School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Graduate Programs in Geospatial Information Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences
75 semester credit hours minimum beyond the baccalaureate degree
EPPS Faculty
Professors: Yongwan Chun, Daniel A. Griffith, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, May Yuan
Associate Professor: Michael Tiefelsdorf
Assistant-Professor: Elías Cisneros
Professors Emeriti: Brian J. L. Berry, Ronald Briggs
Associate-Professor-of-Instruction: Muhammad Rahman
Lecturer: Bryan Chastain
ECS Faculty
Professors: Xiaohu Guo, Latifur Khan, Weili Wu
Professor Emeritus: Kang Zhang
NSM Faculty
Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Hejun Zhu
Mission
The mission of the Doctor of Philosophy in Geographic Information Sciences program is to cultivate innovative researchers capable of advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the geospatial information sciences through improved theories, new technologies, innovative methodologies, sophisticated quantitative analyses, and integrative applications. Specifically, program graduates will:
- Demonstrate their knowledge of the fundamental theories and concepts underlying the geospatial sciences.
- Master the advanced methodologies and/or quantitative analyses used in at least one of three geospatial specialization areas: (a) computing and information management, (b) spatial analysis and modeling, or (c) remote sensing and satellite technologies.
- Produce innovative research that advances theory or methodology in the geospatial sciences.
- Participate at academic conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and find employment in research departments of public and private organizations and in major academic institutions.
Objectives
This degree program is multidisciplinary with courses from the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (specifically in the Department of Geosciences) and the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, and is administered by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. This unique structure reflects geospatial information science's origins as the confluence of multiple disciplines including geography, computer science, engineering, geology, and various social, policy and applied sciences. It is anticipated that many students will enter the program with a bachelor's or master's degree (and/or work experience) in an application area (such as public administration, geology, or economics) or in a technical specialization (such as engineering, computer science, or statistics). These students may choose to pursue research projects that advance existing geospatial information sciences practices within that application area. Alternatively, students may opt to pursue research that expands the technological or theoretical base of all the geospatial information sciences.
Powerful technologies have emerged in recent years to collect, store, manage, analyze, and communicate information regarding the features of the Earth's surface and to combine these with other types of environmental, social, and economic information. These technologies, which include geographic information systems (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), and remote sensing, are used in many ways, including the production of digital maps in vehicles, the management and maintenance of city infrastructure, agriculture and forestry, the policing of communities, and the conduct of modern warfare. The PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences aims to develop individuals capable of advancing this field by developing new knowledge or capabilities relevant to it.
Facilities
Students have access to state-of-the-art GIS computing facilities housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and at the NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences. The University's extensive instructional computing facilities, including those in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, are also available. Facilities are open extended hours including evenings and weekends. Enrollment in hands-on courses is controlled to ensure that a computer workstation is available for every student. All major industry-standard GIS and remote sensing software is available. The University is a member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS).
Admission Requirements
The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page.
The PhD program in Geospatial Information Sciences seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate, Master of Arts, Master of Science, or professional master's level degree in any field relevant to geospatial information science including, but not limited to, computer science, economics, engineering, geography, geology, management information systems, marketing, natural resource management, public affairs and public administration, statistics, and urban and regional planning.
Applicants will be judged and evaluated by the existing admission standards as set forth by the University in its Graduate Catalog and by the standards set forth here by the Geospatial Information Sciences program. A bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education or its equivalent and fluency in written and spoken English are required. A grade average of at least 3.25 in undergraduate and graduate course work, and a combined verbal and quantitative score of 300 on the GRE are desirable. An analytical writing score of at least 4.5 in the GRE is considered desirable.
Applicants must submit transcripts from all higher education institutions attended, three letters of recommendation, and an essay outlining their background, education, and academic objectives as they specifically relate to a PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences.
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites/corequisites will also be required for admission to the PhD program: (i) competence in at least one modern programming language equivalent to GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science, and (ii) at least one course in inferential statistics through to regression analysis equivalent to GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals, EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics, or GEOS 5306 Data Analysis for Geoscientists. Graduate courses taken at UT Dallas to meet these prerequisites may be counted as electives toward the 75 semester credit hours required of students, including students directly from a BA or BS degree.
