Coursera

Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera)

Offered by University of Toronto,
Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera)

Get started learning about the fascinating and useful world of geographic information systems (GIS)! In this first course of the specialization GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis, you'll learn about what a GIS is, how to get started with the software yourself, how things we find in the real world can be represented on a map, how we record locations using coordinates, and how we can make a two-dimensional map from a three-dimensional Earth.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In the course project, you will create your own GIS data by tracing geographic features from a satellite image for a location and theme of your choice. This course will give you a strong foundation in mapping and GIS that will give you the understanding you need to start working with GIS, and to succeed in the other courses in this specialization.
This course is for anyone who wants to learn about mapping and GIS. You don't have to have any previous experience - just your curiosity! The course includes both practical software training and explanations of the concepts you need to know to make informed decisions as you start your journey to becoming a GIS analyst.
You will need a Windows computer with ArcGIS Desktop installed. (software is not provided)

Course 1 of 4 in the GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1: What is a GIS?
WEEK 2: Introduction to ArcGIS
WEEK 3: Mapping the real world with vector and raster data
WEEK 4: Mapping Locations with Coordinate Systems
WEEK 5: Flattening the Earth with Map Projections
WEEK 6: Project: Creating Your Own Data

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Essential Epidemiologic Tools for Public Health Practice (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Essential Epidemiologic Tools for Public Health Practice (Coursera)

Health & Society Medicine & Pharmacology

In order to make a difference in the health and well-being of a population, we must understand the burden of all problems and conditions that affect the population, as well as how well our efforts to mitigate these problems are actually working. This course provides you with some essential skills and tools that will enhance your ability to describe and understand the health of your community

Aug 31st 2026
4 Weeks
Health Epidemiology Statistical Methods
Details
Strategies for Effective Engagement (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Strategies for Effective Engagement (Coursera)

Management & Leadership Business

Being a successful professional requires creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial thinking, and to continually have a problem-solving mindset. As a systems thinker, you are expected to engage complex problems from multiple perspectives and different angles, viewing them holistically. This course exposes the student to a variety of tools used to engage stakeholders, collect data, and more deeply understand the community.

Aug 31st 2026
3 Weeks
Entrepreneurial Thinking Engagement Creative Thinking
Details
Exploring Humans’ Space: An Introduction to Geographicity (edX) EdX
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne,EPFLx

Exploring Humans’ Space: An Introduction to Geographicity (edX)

Social Sciences

Explore how geography, cartography, urbanization and spatial justice play a role in shaping the notion of human space. How do we understand the notion of space? How have urbanisation, mobility, digital spaces, and globalization changed the way we perceive it? This course aims to help you feel comfortable with the notion of space.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Cartography Geography Urbanization
Details
Spatial Data Science and Applications (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

Spatial Data Science and Applications (Coursera)

Statistics & Data Analysis Data Science

Spatial (map) is considered as a core infrastructure of modern IT world, which is substantiated by business transactions of major IT companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, and Uber, and even motor companies such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes. Consequently, they are bound to hire more and more spatial data scientists. Based on such business trend, this course is designed to present a firm understanding of spatial data science to the learners, who would have a basic knowledge of data science and data analysis, and eventually to make their expertise differentiated from other nominal data scientists and data analysts.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Hadoop Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Analysis of Algorithms (Coursera) Coursera
Princeton University

Analysis of Algorithms (Coursera)

CS: Theory

This course teaches a calculus that enables precise quantitative predictions of large combinatorial structures. In addition, this course covers generating functions and real asymptotics and then introduces the symbolic method in the context of applications in the analysis of algorithms and basic structures such as permutations, trees, strings, words, and mappings.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Math Calculus Analysis
Details
Fundamentals of GIS (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Davis

Fundamentals of GIS (Coursera)

CS: Information & Technology Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences

Explore the world of spatial analysis and cartography with geographic information systems (GIS). What you will learn: define core geospatial concepts; practice with subset data using selections and feature attributes; create map books using advanced mapping techniques; create layer and map packages.

Aug 24th 2026
4 Weeks
Data Analysis Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Geographical Information Systems - Part 2 (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Geographical Information Systems - Part 2 (Coursera)

Sci: Environment

This course is the second part of a course dedicated to the theoretical and practical bases of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It offers an introduction to GIS that does not require prior computer skills. It gives the opportunity to quickly acquire the basics that allow you to create spatial databases and produce geographic maps. This is a practical course that relies on the use of free Open Source software (QGIS, Geoda).

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Robotics: Estimation and Learning (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Robotics: Estimation and Learning (Coursera)

Robotics & Computer Vision

How can robots determine their state and properties of the surrounding environment from noisy sensor measurements in time? In this module you will learn how to get robots to incorporate uncertainty into estimating and learning from a dynamic and changing world. Specific topics that will be covered include probabilistic generative models, Bayesian filtering for localization and mapping.

Jan 13th 2025
4 Weeks
Robotics Gaussian Method Bayesian Filtering
Details
Imagery, Automation, and Applications (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Davis

Imagery, Automation, and Applications (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

Welcome to the last course of the specialization (unless your continuing on to the capstone project, of course!). Using the knowledge you’ve learned about ArcGIS, complete technical tasks such raster calculations and suitability analysis. What you will learn:Use the imagery in two different common types of analysis: NDVI and trained classification; Practice with tools to support image analysis using Raster Calculation and Spatial Analyst; Develop a large processing workflow in ModelBuilder; Use products derived from digital elevation models

Jun 17th 2024
4 Weeks
Algorithms Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Spatial Analysis and Satellite Imagery in a GIS (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Spatial Analysis and Satellite Imagery in a GIS (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

In this course, you will learn how to analyze map data using different data types and methods to answer geographic questions. First, you will learn how to filter a data set using different types of queries to find just the data you need to answer a particular question. Then, we will discuss simple yet powerful analysis methods that use vector data to find spatial relationships within and between data sets.

Aug 24th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Operational Context and Data (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Operational Context and Data (Coursera)

Business

By the end of this course, learners are empowered to implement data-driven process improvement objectives at their organization. The course covers: the business case for IoT (Internet of Things), the strategic importance of aligning operations and performance goals, best practices for collecting data, and facilitating a process mapping activity to visualize and analyze a process’s flow of materials and information. Learners are prepared to focus efforts around business needs, evaluate what the organization should measure, discern between different types of IoT data and collect key performance indicators (KPIs) using IoT technology. Learners have the opportunity to implement process improvement objectives in a mock scenario and consider how the knowledge can be transferred to their own organizational contexts.

Jul 6th 2026
4 Weeks
Business Data Business Strategy
Details