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 Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Data Storytelling, Geographic Information Systems, Data Presentation, Data Sharing, Geospatial Mapping, Public Health, Land Management, Heat Maps, Metadata Management, Data Quality, Community Health, Data Mapping, Data Visualization Software, File Management, Network Analysis, Data Modeling
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of California, Davis
Fundamentals of GIS
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, GIS Software, Spatial Data Analysis, Data Sharing, Spatial Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, Metadata Management, Data Quality, Data Mapping, File Management, Data Presentation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Toronto
GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, Spatial Data Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, GIS Software, Data Mapping, Data Visualization, Metadata Management, Query Languages, Global Positioning Systems, Quantitative Research, Data Compilation, Data Modeling, Typography, Data Manipulation, Data Processing, Data Storytelling, Design Elements And Principles, Image Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 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, Secure Coding, Algorithms
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.4K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
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 Manipulation, Data Modeling, Design Elements And Principles
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
705 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Toronto
Introduction to GIS Mapping
Skills you'll gain: ArcGIS, Spatial Data Analysis, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Mapping, Data Mapping, Global Positioning Systems, Data Modeling, Data Capture
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.2K reviews
Beginner · 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, Global Positioning Systems, Databases, SQL, Data Storage, Relational Databases
3.5
Rating, 3.5 out of 5 stars
94 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Universitat de Barcelona
Oceanography: a key to better understand our world
Skills you'll gain: Physical Science, Water Resources, Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Information and Technology, Chemistry, Environment, Environmental Science, Physics, Biology, Remote Access Systems
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
279 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Coursera Project Network
Overview of Data Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Data Presentation, Data Literacy, Data Synthesis, Data Visualization Software, Google Sheets, Graphing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
399 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, Building Information Modeling, Data Manipulation, Global Positioning Systems, Network Analysis, Image Analysis, Data Import/Export, Unsupervised Learning, Software Installation, Supervised Learning, UI Components
4
Rating, 4 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
Advanced · 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, Spatial Data Analysis, Query Languages, Relational Databases, Land Management, Global Positioning Systems, Environmental Science, Data Capture, Data Storage
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
284 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
California Institute of the Arts
Graphic Design
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Visual Design, Logo Design, Design Software, Digital Design, Creative Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Color Theory, Adobe InDesign, Photo Editing, Photography, Style Guides, Branding, Peer Review, Art History, Design, Design Strategies, Design Research
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
21K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months