Advising
Because of the cross-disciplinary nature of this doctoral program, to ensure adequate preparation and appropriate course sequencing, every doctoral student is required to consult with the student's designated advisor and/or the GIS Doctoral Program Director prior to registration in every semester. Students generally will not have a faculty advisor when they first enter the PhD program, but every student is required to select (with consent of the potential advisor) an advisor from the advising faculty by the end of his/her first academic year.
Degree Requirements
The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page.
To receive the PhD in Geospatial Information Sciences, students must complete the Geospatial Science Core (15 semester credit hours) to achieve a mastery of appropriate Geospatial Information Science technologies and theory, have Prescribed Specialization Electives (15 semester credit hours), have a Specific Application area or Technical field (12 semester credit hours), evidence research skills through successful completion and defense of a PhD dissertation, and take related electives as necessary for a total of 75 semester credit hours. A maximum of 6 semester credit hours taken at UT Dallas can be at the 5000 level and the rest of them should be at the 6000 level or above. In addition, students must satisfy a set of exams and qualifiers. Other courses may be substituted for those listed below with the written permission in advance of the Director of the GIS Doctoral program.
Geospatial Science Core: 15 semester credit hours
Students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 across the following five courses:
GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals1
GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6385 (GEOS 6385) GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
Prescribed Specialization Electives: 15 semester credit hours
Students must choose five courses from the following:
GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
GISC 5330 Geospatial Applications in Earth Science
GISC 5395 Satellite Geophysics and Applications
GISC 6311 Statistics for Geospatial Science
GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
GISC 6331 (CRIM 6332) GIS Applications in Criminology
GISC 6334 (PPPE 6334) Workshop in Environmental and Health GIS/Policy
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
GISC 6382 (GEOS 6383) Applied Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
or ECON 6316 Spatial Econometrics
GISC 7364 Demographic and Epidemiological Analysis and Modeling
GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Advanced Remote Sensing
GISC 7366 (GEOS 5329) Applied Remote Sensing
GEOS 5306 Data Analysis for Geoscientists
CS 5303 Computer Science I
CS 5333 Discrete Structures
CS 5343 Algorithm Analysis and Data Structures
CS 6359 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
CS 6360 Database Design
CS 6364 Artificial Intelligence
CS 6366 Computer Graphics
CS 6375 Machine Learning
CS 6384 Computer Vision
EESC 6360 Digital Signal Processing I
EESC 6363 Digital Image Processing
MIS 6320 Database Foundations
MIS 6324 Business Analytics With SAS
MIS 6360 Agile Project Management
PHYS 5315 Scientific Computing
PHYS 5336 Big Data and Machine Learning for Scientific Discovery
ECON 6309 Econometrics I
ECON 7309 Econometrics II
EPPS 6323 Knowledge Mining
EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
EPPS 6354 Information Management
EPPS 6356 Data Visualization
EPPS 7304 Cost-Benefit Analysis
EPPS 7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics
EPPS 7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis
EPPS 7318 Structural Equation and Multilevel (Hierarchical) Modeling
EPPS 7370 Time Series Analysis I
EPPS 7390 Bayesian Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences
Application Area or Technical Field (12 semester credit hours)
Twelve semester credit hours of specialized course work in an application area or technical field relevant to GIScience. Normally, these will derive from the student's master's degree. These semester credit hours may be transferred from another institution, or taken at UT Dallas in an existing master's program area and may be applied toward a master's degree in that area.
Application area examples: planning, public affairs, criminal justice, health and epidemiology, geoscience, forestry, hydrology, marketing, real estate, economics, civil engineering, etc.
Technical field examples: statistics, computer science, software engineering, management information systems, image analysis, operations research/location science, instrumentation.
Research and Dissertation (variable semester credit hours)
GISC 7387 GIS Research Design (before proposal defense)
and GISC 8V99 or CS 8V99 Dissertation (after proposal defense)
In addition, students must complete sufficient additional research and dissertation semester credit hours to bring the total number of semester credit hours they have earned within the UT Dallas doctoral program (or transferred into the UT Dallas doctoral program) to 75 semester credit hours, the minimum required to earn a doctoral degree. Additional research and dissertation semester credit hours above and beyond those required to reach the 75 semester credit hours minimum may be required at the discretion of the student's PhD advisor. Additional research and dissertation semester credit hours can be earned through any course from the following list:
GISC 6387 Geospatial Sciences Workshop
GISC 6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master's Research
GISC 6V01 Independent Study in GIS
GISC 8320 Geospatial Sciences Seminar
GISC 8V29 Research in GIS
Other Related Electives (0 to 24 semester credit hours)
Students may choose up to 24 semester credit hours in related electives (from CS, GEOS, GISC, etc.) with consent of their advisor or the GIS Doctoral Program Director.
