Interdisciplinary Degree - Geographic Information Science

Program Information

The Geographic Information Science (GISc) program is both an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental degree program shared between the School of Forestry in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences and the Department of Social Sciences inthe College of Liberal Arts. The 125 semester credit hour concentration in Natural Resources directed by the School of Forestry incorporates 33 hours of concentration electives that allow students to specialize in natural resources. Students are prepared for rewarding and high-paying careers in the field of spatial data technologies that more specifically engage environmental issues and issues that pertain to the natural sciences. Careful selection of concentration electives providesthe opportunity to earn a minor in forestry, wildlife conservation, environmental science, or other fields. Specific requirements for minors are identified in the departmental sections of this Catalog.

The GISc curriculum is designed for students interested in understanding, analyzing, and applying the spatial relationship among human and physical features (e.g., social and economic impact of natural disasters). Students of GISc learn how to use computer software programs that identify the interactions thattranspire between humans and the physical environment based on location. They also learn how to analyze those interactions,and to use that information to assist with public and private sector management, administration and planning.

Career opportunities for graduates with GISc training specifically mention a degree in GISc as a favored condition of employment. There is an enormous and growing need for graduates with GISc training. Ample job opportunities exist both in Louisiana and across the country and such opportunities are growing and diversifying as GISc technologies prove their value in even more areas. Excellent opportunities exist for GIS analysts, cartographers, database and system administrators,photogrammetrists, image analysts, GIS coordinators, and programmers. Employment can be found in U.S. Government agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S.Forest Service (USFS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in city and state government for planning,environment, resources, and transportation, and in the private sector for a diverse set of disciplines including agriculture, archeology, architecture, business, communications, computer science, defense, ecology, economics, education, engineering, forestry, health and human services, natural resources, and many others.

(GER): General Education Requirements (pg. 14 of the LA Tech catalog)

(IER): International Education Requirement (pg. 15 of the LA Tech catalog). Effective with the freshman class of 2005, each student must complete a minimum of one 3-hour course which has been identified as satisfying the international education requirement. Course choices are on pg. 15 of the LA Tech Catalog.*Concentration Courses chosen by student, in consultation with advisor,from one of the following concentrations:

GER and other non-GISC requirements for this concentration include the following: Natural Sciences (9 hours)-Biological Sciences 212 plus 6 hours of Natural Sciences electives; Mathematics 100 or 101, and 112 or 212. Statistics (3 hours)-Agricultural Science 320, Psychology 300, Quantitative Analysis 233, or Statistics 200; English (12 hours)-English 101, 102, 201 or 202, and 303; Social Sciences (9 hours)-Economics 201or 202 or 215, and 6 hours of Social Science electives; History 201 or 202; Speech (3 hours)-Speech 110 or 377 or English 463; Arts elective (3 hours); Forestry 201; Directed electives (36 hours) chosen in consultation with advisor including one International Education Requirement from History 102 or Geography 205 or Geography 210.

GER and other non-GISC requirements for this concentration include the following: Natural Sciences electives (9 hours); Mathematics 100 or101, and Statistics 200; English (9 hours)-English 101, 102, 201 or 202;Foreign language (12 hours); Social Sciences (15 hours)-Geography 203, 205, Political Science 201, Sociology 201, and Economics 215; History 101 or 102 or 201 or 202; Speech 110; Arts elective (3 hours);Directed electives (27 hours) chosen by student in consultation with advisor.