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Studies & Degrees in Cartography

Cartography is the discipline of making and using maps. The International Cartographic Association defines it as the discipline dealing with the art, science and technology of making and using maps. Most of that work is now digital. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cartographers collect and analyse data from surveys, satellite images and other sources, and prepare static or interactive maps in print, digital or graphic format.

Students learn map design and data visualisation, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing and, increasingly, programming for the web. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, describes the courses of its Cartography and GIS major as ranging from graphic design and web mapping to big-data analytics and mobile application development, all with laboratory work.

Qualifications and levels

Cartography is taught at several levels, often together with GIS, geography or surveying.

  • Two-year programmes and certificates. At Montgomery College in Maryland, geography students can take an associate of applied science degree in applied geography or one of two certificates, one of them a Cartography/GIS Certificate.
  • Bachelor's degrees. The Cartography and Geographic Information Systems BS of the University of Wisconsin-Madison requires 120 degree credits in total. In Chile, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins (UBO) in Santiago offers Ingeniería en Geomensura y Cartografía, which leads to the professional title of Ingeniero en Geomensura y Cartografía after 10 semesters; a technical qualification takes 4 semesters. The programme page lists an evening schedule and subjects such as geomatics, satellite geodesy, digital cartography and GIS.
  • Master's degrees. The Cartography M.Sc. is an Erasmus Mundus programme run by four universities in Munich, Vienna, Dresden and Twente. It lasts four semesters, awards 120 ECTS credits, starts every October and enrols up to 25 students. Students spend the first semester at the Technische Universität München (TUM), the second at TU Wien and the third at TU Dresden; the University of Twente organises the fourth. The Cartography and GIS MS at Wisconsin-Madison requires at least 30 credits and has a thesis option and an accelerated non-thesis option taught on campus.

Entry to a master's degree normally requires a related first degree. The Cartography M.Sc. asks for a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a discipline related to cartography, geo-information, geography, geodesy, geology or computer science, and proof of English such as an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5.

Where to study cartography

SpainExchange lists six active schools for cartography: three in the United States and one each in Austria, Chile and Germany. In the United States they are the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Montgomery College in Maryland and UMBC (the University of Maryland, Baltimore County). In Europe, TUM in Munich and TU Wien in Vienna take part in the joint Cartography M.Sc. In Latin America the list includes UBO in Santiago de Chile.

The language depends on the programme. The Cartography M.Sc. is taught entirely in English, while the UBO programme is published in Spanish for students in Chile. Wisconsin-Madison states that it no longer accepts applications for its online GIS programmes, so its master's is an on-campus choice. Check the language of instruction and the study mode with each school before applying.

Careers

Graduates work as cartographers, GIS analysts and specialists in remote sensing or photogrammetry. Wisconsin-Madison names government agencies, planning organisations, environmental agencies, non-governmental organisations and private industry as employers of its master's graduates.

In the United States, the BLS counted 14,700 jobs for cartographers and photogrammetrists in 2025 and projects employment to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 900 openings a year. It states that these workers typically need a bachelor's degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying or a related field. Licensing requirements vary by state and by employer, so graduates who plan to work in surveying should check the rules where they intend to work.

Frequently asked questions

Is cartography still a career now that maps are digital?

Yes. The work has moved to digital and interactive maps, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of cartographers and photogrammetrists to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.

What is the difference between cartography and GIS?

Cartography deals with making and using maps. Geographic information science covers the wider processing and management of spatial information, including data analysis, data management and visualisation. Many degrees, such as the Cartography and GIS programmes at Wisconsin-Madison, teach both.

Can I study cartography in English in Europe?

Yes. The Erasmus Mundus Cartography M.Sc. of TUM, TU Wien, TU Dresden and the University of Twente is taught entirely in English, lasts four semesters and awards 120 ECTS credits.

Do I need to know programming to study cartography?

Not to start, but expect to learn it. Current programmes include web mapping, GIS technology and, at Wisconsin-Madison, mobile application development.