Exams and Qualifiers
Qualifying Examination
The GISC PhD Qualifier Examination is administered in May of a full-time doctoral student's first year, following the completion of the first academic year (i.e. fall and spring semester) by the student. This exam comprises of four parts, each based upon one of the following core courses:
GISC 6325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
A student must pass three of the four parts to pass the exam. If a student fails his/her exam, s/he may retake only the parts they failed in the subsequent August at the discretion of faculty. If s/he does not pass a cumulative total of three parts after the August exam date, then s/he fails the Qualifier Examination, and is withdrawn from the GIS doctoral program.
Defense of Proposal
After completing GISC 7387 GIS Research Design, doctoral students must successfully present and defend a dissertation proposal through an oral examination, according to uniform guidelines established by the GIS program.
Grade Point Qualifier
Doctoral students must have GPAs of at least 3.25, and preferably 3.5, in courses taken at UT Dallas at the time they register for GISC 7387 GIS Research Design, or they must petition the GIS faculty for an exemption for extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control.
Defense of Dissertation
A dissertation must be prepared and defended successfully following the procedures established by the Dean of Graduate Education.
Note: Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the Geospatial Information Sciences Program Head, but must take an additional course from the prescribed specialization elective courses listed above.
1. Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the Geospatial Information Sciences Program Head, but must take an additional course from the prescribed specialization elective courses listed above.
Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences
36 semester credit hours minimum
EPPS Faculty
Professors: Yongwan Chun, Daniel A. Griffith, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, May Yuan
Associate Professor: Michael Tiefelsdorf
Assistant-Professor: Elías Cisneros
Professors Emeriti: Brian J. L. Berry, Ronald Briggs
Associate-Professor-of-Instruction: Muhammad Rahman
Lecturer: Bryan Chastain
NSM Faculty
Professor: David J. Lary
Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Hejun Zhu
Mission
The mission of both tracks of the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program is to provide students a rigorous understanding of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information, analyze spatial processes, communicate spatial information, and provide spatial decision support. The second track has the additional mission of providing students with a thorough understanding of the scientific research method. UT Dallas graduates will have strong analytical and numerical skills, knowledge of empirical and quantitative research methodologies, and employ novel geographic information sciences technologies. They will use these capabilities to support public and private sector organizations, to address significant societal issues, and to enhance understanding of the human and natural environments. They will successfully compete at the highest level for jobs requiring geospatial skills and for entry into quality doctoral programs in relevant areas. More specifically, graduates of the program will:
- Possess a thorough knowledge of the technologies, quantitative techniques, models and theories used to acquire and manage spatially referenced information and to analyze spatial processes.
- Have strong analytical and numerical skills, knowledge of empirical and quantitative research methodologies, and be able to employ these skills and methodologies in novel geographic information sciences applications.
- Be able to identify and apply appropriate geospatial methodologies to support public and private sector organizations, to address significant societal issues, and to enhance understanding of the human and natural environments.
- Successfully compete at the highest level for jobs requiring geospatial skills and for entry into quality doctoral programs in relevant areas.
Objectives
Students may choose between two tracks within the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program. Both tracks are offered jointly by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The first track is a professional program that focuses on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and associated technologies such as remote sensing and global positioning systems for acquiring, describing, managing, analyzing and communicating spatially- referenced information in order to provide decision support.
This track emphasizes coursework, and involves a GIS Master's Research class where a student needs to identify a faculty member as his/her master's advisor, prepare a proposal for a professional GIS Master's project, and conduct research under the supervision of the advisor. To obtain his/her master's degree, a student must present the master's project to the faculty and fellow students and successfully defend it. Students are expected to master the concepts underlying GIS, the skills for implementing GIS projects in public or private sector organizations, and the ability to use GIS in pure or applied research in substantive areas. Graduates can apply their skills in a variety of areas such as public administration and policy analysis; public safety, criminology, emergency preparedness management; environmental and resource management; urban, regional, social service and transportation planning and analysis; marketing, site selection, logistics and real estate; and resource exploration, including petroleum.
