2016-2017 University Catalog
Geographic Information Systems Minor
|
|
Banner Code: GIS
College: College of Science
Department: Geography and Geoinformation Science
The Geographic Information Systems Minor is designed to prepare students with the basic training necessary to enter the rapidly expanding field of geographic information science. The curriculum in the minor is multidisciplinary in content and interdisciplinary in approach, drawing on a variety of geographic and computational science components. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is an integrative approach to help solving complex spatial problems in most professional fields and at different scales. GIS has irrevocably altered the way we capture, store, analyze, and visualize spatial information. Although it has its roots in cartography and the graphical display of information, its breadth spans from geographic data acquisition, geospatial database construction and management, spatial analysis, and geovisualization. Public and private sector organizations work with an overwhelming amount of spatial data in their day-to-day operations. With so much spatial information, GIS has become essential to the effective operation of both public and private organizations.
Employment opportunities are limitless for students who are proficient in this interdisciplinary field. GIS professionals work in places like government agencies, utility companies, marketing firms, non-profit organizations, and publishing companies. Federal government agencies such as NGA, FEMA, USGS, DOD, EPA, and NASA routinely recruit individuals with strong GIS backgrounds.
For policies governing all minors, see the Undergraduate Policies section of this catalog.
|