Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Geospatial Science, B.S. (R, L)


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The Geospatial Science program provides specialized course work for students who seek training in geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), remote sensing, digital/web cartography, environmental sciences, geography, and for students seeking a solid geospatial science background in preparation for geoinformatics, environmental and management careers. The GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration provides students with essential mapping, GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis skills.  The Environmental Studies concentration provides students with training in environmental challenges related to land use, water resources, climate, biogeography, and environmental regulation in addition to a foundation in GIS. From this interdisciplinary lens, students will learn how to address contemporary issues and build a sustainable future for our community and planet.

REAL Curriculum


This major fulfills the R and L areas of the REAL Curriculum.

Students fulfill the R area through classes requiring students to apply quantitative and scientific information to test problems to draw conclusions and to generate scientific and quantitative knowledge.  These requirements are accomplished through the skills and knowledge gained in a physical geography class, a Geographic Information System class and a spatial data analysis course.

Students fulfill the L area through classes requiring the students to develop professional skills and critically reflect on how their skills, abilities and experiences apply in a profession. Students develop these skills and reflect on their professional skills, experience and abilities in a number of classes teaching skills in areas such as map making, map reading, spatial data analysis, data visualization and interpretation, field data collection, satellite image processing, policy analysis and research techniques.

Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E and A areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements


Foundational Math (3 credits)


Requirement may be fulfilled through placement testing.

REAL Cornerstone Requirements


Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)


Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements


General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Geospatial Science major includes 10-25 general education credits.

Major Requirements (68-72 credits)


Concentrations (29-33 credits)


Majors must choose at least one of the two concentrations shown below.

Environmental Studies Concentration (29-31 credits)


Geospatial scientists make important contributions to both the prevention and remediation of environmental problems, from waste management to species conservation. This concentration is intended to give geospatial science students the knowledge and skills to be able to do so.

Concentrations


GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics Concentration (30-33 credits)


The GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration emphasizes the development of skills in cartography, remote sensing, and computer applications. Requirements are 15-16 hours of geospatial science and 15-17 semester hours to be selected from courses listed in art, mathematics, computer science, and English.

Additional Degree Requirements


To graduate with a major in Geospatial Science, a student must have a grade point average of 2.0 in all courses taken for major requirements including those from other departments.

Open Credit Hours (48-52 credits)


These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120


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