Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the scientific discipline that conducts spatial analysis to examine economic, environmental, physical, and social phenomena. The study of spatial data structures and computational techniques to capture, represent, process, and analyze geographic information are essential to GIScience. GIScience overlaps with and draws from many research fields such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, and psychology, and contributes to progress in those fields. GIScience also supports research in many academic disciplines such as natural resource management, environmental science and engineering, geosciences, agriculture, marine sciences, sociology, history, public health, business, and anthropology.
Courses in GIScience enable students to develop capability in spatial thinking and gather in-depth knowledge in geospatial technology. Geospatial technology is a term used to describe the range of modern tools contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies, e.g. geographic information systems (GISystems), remote sensing, the global positioning system (GPS), spatial statistics, web mapping and navigation technologies.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, graduates with skills in geospatial technology are in extremely high demand and are one of the highest growth areas in the federal government. Students have employment opportunities in many corporate and government entities. Students with an undergraduate degree in GIScience are also prepared to move on to graduate school to pursue M.A, M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in many fields that enable them to pursue academic jobs or to secure higher ranking positions in the public and private sectors.
Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts
Students can obtain a B.S. or B.A. degree. The GIScience B.A. degree does not require students to take biology, chemistry, physics, or calculus, and focuses on classes related to spatial analysis of social issues. The GIScience B.S. degree requires students to take biology, chemistry, physics and calculus and is intended as preparation for students pursuing a career in natural science or engineering with geospatial technology.
Major Requirements
The major in GIScience requires at least 26 credits of 2000-level or higher courses in the Department of Geography. GIScience majors complete basic core courses before beginning advanced courses. Recommended preparation for the major: GEOG 1010 New Digital Worlds of Geographic Information Science and GEOG 1302 GIS Modeling of Environmental Change.
Required Core Courses
(at least 14 credits)
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| GEOG 2500 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GEOG 2505 | Applications of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| GEOG 3510 | Cartographic Techniques | 3 |
| or GEOG 3500Q | Geographic Data Analysis |
| GEOG 3530 | Introduction to GeoComputing | 3 |
| 1-3 |
| Total Credits | 14-16 |
Electives
In addition to the required courses above, the plan of study must include 12 credits of electives from courses below. At least six credits of electives must be selected from the list of GIScience courses. No more than six credits of internship and/or independent study (GEOG 4090 Internship in Geography: Field Study, GEOG 4091 Internship in Geography: Seminar, and GEOG 4099 Independent Study) may be counted toward the additional credit requirements of the Geographic Information Sciences major.
GIScience Courses
Related Courses
12 credits of related coursework taken in other departments. The following is a list of pre-approved related courses that may be relevant to the GIScience major. Other courses can be used with approval of a student’s Geography advisor.
Remote Sensing Courses
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| NRE 2000 | Introduction to Geomatics | 4 |
| NRE 3535 | Remote Sensing of the Environment | 3 |
| NRE 4535 | Remote Sensing Image Processing | 3 |
| NRE 4575 | | 4 |
Computer Science and Engineering Courses
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| CSE 2050 | Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design | 3 |
| CSE 2102 | Introduction to Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSE 2304 | | 3 |
| CSE 2500 | Introduction to Discrete Systems | 3 |
| CSE 3000 | Contemporary Issues in Computer Science and Engineering | 1 |
| CSE 3100 | Systems Programming | 3 |
| CSE 3150 | C++ Essentials | 3 |
| CSE 3300 | Computer Networks and Data Communication | 3 |
| CSE 3400 | Introduction to Computer and Network Security | 3 |
| CSE 3500 | Algorithms and Complexity | 3 |
| CE 2251 | Probability and Statistics in Civil and Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CE 2310E | Environmental Engineering Fundamentals | 3 |
| CE 2410 | Introduction to Geospatial Analysis and Measurement | 4 |
| CE 2710 | Transportation Engineering and Planning | 3 |
Math and Statistics Courses
Social Science Courses
Natural Science Courses
Economics Courses
The Information Literacy Competency and Writing in the Major requirements can be satisfied by passing any 2000 or higher level W course in Geography.
University General Education Requirements
Every student must meet a set of core requirements to earn a baccalaureate degree, in addition to those required by the student's major course of study and other requirements set by the student's school or college. For more information about these requirements, please see General Education Requirements.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree Requirements
Students must meet a set of requirements established by the college in addition to the University's General Education requirements. For more information, see the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
