University of Central Arkansas

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).

Minimum 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, Ms. Cindy Conyers, and with Dr. Brooks Green, Chair of the Department of Geography, exceptions to #3 may be considered

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

Required Courses (Click HERE for course descriptions)

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 6360, Directed Readings in GIS

GEOG 6380, GIS Research Methodology

GEOG 6390, Thesis

GEOG 6390, Thesis

Elective Courses

GEOG 5312, Health Applications of GIS

GEOG 5333, GIS for Planning and Public Administration

GEOG 5340, Fundamentals of Database Design and Development

Cost

$25.00 graduate school application fee

$820.50 per 3-credit course

Future Courses

Summer 2009 - Geog 5315, 6360, 6380, 6390       Fall 2009 - Geog 5310, 5340, 6320, 6390

Spring 2010 - Geog 5310, 5333, 6328, 6390           Summer 2010 - Geog 5315, 6360, 6390

Fall 2010 - Geog 5310, 5345, 6380, 6390                Spring 2011 - Geog 5310, 5333, 6328, 6390

Summer 2011 - Geog 5315, 6360, 6390                  Fall 2011 - Geog 5310, 5340, 6320, 6390

Spring 2012 - Geog 5310, 5333, 6328, 6390          Summer 2012 - Geog 5315, 6360, 6390

Fall 2012 - Geog 5310, 5345, 6380, 6390               Spring 2013 - Geog 5310, 5333, 6328, 6390

Summer 2013 - Geog 5315, 6360, 6390                 Fall 2013 - Geog 5310, 5340, 6320, 6390

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 Pearson, Conyers, and Green.