The second track of the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program is a conventional program that offers a balance between coursework and research. A student needs to register for a Master's Thesis class (GISC 6V98) under a supervising advisor to conduct a research project, which will ultimately lead to a research-oriented master's thesis. To obtain his/her master's degree, a student must present the master's thesis to the faculty and fellow students and successfully defend it. This track is aimed at students who want to hone their research skills, and is the preferred route for students who may want to move to a doctoral program. Graduates in this track can apply their skills to the same areas as graduates from the first track, but also have the option of moving into research-oriented jobs, and maximizing their ability to move into doctoral programs.
Facilities
Classes are offered through state-of-the-art GIS computing facilities housed in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences. The University's extensive instructional computing facilities are also available. Facilities are open extended hours including evenings and weekends. Enrollment in hands-on courses is controlled to ensure that a computer workstation is available for every student. All industry-standard GIS and remote sensing software is available. The University is a member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS).
Admissions Requirement
The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page.
The Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences program seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education.
Although applications will be reviewed holistically, in general, entering students have all of the following:
- a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
- English Proficiency (per UTD requirements)
- a Statement of Purpose, approximately one page in length, outlining their background, education and professional objectives.
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- all Official Transcripts
Degree Requirements
The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page.
To earn the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences, students must complete a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of work beyond the prerequisites. Both tracks of the program involve the core requirement of 15 semester credit hours, prescribed electives for 9 semester credit hours, and 9 free electives for 9 semester credit hours. The two tracks differ in their research requirements (3 semester credit hours). Students must achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average in the core requirement and an overall grade point average of 3.0 to graduate. Other courses may be substituted for those listed below with the written permission in advance of the Geospatial Information Sciences Program Head.
Program Core Requirement - Both Tracks: 15 semester credit hours
Students must earn a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the following courses:
GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6325 Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals2
GISC 6384 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Prescribed Electives (9 semester credit hours)
CS 6359 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
CS 6360 Database Design
CS 6366 Computer Graphics
CS 6384 Computer Vision
GEOS 5308 Sustainable Energy
GISC 5310 Hydrogeology
GISC 5311 Applied Groundwater Modeling
GISC 5314 Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation
GISC 5322 GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
GISC 5324 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
GISC 5330 Geospatial Applications in Earth Science
GISC 5395 Satellite Geophysics and Applications
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
GISC 6331 (CRIM 6332) GIS Applications in Criminology
GISC 6334 (PPPE 6334) Workshop in Environmental and Health GIS/Policy
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
GISC 6382 Applied Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 6387 Geospatial Sciences Workshop
GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
GISC 7364 Demographic and Epidemiological Analysis and Modeling
GISC 7365 Advanced Remote Sensing
GISC 8320 Geospatial Sciences Seminar
EPPS 6323 Knowledge Mining
EPPS 6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
EPPS 6354 Information Management
EPPS 6356 Data Visualization
EPPS 7304 Cost-Benefit Analysis
MIS 6308 System Analysis and Project Management
MIS 6320 Database Foundations
MIS 6324 Business Analytics With SAS
PA 6314 Policy Analysis
PA 6318 Information Systems in Policy Environments
PA 6324 Urban Planning
PA 6387 Strategic Planning for Nonprofit
PA 7330 Research Design in Public Affairs
PPPE 6371 Urban Development
Other Elective Courses (9 semester credit hours)
Approved GISC courses numbered 5000 and above or approved graduate courses from other programs.
Research Requirement
Choose one of the following Research Requirement Tracks:
GISC 6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master's Research
AND successfully defend a professional GIS Master's Project
Research Requirement - Thesis Track: 3 semester credit hours
GISC 6V98 Master's Thesis
AND successfully defend a GIS Master's Research Thesis
2. Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the Geospatial Information Sciences Program Head, but must take an additional course from the prescribed specialization elective courses listed above.
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
15 semester credit hours
The School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences offers a certificate in Geographic Information Systems for both novice and experienced GIScience professionals. Classes are offered through the state- of-the-art facilities housed within the Geospatial Information Sciences program in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. The certificate is available to both graduate degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students. The certificate requires 15 graduate semester credit hours (5 classes). All courses taken as part of this certificate also count toward the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences degree, and can be taken in conjunction with the Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence and the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing.
