Geospatial Science (BA)
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Geospatial Science studies why things are where they are at different times. Geospatial scientists nowadays are focusing much more on studying the interactions between people and the environment in the context of places and regions to better understand their changing mechanisms, which in turn helps to resolve global, regional, and local problems adequately in a timely manner. Geospatial scientists used to use maps to record, analyze, and convey geographic information. Those tasks, nowadays, are done extensively through geospatial technologies including remote sensing, geographic information systems (GISs), and geospatial intelligence because they are able to effectively deal with geographic information often multidimensional, voluminous, and uncertain. Therefore, learning geospatial science nowadays is not only about where and why things happen (e.g. where and why there are crimes) but also about how to use geospatial technologies to locate, monitor, and analyze them and to forecast their future. The Geospatial Science program aims at graduating students with excellent spatial thinking, geographic knowledge, and geospatial skills that help them be confident and competitive in the highly demanding geospatial job market.
Why Choose GEOSPATIAL SCIENCE @ FSU?
- Opportunities to satisfy curiosity about natural hazards, climate change, landform, glacial landscapes, regional issues (e.g. water crisis), and more thru hands-on and project-based classes;
- Opportunities to engage in campus-wide geospatial activities, such as Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day @ FSU;
- Opportunities to do internships with local, state, and national agencies, institutes, and companies, such as the City of Fayetteville, Cool Spring Downtown District Inc., Emerging Technology Institute (ETI), Carolina Solar Energy, SpatialGIS, NC Department of Transportation, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Endowment for the Humanities, and others;
- Opportunities to conduct real-world geospatial projects with faculty;
- Opportunities to involve in the expanding geospatial community through participation in local, state, and national geospatial events, such as FSU Geospatial Awareness Week and GIS Day (GeoWeek), NC GIS conferences, American Association of Geographers annual meetings, American Geophysical Union meetings, US International Association for Landscape Ecology meetings, GEOINT symposia, and more;
- Opportunities to be hired for a wide variety of jobs, such as digital cartographer, GIS specialist, GIS developer, remote sensing data scientist, imagery analyst, environmental specialist, atmospheric and space scientist, environmental consultant, logistics analyst, transportation planner, urban and regional planner, and more.
With the Geospatial Science degree in hand you will be able to:
- travel with knowledge; knowing where to go and why take picture there;
- know how to help improve the physical and human world effectively with spatial thinking and geospatial skills
- get well-paid job because you are unique, thinking spatially and doing spatial analysis; knowing where things are, why they are there, and how they are related.
What Will You Learn?
- Understand fundamental geographic concepts as well as explain geographic processes;
- Think spatially and identify spatial patterns and relationships of geographic phenomena, such as weather, natural and anthropogenic hazards, population, diseases, crime events, pedestrian crashes, land uses, and urbanization;
- Conduct spatial analyses with geospatial technologies including GIS and remote sensing for decision making and geographic problem solving.
What Will You Do?
With a degree in Geospatial Science, your career will be broad. You will be hired by either government, academic, or private sector for a variety of jobs, such as environmental scientist, environmental consultant, geotechnical engineer, transportation manager, market researcher, business development, real estate appraiser, environmental economist, tour guide, manager of sustainability, urban and regional planner, logistics analyst, geointelligence specialist, and more. Please see Job Titles and Industries section below for more details.
- Dr. Ademiluyi Adegoke
- PhD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Interests: urban spatial analysis, urban planning
- Professor Thomas E. Cox
- Oklahoma State University
- Interests: GIS, geo-archeology, UASs, structure from motion (3D imaging), Paleo-American research
- Dr. Trung V. Tran, GISP, Program Coordinator
- PhD, University of Oklahoma
- Interests: GIScience and geovisualization, remote sensing, UAV/UAS, spatio-temporal analytics, land change, coupled human-environment systems
As a geography major, you will take courses listed in our catalog to fulfill the course requirements including core courses, required major courses, and other elective courses. Below are courses that our program offers.
