. The core required courses comprise 18 credit hours. The remaining 54 credit hours are devoted to an individually tailored selection of electives and research.
- an off-campus professional experience. By the beginning of their third year in the program, students participate in an experiential learning activity within government (local, state, federal), industry, private and academic research institutions, or other organizations in the geospatial arena. Students consult with their advisors to identify specific opportunities that will enhance their doctoral program.
- a comprehensive exam. The written exam is required by the end of the 4th semester, followed by an oral exam consisting of the dissertation proposal defense, typically before the start of the 5th semester.
- a written dissertation and final dissertation oral defense required to complete the degree.
Core Curriculum
The core curriculum includes the following courses; click course names to view descriptions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions we have received about the Ph.D. program in Geospatial Analytics. If your questions are still not answered here, please feel free to contact us through the form below.
- The DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship provides outstanding benefits and opportunities to students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems.
- The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
- NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program recognizes outstanding scholarship and encourages independent graduate level research — particularly by female and minority students — in NOAA mission-related sciences of oceanography, marine biology and maritime archaeology, including all science, engineering and resource management of ocean and coastal areas.
- The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship is a highly competitive, portable fellowship that is awarded to U.S. citizens and nationals who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines. The goal is to help DoD increase the number and quality of the nation’s scientists and engineers. NDSEG Fellowships last for three years.
- The ACM–IEEE-CS George Michael Memorial HPC Fellowship honors exceptional PhD students throughout the world whose research focus is on high-performance computing applications, networking, storage, or large-scale data analysis using the most powerful computers that are currently available
- The Stu Shea USGIF Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a PhD student studying cartography, geography, or imaging science.
- The National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals awards scholarships for LGBTQ+ students pursuing degrees in STEM fields.
- The Ford Foundation funds students who will increase racial and ethnic diversity in the professoriate and/or will use diversity as a resource of educating students.
- The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) offers scholarships for STEM graduate students for five years who will work with the Department of Defense.
- Landscape Connectivity Dynamics in Surface Water Networks — Join the Geospatial Analysis for Environmental Change Lab to investigate climate and land-use change effects on landscape connectivity dynamics.
- Seasonality from Space — Join the Spatial Ecosystem Analytics Lab on a NASA-funded project investigating satellite data fusion and time series analysis.
- Winter Weather — Join the Environment Analytics group to study the complex interactions within snow storms and wintery mix storms.
- Modeling Forest and Water Resources under Changing Conditions — Join the Watershed Ecology lab group and combine various data sources to create projections of future landscape conditions.
- Modeling Agricultural and Water Resource Dynamics — Join the Biosystems Analytics Lab to study the effects of global and local change on fresh and estuarine water quality, land-sea connectivity and agroecosystem productivity.
- Surface Water Dynamics from Space — Join the Geospatial Analysis for Environmental Change Lab to investigate hydroclimatic drivers of surface water extent dynamics and advance quantification of water extent and volume.
- Remote Sensing Forest Gap Dynamics — Join the Applied Remote Sensing and Analysis lab group to examine the role and influence of forest gaps in relation to localized large-scale disturbances.
Funding is available for additional projects, and in all cases students are encouraged to develop research questions and methods that suit their interests and career goals.
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