Faculty
Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Yongwan Chun, Denis J. Dean, Daniel A. Griffith, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, Weili Wu, May Yuan
Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Michael Tiefelsdorf, Hejun Zhu
Research Professor: John W. Geissman
Admission Requirements
Students seeking the GIS Certificate must have completed an undergraduate degree. Students may complete and submit an application for admission online. Primary admissions requirements are: (1) an application to UT Dallas and (2) an undergraduate transcript. Applicants for the certificate program do not need a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score or letters of reference for admission to the certificate program. They should apply as "non-degree seeking" students to the Geospatial Information Sciences program. Admissions requirements are the same for students who would simply like to take one or more of the related courses without pursuing certification. Up to 15 semester credit hours of coursework taken in the certificate program can be applied later in a graduate degree, if desired.
Registration by Current UT Dallas Students
Graduate students in any degree program within UT Dallas may register for GISC courses using standard registration procedures. Students should see their program advisor regarding degree plan credit assignment. Courses are listed under geospatial information sciences (GISC) in the UT Dallas class schedule with additional offerings under Geosciences (GEOS).
The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science requires 15 semester credit hours earned through the following courses:
Two Required Courses (6 semester credit hours)
GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals3
GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Three elective courses chosen from the following or as approved by the Director of the Certificate Program (9 semester credit hours)
GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
GISC 6385 (GEOS 6385) GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Advanced Remote Sensing
Courses for the certificate must be completed within a 3-year period with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
3. Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the program head, but must take an additional course from the elective courses listed in this certificate program.
Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence (GeoInt)
15 semester credit hours
Geospatial Intelligence (GeoInt) is a rapidly evolving field that demands certain technical skill sets, the ability for individual rapid critical thinking, and a global awareness of supporting information for national security and other intelligence activities. This certificate program produces graduates that have met the requirements for such professionals set forth by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).
Classes are offered through the state of the art facilities housed within the Geospatial Information Sciences program in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. The certification requires 15 graduate semester credit hours (5 classes) detailed below. All courses taken as part of this certificate also count toward the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences degree, and can be taken in conjunction with the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing.
Faculty
Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Yongwan Chun, Denis J. Dean, Daniel A. Griffith, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, Weili Wu, May Yuan
Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Michael Tiefelsdorf, Hejun Zhu
Research Professor: John W. Geissman
Mission
The mission of the Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence is to provide students with a broad set of skills in the areas of geographic information systems, remote sensing, geospatial statistical analysis, intelligence gathering, and global positioning systems. Courses will emphasize these skills along with the ability to find and interpret data, conduct accurate analysis, work in a professional and collaborative environment, and communicate effectively. UT Dallas geospatial intelligence certificate graduates will have demonstrated to the intelligence community that they have acquired the basic skills needed for employment in this high growth industry.
Registration by Current UT Dallas Students
Graduate students in any degree program within UT Dallas may register for GISC courses using standard registration procedures. Students should see their program advisor regarding degree-plan credit assignment. Courses are listed under geospatial information sciences (GISC) in the UT Dallas class schedule with additional offerings under Geosciences (GEOS) and Management Information Systems (MIS).
Required Coursework (15 semester credit hours)
Three required courses (9 semester credit hours):
GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals3
Two elective course chosen from the following, or as approved by the Director of the certificate program (6 semester credit hours):
GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6385 (GEOS 6385) GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Advanced Remote Sensing
GISC 7366 (GEOS 5329) Applied Remote Sensing
GISC 7387 GIS Research Design
MIS 6320 Database Foundations
MIS 6324 Business Analytics With SAS
MIS 6360 Agile Project Management
Courses for the certificate must be completed within a 3-year period with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
3. Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the program head, but must take an additional course from the elective courses listed in this certificate program.
Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing
15 semester credit hours
The Remote Sensing Certificate is administered jointly by the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the Department of Geosciences in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (1997) defines remote sensing as the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting imagery and digital representations of energy patterns derived from non-contact sensor systems. Remote sensing involves a powerful set of computerized software and hardware, and sophisticated mathematical, statistical and logical techniques for extraction and presentation of information acquired via non-contact sensors. It provides reliable and cost-effective means of studying the Earth's surface for urban planning, natural resources management and protection, and a wide variety of other fields. Government and non-government organizations continuously seek qualified professionals to use remote sensing for a wide range of applications.
