Geographical Information Systems (BS)

What is A Geographical Information Systems (BS) Degree?

Geographical Information Systems specialists know how to gather and use electronic data to do things like create maps, study various characteristics of the earth—especially those that are changing over time–and extract data that are useful in navigation and other sciences.  The field involves capturing the three-dimensional spatial data, storing it, and working with it in an analytical way. The basis for the field lies, first, in the field of geography which looks at the features of the earth’s surface like the mountains, different climates, countries, rivers and oceans, natural resources–pretty much everything that sets one area apart from another area on the earth; and, secondly, in computer information systems.

As you might guess, a BS degree program in Geographical Information Systems will give you a good foundation in the underlying geography and earth science theories you’ll need and will go on to focus on the computer systems with significant coursework in website design, data base design and management, geospatial programing and systems, IT communications, and computer platforms technology.  You may also cover ethics and laws governing cyberspace.  With the BS degree you’ll be prepared to work as a geographical systems analyst or a geospatial scientist along with other related positions.