Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences
The University of Texas at Dallas
Key Information
Campus location
Richardson, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 18,276 / per semester
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
May 2024
* late application deadline: day prior to classes begin
Introduction
The MS in Geospatial Information Sciences is a professional program offered jointly by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Mission
The mission of both tracks of the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program is to provide students 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 second track has the additional mission of providing students with a thorough understanding of the scientific research method. UT Dallas graduates will have strong analytical and numerical skills, knowledge of empirical and quantitative research methodologies, and employ novel geographic information sciences technologies. They will use these capabilities to support public and private sector organizations, to address significant societal issues, and to enhance understanding of the human and natural environments. They will successfully compete at the highest level for jobs requiring geospatial skills and for entry into quality doctoral programs in relevant areas. More specifically, graduates of the program will:
- Possess a thorough knowledge of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information and to analyze spatial processes.
- Have strong analytical and numerical skills, knowledge of empirical and quantitative research methodologies, and be able to employ these skills and methodologies in novel geographic information sciences applications.
- Be able to identify and apply appropriate geospatial methodologies to support public and private sector organizations, address significant societal issues, and enhance understanding of the human and natural environments.
- Successfully competing at the highest level for jobs requiring geospatial skills and for entry into quality doctoral programs in relevant areas.
Admissions
Curriculum
Students may choose between two tracks within the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program. Both tracks are offered jointly by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The first track is a professional program that 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.
This track emphasizes coursework and involves a GIS Master's Research class where a student needs to identify a faculty member as his/her master's advisor, prepare a proposal for a professional GIS Master's project, and conduct research under the supervision of the advisor. To obtain his/her master's degree, a student must present the master's project to the faculty and fellow students and successfully defend it. Students are expected to master the concepts underlying GIS, the skills for implementing GIS projects in public or private sector organizations, and the ability to use GIS in pure or applied research in substantive areas. Graduates can apply their skills in a variety of areas such as public administration and policy analysis; public safety, criminology, emergency preparedness management; environmental and resource management; urban, regional, social service and transportation planning and analysis; marketing, site selection, logistics and real estate; and resource exploration, including petroleum.
The second track of the Master's of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program is a conventional program that offers a balance between coursework and research. A student needs to register for a Master's Thesis class (GISC 6V98) under a supervising advisor to conduct a research project, which will ultimately lead to a research-oriented master's thesis. To obtain his/her master's degree, a student must present the master's thesis to the faculty and fellow students and successfully defend it. This track is aimed 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. Graduates in this track can apply their skills to the same areas as graduates from the first track, but also have the option of moving into research-oriented jobs, and maximizing their ability to move into doctoral programs.
Degree Requirements
To earn the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of work beyond the prerequisites. Both tracks of the program involve the core requirement of 15 semester credit hours and prescribed electives for 18 semester credit hours. The two tracks differ in their research requirements (3 semester credit hours). 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. Other courses may be substituted for those listed below with the written permission in advance of the Geospatial Information Sciences Program Head.
Program Core Requirement - Both Tracks: 15 semester credit hours
Students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the following courses:
- GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
- GISC 6317 GIS Programming Fundamentals
- GISC 6325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
- GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals1
- GISC 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Prescribed Electives (18 semester credit hours)
- CS 6359 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
- CS 6360 Database Design
- CS 6366 Computer Graphics
- CS 6384 Computer Vision
- GISC 5310 Hydrogeology
- GISC 5311 Applied Groundwater Modeling
- GISC 5322 GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
- GISC 5324 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
- GISC 5330 Geospatial Applications in Earth Science
- GISC 5395 Satellite Geophysics and Applications
- GISC 6331 (CRIM 6332) GIS Applications in Criminology
- GISC 6334 (PPPE 6334) Workshop in Environmental and Health GIS/Policy
- GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
- GISC 6382 Applied Geographic Information Systems
- GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models, and Issues
- GISC 6387 Geospatial Sciences Workshop
- GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
- GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
- GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
- GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
- GISC 7363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
- GISC 7364 Demographic and Epidemiological Analysis and Modeling
- GISC 7365 Advanced Remote Sensing
- GISC 8320 Geospatial Sciences Seminar
- MIS 6308 Systems Analysis and Project Management
- MIS 6320 Database Foundations
- MIS 6324 Business Intelligence Software and Techniques
- MIS 6326 Data Management
- PA 6318 Information Systems in Policy Environments
Choose one of the following Research Requirement Tracks:
Research Requirement - Project Track: 3 semester credit hours
- GISC 6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master's Research
- AND successfully defend a professional GIS Master's Project
Research Requirement - Thesis Track: 3 semester credit hours
- GISC 6V98 Master's Thesis
- AND successfully defend a GIS Master's Research Thesis
Program Outcome
The program provides students with a rigorous understanding of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information and to analyze spatial processes.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program can apply their skills in multiple areas including public sectors, such as policy analysis, smart cities, transportation planning, geospatial intelligence, emergency response, public health and environmental sustainability, as well as private sectors, such as marketing, site selection, logistics, driverless cars, real estate, internet of things and resource exploration (including petroleum).
Facilities
English Language Requirements
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