Why is it important for me to learn about cartography?

It's important to learn about cartography if you want to be able to incorporate maps into software programs or if you want to know more about the world's geography. Cartography is the art and science of drawing maps, and it is a fundamental of geographic information systems (GIS), including those that use the global positioning system (GPS). When you learn cartography, you will be able to include information about places in your work, whether through geo-visualization, map design, or data journalism. Cartography can help you add more information to analysis to include mapping, helping you and your organization make better decisions.

What are some career opportunities that arise from learning cartography?

Career opportunities that arise from learning cartography are varied: Some are in mapping and map design, while others are in data analysis that uses satellite imagery and other geo-visualization. Many people learn cartography because they are interested in the role of place in history, politics, and society. Adding spatial analysis to their work can give them richer perspectives. Many computer programmers are interested in the fundamentals of GIS so that they can incorporate it into data acquisition and location-based services. It is also useful to understand the power and limitations of cartography if you will be using reports and making decisions based on it.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn cartography?

Online courses on Coursera can help you learn cartography in several languages and platforms, including Python, Kumu, and GeoDa. Some courses cover it from a programming perspective, while others look at the uses in spatial analysis, mapping, and geo-visualization. Cartography is also part of courses in history and society. Courses are offered at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. They include lectures, readings, and projects so that you can apply what you learn. There are also Guided Projects so that you can demonstrate and apply the knowledge that you already have. Some courses stand alone, and others are part of Specializations and Professional Certificates.

What are the benefits of taking an online Cartography course?

Online Cartography courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your existing knowledge or learn new Cartography skills. With a wide range of Cartography classes, you can conveniently learn at your own pace to advance your Cartography career skills.

What Cartography courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Cartography, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Cartography Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Cartography Course Catalog

University of California, Davis
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, GIS Software, Spatial Analysis, Data Storytelling, Spatial Data Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Data Presentation, Data Sharing, Geospatial Mapping, Geospatial Information and Technology, Land Management, Heat Maps, Epidemiology, Metadata Management, Data Mapping, Data Visualization Software, Data Quality, File Management, Network Analysis, Data Modeling
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Toronto
GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, Geospatial Information and Technology, Data Mapping, Data Visualization, Metadata Management, Query Languages, Data Manipulation, Data Synthesis, Quantitative Research, Data Compilation, Data Processing, Typography, Data Cleansing, Data Validation, Data Storytelling
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.9K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of California, Davis
Fundamentals of GIS
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, GIS Software, Data Sharing, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, Metadata Management, Data Quality, Data Mapping, File Management, Data Import/Export
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Toronto
GIS Data Acquisition and Map Design
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, Data Mapping, Spatial Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Metadata Management, Quantitative Research, Typography, Data Cleansing, Data Validation, Design Elements And Principles, Data Integration
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
703 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Stanford University
Cryptography I
Skills you'll gain: Cryptography, Data Encryption Standard, Encryption, Key Management, Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), Cybersecurity, Authentications, Data Integrity, Mathematical Software, Algorithms
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Toronto
Introduction to GIS Mapping
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Information and Technology, Geospatial Mapping, Data Mapping, Data Collection
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Universitat de Barcelona
Oceanography: a key to better understand our world
Skills you'll gain: Global Positioning Systems, Physical Science, Water Resources, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Information and Technology, Environmental Monitoring, Environment, Physics, Systems Of Measurement, Remote Access Systems
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
276 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Geographical Information Systems - Part 1
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, NoSQL, Data Modeling, Database Design, Databases, SQL, Data Storage, Data Capture, Data Management, Data Manipulation
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
93 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Coursera Project Network
Overview of Data Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Data Presentation, Data Synthesis, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization Software, Google Sheets, Graphing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
374 reviews
Beginner · Guided Project · Less Than 2 Hours
L&T EduTech
Mastering Geospatial Analysis with QGIS
Skills you'll gain: Spatial Analysis, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, Geospatial Mapping, Geographic Information Systems, Heat Maps, Building Information Modeling, Global Positioning Systems, Network Analysis, Image Analysis, Data Import/Export, Unsupervised Learning, Software Installation, Supervised Learning, User Interface (UI)
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
École normale supérieure
Cartographie thématique
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Statistical Visualization, Geospatial Mapping, Data Mapping, Geographic Information Systems, Graphic Design, Data Presentation, Graphics Software, Quantitative Research, Color Theory
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
82 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Systèmes d’Information Géographique - Partie 1
Skills you'll gain: Geographic Information Systems, Data Modeling, GIS Software, SQL, Database Design, Spatial Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Relational Databases, Land Management, Data Capture, Data Storage, Data Management
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
283 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months