Powerful new technologies have emerged in recent years that greatly improve our ability to collect, store, manage, analyze, and utilize information regarding the features of the Earth's surface and to combine these with other types of economic, social and environmental information.

These technologies include geographic information systems (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), and satellite based remote sensing. They now penetrate every aspect of our lives from digital maps in vehicles to the management and maintenance of city infrastructure, regional agriculture and forest lands.

The term Geographic or Geospatial Information Science (GISci) has been coined to describe this quickly growing field. It has revolutionized many traditional disciplines such as geography and brought together scientists and practitioners from a variety of fields.  For a decade, UT Dallas has been a leader in GIS education and research. We offer:

• Bachelors Degree in Geography, with GIS emphasis.
• Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems: a 15-hour for-credit graduate certificate focusing on the application of GIS in government, private sector and scientific areas, which can be completed in one year of part-time evening study.
• Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing: a 15-hour for-credit graduate certificate focusing on remote sensing and digital image processing, which can be completed in one year of part-time evening study.
• Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences: a 30-36 hour graduate degree program incorporating the GIS Certificate, jointly offered between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
• Ph.D. in Geospatial Information Sciences: a 90 hour, research oriented degree program in geospatial sciences jointly offered between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences,  the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the Eric Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Why Choose UT-Dallas?

• Experience: a decade and more of research and teaching GIS
• Innovation: the first Certificate in GIS in the Metroplex (1994); the first Master's degree in GISci (1998)
• Excellence: recognized by the North Central Texas Council of Governments in October 1999 for "excellence in geographic information systems", and by the Oracle Corporation in December 2002 as a Center of Excellence for Spatial Data Management
• National Recognition: the first organization from Texas admitted to the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science
• Involvement: originator of the North Texas GIS Consortium (now part of NCTCOG) and continuing service on the North Central Texas GIS Coordinating Council
• Uniqueness: the only Masters of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences in the State of Texas
• Flexibility: the ability to incorporate GIS Certificate courses in master's degrees in Public Affairs, in Geoscience (Geology and Geophysics), in Applied Economics, as well as in a Bachelor of Arts in Geography.
• Commitment: from a full time faculty experienced in GIS teaching, with national and international reputations, and with research funded by the National Science Foundation as well as other major federal agencies and state and local governments and private sector companies.

For further information, explore our Web links, send e-mail to the GISci coordinator, Dr Denis Dean, or contact the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences as follows:

Program in Geospatial Sciences
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
800 West Campbell Rd
Richardson, TX  75080-3021
Phone: (972) 883-4932
Fax: (972) 883-6436
E-mail: gis-grad-info@utdallas.edu
World Wide Web: http://www.utdallas.edu/epps/

or contact the Program in Geosciences as follows:

Graduate Studies
Department of Geosciences
800 West Campbell Rd
Richardson, TX 75083-0688
Phone: (972) 883-2516
World Wide Web: http://www.utdallas.edu/geosciences/

(*Source: Consortium for Geographic Information Science)