Geographic Information Science, Non-Thesis Option M.S.
CIP: 450702
Completion of 31 hours of approved graduate credit (courses numbered 500 or above) is required. Fifteen hours must be 600-level or above. A maximum of six advisor-approved hours may be taken outside the department. A research paper will fulfill the research component.
Requirements
Prerequisite Course (exam to test out)
Required Core Courses
Electives (Choose 15 hours)
Research Paper
Total Credit Hours: 31-34
General Requirements and Policies for M.S. in Geographic Information Science
- All requirements of the Graduate School must be met.
- A minimum grade point average of 3.00 in all graduate work is required for graduation.
- A grade of “B” or better must be earned in all courses that are prerequisites to other courses.
- No more than six semester hours of “C” grades may be applied toward the master’s degree.
Advisement
A member of the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences will serve as the major advisor. The major advisor will assist students in submitting the Degree Audit to the Graduate Office. When updates are complete, the student will be notified to review and agree to the Degree Audit. The major advisor must approve any additional changes to the student’s Degree Audit by notifying the Graduate Office.
Comprehensive Examination/Thesis Committees
A student selecting the thesis option, in consultation with his or her major advisor, will select other faculty members to serve with the major advisor on the student's comprehensive exam and thesis committees. Both committees will consist of three faculty members and will be chaired by the major advisor. In addition to the major advisor, at least one other member of each committee must be a faculty member of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.
For students selecting the non-thesis option, the Department will designate the three faculty members who will comprise the comprehensive exam committee.
Comprehensive Examination
The examination will be scheduled, administered, and evaluated by members of the student’s comprehensive exam committee. The examination will consist of a timed online exam consisting of two parts of two hours each. The degree candidate must earn an average grade of “B” or better to pass the examination.
Research Component
Thesis option: A student selecting the thesis option must submit a thesis proposal to his or her thesis committee. The committee members must approve the proposal before the student proceeds with the thesis. A formal defense of the thesis is required. The student must enroll in at least one thesis credit hour each trimester that he or she expects to consult with his/her thesis committee or use university resources for thesis research.
Non-thesis option: A student selecting the non-thesis option will write a research paper that originates in a GIScience course in their degree program and is revised and completed in 32-698, GIS Research Paper. The paper must meet quality standards established for the research component.