- GEOG 110 - Environmental Literacy (Transitional Studies – Life Skills Core)
- GEOG 200 - Weather and Climate (Scientific Literacy – Natural Sciences Core)
- GEOG 210 - Principles of Geography (Scientific Literacy – Social Sciences Core)
- GEOG 220 - World Regional Geography (Global Literacy Core)
- GEOG 310 - Economic Geography
- GEOG 311 - Spatial Thinking and Data Visualization
- GEOG 317 - Geoprocessing Workflow Design and Automation (prerequisite: GEOG 311 or GEOG 320 or instructor permit)
- GEOG 314 - Introduction to Remote Sensing
- GEOG 320 - Introduction to GIS
- GEOG 325 - Applied GIS (prerequisite: GEOG 311 or GEOG 320 or instructor permit)
- GEOG 350 - Physical Geography
- GEOG 440 - Urban Geography
- GEOG 480 - Seminar in Geography
Coming soon in 2023:
- GEOG 215 - Introduction to Drone and Aerial Reconnaissance
- GEOG 315 - Drone Application in Environmental and Infrastructure Management
- GEOG 425/525 - GIS Application in Public Administration
Occupation as Geographers (*)
- Median Wage (2016): $74,260/year
- Number of Jobs (2016): 1,500
- Projected Growth (2016-2026): +7%
Geospatial Information Scientists & Technologists (*)
- Median Wage (2016): $86,510
- Employment (2016): 287,000 employees
- Projected Growth (2016-2026): 5 – 9%
Remote Sensing Scientists & Technologists (*)
- Median Wage (2016): $96,070
- Employment (2016): 24,000 employees
- Projected Growth (2016-2026): 5 – 9%
(*) The data was derived provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Association of American Geographers, Jobs & Careers Website, Salary Data and Trends, and O*NET Online as of 3/23/2018.
Learning geography @ FSU means that you will learn about not only geographic phenomena but also spatial thinking and spatial-analysis skills. As a result you qualify for a variety of positions.
Landforms: Knowing and applying geographic information about the processes that shape physical landscapes
- Possible jobs: Soil and Plant Specialist, Water Resources Specialist, Environmental Scientist, Geophysicist
Weather and Climate: Knowing and applying geographic information about weather, climate, and atmospheric processes
- Possible jobs: Climate Change Analyst, Weatherization Installers and Technician, Atmospheric and Space Scientist, Climatologist
Biography: Knowing and applying geographic information about ecosystems and ecological processes (e.g., vegetation, wildlife, natural habitats)
- Possible jobs: Soil and Plant Scientist, Natural Sciences Manager, Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist, Forester, Biological Science Technician
Natural Hazards: Knowing and applying geographic information about processes of natural hazards (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fire)
- Possible jobs: Emergency Management Specialist, Forest Fire Inspector, Environmental Consultant,Ecological Risk Assessor, Geotechnical Engineer, Hazards Analyst
Human Environmental Interaction: Knowing and applying geographic information about relationships between nature and society (e.g., pollution from industrial development, economic effects of drought)
- Possible jobs: Tour Guide, Accredited Land Consultant, Manager of Sustainability, Environmental Affairs Specialist
Cartography: Designing paper or digital map
- Possible jobs: Cartographer and Photogrammetrist, Surveying and Mapping Technician, Civil Drafter, Graphics Editor, Digital Cartographer
GIS (Geographic Information System): Using GIS to acquire, manage, display, and analyze spatial data in digital form
- Possible jobs: Geospatial Information Scientist and Technologist, Geospatial Analyst, GIS Developer, Logistics Analyst, Transportation Planner, Environmental Consultant
Remote Sensing: Understanding the underlying theories and methods related to acquiring an object without contacting it physically (e.g., aerial photography, radar and satellite imaging)
- Possible jobs: Remote Sensing Scientist and Technologist, Geointelligence Specialist, Remote Sensing Analyst, Sensor Specialist, Radar and Sonar Technician
Regional Geography: Possessing and applying knowledge of the physical and human geography of a specific country or world region
- Possible jobs: Urban and Regional Planner, Geointelligence Specialist, Tour Guide & Escort, Interpreter & Translator, Historic Preservationist, Community Developer
Spatial Thinking: Identifying, explaining, and finding meaning in spatial patterns and relationships (e.g., site conditions, how places are similar and different, the influence of a land feature on its neighbors, the nature of transitions between places, how places are linked at local, regional, and/or global scales
- Possible jobs: Urban and Regional Planner, Surveyor, Geophysical Data Technician, Spatial Analysis Consultant, Environmental Specialist
Global Perspective: Possessing and applying knowledge of how people, places, and regions are linked by global networks and processes (e.g., globalization, international trade, immigration, Internet technology, global climate system)
- Possible jobs: Logistics Manager, Mapping Technician, Geodetic Surveyor, International Development Specialist, Journalist, Foreign Services Officer
Interdisciplinary Perspective: Drawing on and synthesizing the information, concepts, and methods of the natural and social sciences for geographic research and application
- Possible jobs: International Development Specialist, Urban and Regional Planner, Humanitarian Affairs Analyst, International Development Specialist, Program Manager
Diversity Perspective: Using knowledge about population diversity (e.g., gender, ehtnicity, race, sexuality, disability) to interpret social, economic, and political issues in different place
- Possible jobs: Human Resources Manager, Academic Advisor, Market Researcher, Public Diplomacy Officer, Travel Guide