Geospatial Science & Technology

Explore GIS, Remote Sensing, and Cartography

The Geospatial Science & Technology program uses technological tools to solve a variety of geographic problems in fields such as urban planning, business, intelligence, scientific research, and environmental management. We sometimes call it "the world's largest industry that you've never heard of," but the U.S. Department of Labor recently identified GIS as one of the top three careers poised for explosive growth in the future. You will learn a variety of technical skills currently in demand in the job market, but we also focus on the fundamental principles of geography and geographic information that will enable you to solve difficult spatial problems and adapt to a constantly changing industry.

Career Opportunities

GIS Professionals who have graduated from this program work around the world, especially in government agencies at all levels (federal, state, county, city), non-profit organizations, the petroleum and retail industries, commercial real estate, academia, and consulting firms who work with a variety of clients.

Common job titles include GIS Technician, GIS Analyst, Project Manager, Application Developer, Cartographer, Image Analyst, Business Site Location Analyst

Median Salary: $85,000/yr

Expected Learning Outcomes

Upon finishing the Geospatial Science & Technology Program Requirements you will be able to:

Explain the fundamental theories underlying geospatial technologies, and correlate them to the data models and procedures implemented in those technologies.
Acquire and manage geospatial data as appropriate to a given application, using the proper sources, data models, and data formats
Analyze geospatial data to accomplish geographic tasks in scientific research and/or decision support, by applying spatial thinking principles using geospatial analysis procedures.
Design quality maps to visualize and communicate geographic information and analysis results
Create programs and scripts to automate geospatial tasks and implement geographic concepts.

Program Curriculum

This discipline is very diverse, so the courses in this emphasis will help you develop skills in six areas:

Geography, our understanding of the fundamental spatial patterns and spatial processes of our world, upon which analytical tools are based
Geographic information science, the study of how we represent the world
Geographic information systems, software for collecting and analyzing spatial data
Remote sensing, the collection and analysis of imagery from above, including drones
Cartography, the design of maps to communicate geographically
Application development, the creation of programs to automate geographic tasks