Faculty
Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Yongwan Chun, Denis J. Dean, Daniel A. Griffith, Dohyeong Kim, David J. Lary, Fang Qiu, Robert J. Stern, Weili Wu, May Yuan
Associate Professors: Thomas H. Brikowski, Michael Tiefelsdorf
Admission Requirements
Students seeking the Remote Sensing certificate must have completed an undergraduate degree. Students may complete and submit an application for admission online. Primary admission requirements are: (1) an application to UT Dallas, and (2) an undergraduate transcript. Applicants for the certificate program do not need a GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score or letters of reference for admission.
Students should apply as "non-degree seeking" students to the Geospatial Information Sciences program. Admission requirements for these students are similar to admission requirements for those students who would simply like to take one or more of the related courses without pursuing a certificate.
Up to 15 semester credit hours of course work taken in the certificate program can be applied later to a graduate degree, if desired.
Registration by Current UT Dallas Students
Graduate students in any degree program within UT Dallas may register for GISC courses using standard registration procedures. Students should see their program advisor regarding degree-plan credit assignment. Courses are listed under geospatial information sciences (GISC) in the UT Dallas class schedule with additional offerings under Geosciences (GEOS) and Management Information Systems (MIS).
Required Coursework (15 semester credit hours)
Two required courses (6 semester credit hours):
GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Remote Sensing Fundamentals
GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Advanced Remote Sensing
Three elective courses chosen from the following, or as approved by the Director of the certificate program (9 semester credit hours):
GISC 5322 (GEOS 5322) GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite Surveying Techniques
GISC 5324 (GEOS 5324) 3D Data Capture and Ground Lidar
GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
GISC 6317 Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
GISC 6323 Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6375 Spatial Optimization
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences
GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals3
GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6385 (GEOS 6385) GIS Theories, Models and Issues
GISC 6388 Advanced GIS Programming
GISC 7310 Advanced GIS Data Analysis
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics
GISC 7387 GIS Research Design
Courses for the certificate must be completed within a 3-year period with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
3. Individuals experienced with GIS may have the introductory course (GISC 6381) waived at the discretion of the program head, but must take an additional course from the elective courses listed in this certificate program.
Graduate Certificate in Spatial Data Science
15 semester credit hours
The Spatial Data Science certificate is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the strengths of Geospatial Information Sciences and Social Data Analytics and Research Programs. It focuses on offering geospatial professionals with data collection and analytical, knowledge mining, machine learning, big data handling, and programming skills, and equipping data science professionals with capabilities in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing/drone, geovisualization, locational intelligence, and spatial pattern analysis, which allows the solving of real world location problems in various areas including agriculture, environment management, insurance, marketing, retail and real estate, oil and mining, public health, social and public services, transportation, smart city and urban planning.
Faculty
Professors: Patrick T. Brandt, Yongwan Chun, Dohyeong Kim, Fang Qiu, May Yuan
Associate Professor: Michael Tiefelsdorf
Associate Professor of Instruction: Karl K. Ho, Muhammad Rahman
Lecturer: Bryan Chastain
Admission Requirements
Students seeking the Graduate Certificate in Spatial Data Science should submit an application with their undergraduate transcript GPA of at least 3.00; a Current transcript with a GPA of at least 3.00 for the embedded certificate program; and at least two letters of recommendation for the stand-alone certificate program.
International students will also need an English proficiency test score that meet the university requirement for the stand-alone certificate program.
Coursework
Four required courses (12 semester credit hours)
GISC 6381 (GEOS 6381) Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals
GISC 6321 Spatial Data Science
EPPS 6302 Methods of Data Collection and Production
EPPS 6323 Knowledge Mining
One elective course (3 semester credit hours):
Select One Course From the Following:
GISC 6317 (EPPS 6317) Python Programming for Social Science
GISC 6363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing
GISC 6384 (GEOS 6384) Advanced Geographic Information Systems
GISC 6301 GIS Data Analysis Fundamentals
EPPS 6326 (GISC 6323) Machine Learning for Socio-Economic and Geo-Referenced Data
EPPS 6356 Data Visualization
EPPS 6354 Information Management
Courses for the certificate must be completed within a 3-year period with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.