The University of Southern California’s Spatial Sciences Institute has developed and is now offering the first USGIF-accredited Master of Science degree in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence.

This newly accredited degree is in addition to USC’s Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence, which earned USGIF accreditation in 2015. USGIF presented the latest accreditation at its annual GEOINTegration Summit, which was held Sept. 27-28 in Herndon, Va.

“USC is the perfect example of how GEOINT certificate programs can mature, transform, and take on different dimensions—in this case by identifying and capitalizing on the value of human security in GEOINT,” said Dr. Camelia Kantor, USGIF’s Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Building upon a sustainably grown GEOINT Certificate program, USC aims to educate future leaders in location-based analytics by gathering and interpreting relevant data as well as creating and implementing actionable intelligence, all in support of human security.”

First offered in Fall 2018, the University of Southern California’s M.S. in HSGI program has drawn students from diverse backgrounds who are interested in solving complex challenges with a passion for safeguarding their communities and the world.

GEOINT has played an important role in the context of human security for decades. Ranging from military applications to use in natural disaster relief and mitigation, GEOINT has shown its potential across multiple disciplines. As a result, the field of human security and GEOINT itself also demands a vast array of skills that span proficiency in technical disciplines such as remote sensing as well as aptitude for leadership and technical project management.

USC’s Online HSGI program connects interrelated and collaborative sciences and disciplines, leading to careers as spatial science practitioners in fields including academic research, the military, business, and disaster relief. The HSGI master’s program is ideal for anyone interested in a GEOINT career, or for people who are already working in the field.

“Our academic programs and research initiatives in human security and geospatial intelligence represent one of our Institute’s core areas of expertise,” said John P. Wilson, Ph.D., professor and founding director of USC’s Spatial Sciences Institute. “We value the accreditation and other resources provided by USGIF as we prepare undergraduate and graduate students to be ‘workforce ready’ in human security and geospatial intelligence careers.”