Program Overview

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

The School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences, a multidisciplinary program that aims to cultivate innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences.

Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences program requires a minimum of 75 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. The program is designed to develop individuals capable of advancing the field of geospatial information sciences by developing new knowledge or capabilities relevant to it.

Mission

The mission of the program is to cultivate innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences through improved theories, new technologies, innovative methodologies, sophisticated quantitative analyses, and integrative applications.

Objectives

The program objectives are to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental theories and concepts underlying the geospatial sciences
• Master advanced methodologies and/or quantitative analyses used in at least one of three geospatial specialization areas: computing and information management, spatial analysis and modeling, or remote sensing and satellite technologies
• Produce innovative research that advances theory or methodology in the geospatial sciences
• Participate in academic conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and find employment in research departments of public and private organizations and in major academic institutions

Faculty

The program faculty includes professors from the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, and the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.

Facilities

Students have access to state-of-the-art GIS computing facilities housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and at the NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences.

Admission Requirements

The program seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate, Master of Arts, Master of Science, or professional master's level degree in any field relevant to geospatial information science. Applicants will be judged and evaluated by the existing admission standards as set forth by the University in its Graduate Catalog and by the standards set forth by the Geospatial Information Sciences program.

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites/corequisites will also be required for admission to the PhD program:

• College mathematics through calculus
• Competence in at least one modern programming language equivalent to GISC 6317 GIS Programming Fundamentals
• At least one course in inferential statistics through to regression analysis equivalent to GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals, EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics, or GEOS 5306 Data Analysis for Geoscientists

Advising

Every doctoral student is required to consult with their designated advisor and/or the GIS Doctoral Program Director prior to registration in every semester.

Degree Requirements

To receive the PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences, students must complete:

• The Geospatial Science Core (15 semester credit hours)
• Prescribed Specialization Electives (15 semester credit hours)
• A Specific Application area or Technical field (12 semester credit hours)
• Evidence research skills through successful completion and defense of a PhD dissertation
• Take related electives as necessary for a total of 75 semester credit hours

Geospatial Science Core

The Geospatial Science Core consists of five courses:

• GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals
• GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
• GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
• GISC 6385 (GEOS 6385) GIS Theories, Models and Issues
• GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis

Prescribed Specialization Electives

Students must choose five courses from a list of prescribed specialization electives, including:

• GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
• GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
• GISC 5330 Geospatial Applications in Earth Science
• GISC 5395 Satellite Geophysics and Applications
• GISC 6311 Statistics for Geospatial Science
• GISC 6317 GIS Programming Fundamentals
• GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
• GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
• GISC 6331 (CRIM 6332) GIS Applications in Criminology
• GISC 6334 (PPPE 6334) Workshop in Environmental and Health GIS/Policy
• GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
• GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
• GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
• GISC 6382 (GEOS 6383) Applied Geographic Information Systems
• GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
• GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
• GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
• GISC 7364 Demographic and Epidemiological Analysis and Modeling
• GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Advanced Remote Sensing
• GISC 7366 (GEOS 5329) Applied Remote Sensing

Application Area or Technical Field

Twelve semester credit hours of specialized course work in an application area or technical field relevant to GIScience.

Research and Dissertation

All students must complete the following class as part of the research and dissertation requirement:

• GISC 7387 GIS Research Design (before proposal defense)
• GISC 8V99 or CS 8V99 Dissertation (after proposal defense)

Exams and Qualifiers

The GISC PhD Qualifier Examination is administered in May of a full-time doctoral student's first year. The exam comprises four parts, each based upon one of the following core courses:

• GISC 6325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
• GISC 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
• GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models and Issues
• GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis

Defense of Dissertation

A dissertation must be prepared and defended successfully following the procedures established by the Dean of Graduate Education.