University of Central Arkansas

Graduate Bulletin

Document Number 3.05.02

UCA offers a Master of Geographic Information Systems, a graduate certificate program in Geographic Information Systems, and an additional graduate course in Geography.  Selected courses are available online and the University plans to offer the entire degree online pending approval of the Higher Learning Commission.  All course offerings meet the UCA Principles of Electronically Offered Courses.

[1] Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems

[1.1] Program Description

The Master of Geographic Information Systems (MGIS) degree is modeled after the online Executive MBA programs which are now quite popular and successful across the country. Students who enroll in the Degree will ideally have had previous GIS coursework (having taken at least one GIS course at the undergraduate level) or be currently employed in a position which requires the use of GIS or GIS-based information services (i.e., either a GIS professional seeking greater training or someone who must manage GIS workers or who needs information from a GIS to perform his/her job).

[1.2] Admission Requirements

To enroll in the Master of GIS degree, students must meet the requirements to be admitted into UCA's Graduate School as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including: 1) a bachelor's degree, 2) a GPA of 2.70, and 3) each student must have successfully completed at least one college-level GIS course or be currently employed in an agency/business where GIS is frequently used by the student. In consultation with Dr. Brooks Pearson, Dr. Rajrani Kalra, and with Dr. Brooks Green, Chair of the Department of Geography, exceptions to #3 may be considered.

[1.3] Course Requirements

The 30-hour, Master of GIS degree is configured as outlined below:

Required Courses

GEOG 5310, Geographic Information Systems

GEOG 5315, Mapping Fundamentals for GIS

GEOG 5345, Digital Image Processing for GIS

GEOG 6320, Technical Issues in GIS

GEOG 6328, Spatial Analysis and Modeling

GEOG 6380, GIS Research Methodology

GEOG 6360, Directed Readings in GIS

GEOG 6390, Thesis

GEOG 6390, Thesis

Elective Courses

GEOG 5333, GIS for Planning and Public Administration

GEOG 5340, Fundamentals of Database Design and Development

[1.4] Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to two courses from other departments into the degree as long as they represent a coherent sequence and/or are relevant to the student's professional interest in GIS. To be accepted into the student's degree program, the courses cannot have been applied toward a previous UCA degree. All transfer courses must be approved by Drs. Pearson, Kalra, and Green.

[2] Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

[2.1] Objectives

The graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems is designed to provide working professionals with improved knowledge and skills and to enable them to more fully understand and use geographic information systems (GIS) in their workplace. Completion of the certificate program will give students the ability to use GIS more fully in their fields of interest, enhance their existing job performance, and increase employability.

[2.2] Program Description

The GIS certificate program focuses on spatial analysis, GIS-related applications, and the applied needs of employers. This applied focus, coupled with distance learning, is practical rather than theoretical. The certificate program attracts persons from a wide variety of educational and employment backgrounds and furnishes them with enhanced GIS knowledge, more sophisticated skills, and the ability to apply those skills to situations found at their work place.

GIS is one of the many requisite skills working professionals need to better serve their communities. GIS applications are used in transportation and communication network planning; highway and road construction and repair management; and urban land use inventories and development. Other areas include improvement and water district planning, public utility resource planning and management, residential housing stock inventory and distribution analysis, water quality and resource management and flood control, and crime analysis and prevention. A variety of other applications will also be stressed in the certificate program curriculum, although course projects will be designed to meet the individual needs of each participant.

A GIS certificate curriculum teaches participants how to become better decision-makers and how to collect, organize, and analyze data more efficiently and effectively. This training will result in participants being able to make more informed decisions. Also, GIS knowledge and newly acquired skills will permit the participants to display data in more creative and accurate ways.

[2.3] Admission Requirements

Admission and completion requirements are based upon the policies of the Graduate School. (See Admission to Graduate Study.) Designed to attract individuals from various education backgrounds, the GIS certificate program's admission requirements include the following: (1) a bachelor's degree, (2) a GPA of at least 2.70, and (3) the successful completion of at least one college-level GIS course or current employment in an agency/business where GIS is frequently used by the applicant.

[2.4] Certificate Requirements

The GIS certificate program requires completion of a sequence of five of seven courses: GEOG 5310, 5315, 6320, 6328, 5333, 5340, 5345. Adjustments can be made in the sequence depending upon each person's background and current employment needs. Each course is project-based with applications specific to the needs of each participant.

[3] Graduate Courses in Geography and GIS (GEOG)

Follow this link for GEOG course descriptions: course link.