Program Overview

Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences

The Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences is a 30-hour minimum program that offers two tracks: a professional program and a conventional program. Both tracks are offered jointly by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Program Overview

The program provides students with a rigorous understanding of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models, and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information, analyze spatial processes, communicate spatial information, and provide spatial decision support.

Faculty

The faculty members for this program include:

• Professors: Carlos L. V. Aiken, Brian J. L. Berry, Denis J. Dean, John F. Ferguson, Daniel A. Griffith, James Murdoch, Hsing-Mean (Edwin) Sha, Robert J. Stern, Weili Wu
• Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Fang Qiu, Michael Tiefelsdorf
• Assistant Professors: Yongwan Chun
• Senior Lecturers: Bryan Chastain, Irina Vakulenko

Program Tracks

Students may choose between two tracks within the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program:

• Professional Program: This track focuses on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and associated technologies such as remote sensing and global positioning systems for acquiring, describing, managing, analyzing, and communicating spatially-referenced information in order to provide decision support.
• Conventional Program: This track offers a balance between coursework and research, aiming at students who want to hone their research skills and is the preferred route for students who may want to move to a doctoral program.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of both tracks of the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program is to provide students with a rigorous understanding of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models, and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information, analyze spatial processes, communicate spatial information, and provide spatial decision support. The program aims to equip students with strong analytical and numerical skills, knowledge of empirical and quantitative research methodologies, and the ability to employ novel geographic information sciences technologies.

Facilities

Classes are offered through state-of-the-art GIS computing facilities housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences. The University's extensive instructional computing facilities are also available, with facilities open extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Admissions Requirement

For admission to the program, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college is required, and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) scores must be presented. A 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 295 on the GRE, or equivalent score on the GMAT, are desirable. Students must also submit transcripts from all higher education institutions attended, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement outlining their background, education, and professional objectives.

Prerequisites

Beginning students must have the equivalent of GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals and GISC 6382 Applied Geographic Information Systems, or they must take these courses at the university in addition to the 30 credit hours required for the Master's degree.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of work beyond the prerequisites. Both tracks of the program involve the same requirement of 9 hours (three courses), core requirement of 9 hours, and prescribed electives for 9 hours. The two tracks differ in their research requirements. Students must achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average in the core requirement and an overall grade point average of 3.0 to graduate.

Program Base Requirement - Both Tracks

• Statistics (1 or 2 courses):
  • GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
  • GEOS 5306 Data Analysis for Geoscientists
  • GISC 6311 Statistics for Geospatial Science
  • GISC 7310 Regression Analysis with GIS Applications
• Programming (1 or 2 courses):
  • GEOS 5303 Computing for Geoscientists
  • GISC 6317 Computer Programming for GIS
  • GISC 6388 GIS Application Software Development
  • GISC 7363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing

Major Core Requirement - Both Tracks

Students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in at least three of the following courses:

• GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
• GISC 6384 Spatial Analysis and Modeling
• GISC 6387 Geographic Information Systems Workshop
• GEOS 7327 (GISC 7367) Remote Sensing Workshop

Elective Courses

Select courses from the following list (not duplicated elsewhere):

• CS 6359 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
• CS 6360 Database Design
• CS 6366 Computer Graphics
• CS 6384 Computer Vision
• EPPS 6316 Applied Regression
• EPPS 7368 Spatial Epidemiology
• GEOS 5301 Geology of the Metroplex
• GISC 5310 (GEOS 5310) Hydrogeology
• GISC 5311 (GEOS 5311) Applied Groundwater Modeling
• GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
• GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
• GISC 5330 (GEOS 5330) Geospatial Applications in Earth Science
• GISC 5395 (GEOS 5395) Satellite Geophysics and Applications
• GISC 6380 Spatial Concepts and Organization
• GISC 6383 Geographic Information Systems Management and Implementation
• GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models, and Issues
• GISC 6388 GIS Application Software Development
• GISC 7310 Regression Analysis with GIS Applications
• GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
• GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
• GISC 7363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
• GISC 7364 Demographic Analysis and Modeling
• GISC 7365 Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing
• GISC 7366 Applied Remote Sensing
• GISC 7387 GIS Research Design
• GISC 8320 Seminar in Spatial Analysis
• MIS 6308 Systems Analysis and Project Management
• MIS 6324 Business Intelligence Software and Techniques
• MIS 6326 Database Management
• PA 6318 Information Systems in Policy Environments

Research Requirement

• Project Track: 3 hours GISC 6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master's Research. Successfully defend a professional GIS Master's Project.
• Thesis Track: 3 hours GISC 6V98 Master's Thesis. Successfully defend a GIS Master's Research Thesis.