ObjectivesThe MSc in Geographical Information Science (GIS) will provide a broad theoretical and practical background in the rapidly developing field of GIS for graduates in geography, civil engineering, architecture and planning, and for professionals working in fields such as planning, the utilities, environmental management, surveying and cartography. The course aims to familiarise you with the technical and applied aspects of GIS to enable you to communicate effectively with technical specialists in the areas of GIS hardware and software. It will also provide you with a breadth of understanding of GIS applications that will be sufficient to allow you to work effectively with people from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. You will develop confidence in handling new problems, and processing, analysing and visualising data to support the decision-making process, as well as building an enviable suite of presentational and communications skills so that you can interact with senior management, with other members of a team and with clients. The content of this course is supported by research expertise in the new Centre for Geospatial Science, as well as Spatial Literacy in Teaching (SPLINT) – a partnership between the School of Geography, the Institute of Engineering, Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG), the School of Geography at Leicester University and University College London.
Academic titleMSc Geographical Information Science
Course descriptionKey facts
-Although originally established in 1989, the course content is reviewed annually by industrial partners to keep it relevant to current technologies. The course underwent a major review early in 2007.
-The MSc in Geographical Information Science is recognised and supported by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
-The course is associated with two new Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
-The School of Geography is one of the strongest both nationally and internationally – this is reflected in its position in the UK’s top five geography departments in The Times Good University Guide.
-The School was rated 5 in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise and ‘excellent’ in the HEFCE assessment of teaching provision.
Course Content
During the autumn and spring semesters, you will take a number of core modules. These are currently:
Semester 1
-Fundamentals of Geographical Information Science
-Geospatial Analysis
-GIS Study Skills
-Image Processing for Remote Sensing
-Programming for Spatial Sciences
Semester 2
-Frontiers in GI Science
-Geocomputation
-Managing Geospatial Information
-Professional GIS – consultancy project
-Research Methods for GI Scientists
You will also be able to take two optional 10-credit modules covering topics such as:
-Environmental Remote Sensing
-Visualisation
-Mobile and Field GIS (residential field trip)
-or a related level 3, 4 or D 10-credit module approved by the Course Director.
After successfully completing the taught components of the course, you will undertake a dissertation on a subject of your choice. Research training and dissertation preparation will be provided by the new ‘Research Methods for GI Scientists’ module.
Course Structure
The MSc in Geographical Information Science can be completed during one year of full-time study or over three years, part-time (two years for the taught component followed by up to a year for the dissertation).
The first part of the MSc course is structured around ten formal modules consisting of lectures, seminars and practical demonstrations.
Five modules are taken in the first semester and five in the second. Part-time students take ten modules over a two-year period requiring attendance on only one day per week. Most modules will involve you in a considerable amount of hands-on project work.
Tutorials take place as part of the ‘GIS Study Skills’ module and cover various aspects of the course and problems encountered both of an academic or personal nature.
Visiting speakers contribute to the ‘Frontiers in GI Science’ module and the ‘Professional GIS’ module provides an opportunity to work as a team to meet the requirements of a ‘real world’ client external to the University. Some locally based fieldwork forms part of the ‘Fundamentals of GIS’ module but there is a chance to pursue extensive fieldwork using state-of-the-art equipment during the optional residential fieldtrip in the Spring semester.
You will complete your 60-credit dissertation over the summer period towards the end of the course. The dissertation is an extensive piece of independent research in a subject of your choice.
We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Geographical Information Science, which does not require the completion of a dissertation.