What are the best GIS courses on Coursera?

Top courses include Fundamentals of GIS from the University of California, Davis , and GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis from the University of Toronto . These programs cover the basics of GIS, spatial data analysis, and real-world applications in fields like urban planning and environmental management.

Can I learn GIS for free on Coursera?

Yes. Many GIS courses offer a free audit option, which allows learners to access video lessons and reading materials at no cost. To complete assignments or earn a certificate, you’ll need to upgrade or apply for financial aid.

What will I learn in a GIS course?

You’ll learn how to collect and analyze spatial data, create maps using GIS software like ArcGIS or QGIS, and apply GIS skills to solve real-world problems. Topics may include cartography , spatial databases, and remote sensing.

Do I need a technical background to start learning GIS?

Not necessarily. Many beginner-level GIS courses on Coursera assume no prior experience and walk you through foundational concepts. If you’re already familiar with data analysis or mapping, more advanced courses can help you deepen your skills.

Can Coursera’s GIS courses help me in my career?

Yes. GIS skills are in demand across industries like urban planning , environmental science , logistics , and public health . Coursera’s GIS courses can help you build job-ready skills, create a professional portfolio, and earn certificates that show your expertise.

Top Gis Courses - Learn Gis Online

Find the Best GIS Course for Your Goals

Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Surveillance Systems: Analysis, Dissemination, and Special Systems
Skills you'll gain: Epidemiology, Chronic Diseases, Public Health, Health Care, Data Analysis, Health Systems, Health Informatics, Continuous Monitoring, Technical Communication, Anomaly Detection, Infectious Diseases, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Data Ethics
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
375 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Coursera Project Network
Fundamentals of Database Systems
Skills you'll gain: Information Systems, Database Software, Database Systems, Database Design, Information Management, Databases, Relational Databases, Database Management, Data Management
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
27 reviews
Intermediate · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Fundamentals of Data Analytics in the Public Sector with R
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Surveys, Tidyverse (R Package), Data Analysis, Demography, Public Administration, Public Policies, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Data Transformation, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
42 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Building Data Visualization Tools
Skills you'll gain: Ggplot2, Data Visualization Software, Datamaps, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Interactive Data Visualization, Scatter Plots, Histogram, Graphic and Visual Design, R Programming, Geographic Information Systems, Software Development
3.9
Rating, 3.9 out of 5 stars
158 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Exploring and Producing Data for Business Decision Making
Skills you'll gain: Descriptive Statistics, Sampling (Statistics), Probability Distribution, Business Analytics, Statistics, Microsoft Excel, Analytics, Statistical Inference, Data Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis, Probability & Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Histogram, Data Collection, Data Presentation, Graphing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Johns Hopkins University
Data Visualization in R with ggplot2
Skills you'll gain: Ggplot2, Scatter Plots, Plot (Graphics), Data Visualization, Data Visualization Software, Heat Maps, R Programming, Graphical Tools, Data Wrangling, Tidyverse (R Package), Graphics Software
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
127 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Michigan
Exploratory Data Analysis for the Public Sector with ggplot
Skills you'll gain: Exploratory Data Analysis, Plot (Graphics), Data Presentation, Ggplot2, Statistical Visualization, R Programming, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, Scatter Plots, Graphic and Visual Design, Histogram, Tidyverse (R Package), Public Administration, Trend Analysis, Policy Analysis
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
University of Colorado Boulder
Resampling, Selection and Splines
Skills you'll gain: Data Science, R Programming, Statistical Machine Learning, Advanced Analytics, Dimensionality Reduction, Statistical Modeling, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Methods, Sampling (Statistics), Regression Analysis, Statistical Inference
5
Rating, 5 out of 5 stars
8 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
EIT Digital
Geometric Algorithms
Skills you'll gain: Geometry, Algorithms, Computer Graphics, Data Structures, Graph Theory, Spatial Data Analysis, Computational Thinking, Geographic Information Systems, Theoretical Computer Science, Spatial Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Ball State University
Data Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Exploratory Data Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Ggplot2, Interactive Data Visualization, Statistical Visualization, Visualization (Computer Graphics), R Programming, Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Histogram, Scatter Plots, Data Analysis, Data Manipulation
Build toward a degree
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Ball State University
Introduction to Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Collection, Probability & Statistics, Statistics, Data Visualization Software, R Programming, Data Science, Sampling (Statistics), Probability, Simulations, Data Wrangling, Analytical Skills, Data Analysis, Mathematical Theory & Analysis, General Mathematics, Statistical Analysis, Information Privacy, Regression Analysis, Arithmetic, Data Structures
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months