Graduates with expertise in GIS&T enjoy excellent employment opportunities with both private companies and government agencies in a variety of career fields including consumer navigation technology, engineering consulting, environment and natural resources, disaster management, land surveying, transportation, geospatial intelligence, agriculture and biosecurity, socioeconomic analysis, business planning, public health and healthcare, and urban planning and design. Associated duties can include analyzing spatial data using mapping and statistical software, designing digital maps with geographic data and other nonspatial datasets, designing and maintaining relational databases, writing programs and scripts to improve and expedite analyses, and developing custom software applications to deliver Web-based geographic services to end users. These tasks require a broad collection of technical skills, critical thinking, and creativity.
Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the field that underpins the wise use of geospatial technologies and methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), acquisition and analysis of remotely-sensed imagery, cartography and mapping, and quantitative spatial analysis and modelling. Collectively, this knowledge and skills area is referred to as Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T).
This interdisciplinary program is composed of equal parts computer science and geography/geographic techniques and affords students the opportunity to specialize in a variety of application areas via free electives to customize their educational program. This design also provides students with the ability to earn additional academic credentials (e.g., double-major, minors, certificates) at little/no cost that are in line with interests and career plans, whether that is immediate workforce entry or further graduate-level education.
Specific program objectives include:
- Develop technical competencies in spatial analysis/modeling, cartography/visualization, and programming methods. Apply technical skills critically to solve spatial problems.
- Enhance the effectiveness of technical skills by developing expertise in cognate fields of study (e.g., areas of specialization through free electives).
- Provide for a strong STEM undergraduate degree experience that increases the competitiveness of graduates for private and public sector employment or admittance to graduate school for further study in GIS&T or cognate fields.
- Prepare students academically for future professional GIS&T certification through third parties such as the GIS Certification Institute.
Students completing the College of Arts & Sciences and GIS&T Major requirements below will earn a BS in GIS&T, a Minor in Geography, the Computer Science Certificate, and the Undergraduate Certificate in GIS. Advising tracks are available for students to focus their free electives to earn additional credentials including a concurrent BS in Applied Computer Science (when approved by the college) or Geography; minors in Biology, Entrepreneurship, Leadership Studies, or Statistics; or the Data Analytics Certificate.