Geographic Information Systems - Bachelor's Degree
Overview
GIS allows experts to map any type of spatial data so that it is interactive, complex and layered with valuable information. Be a specialist in demand in this field that touches a variety of industries from business to health care and environmental sciences. It can be used as a tool within almost every industry, including:
- Businesses like market-driven banking, ultimate client service and asset management
- Engineering like transportation planning, disaster management, use of historical data and terrain analysis
- Urban, rural and community planning
- Climate research, flood damage estimation
- Wildlife conservation, natural resource planning, water management
- Resource development and land management
- News and entertainment support, telecom and network services
- Government administration, taxation
- Health and medical research
- Law enforcement, accident analysis
Applied Research & Innovation Centre
Our GIS courses are also complemented by applied research and innovation taking place on campus at Selkirk Innovates, giving you opportunities to use and understand GIS in current real-world situations. You’ll get essential training, individual access to an advanced workstation, and exposure to projects.
Professional Training & Hands-on Experience
Within our state-of-the-art facilities, you'll get powerful, progressive hands-on experience and classroom instruction in subjects like:
- GIS applications and automation
- Remote sensing
- Internet mapping
- Database development and management
- Customized application programming
- Global positioning systems (GPS)
- 3D visualizations
- Data management techniques
- Open source, open data, and related software applications
- Drone data collection and utilization
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will be able to:
- Conduct original research on a problem or question using appropriate GIS methods and data sources.
- Apply critical thinking skills to evaluate the quality, reliability, and validity of spatial data and analysis results.
- Plan, execute, prioritize and manage a GIS project from inception to completion, following ethical and professional standards.
- Perform spatial data analysis using various GIS tools and techniques, including statistical modeling techniques.
- Identify and explore emerging trends and issues in GIS and related fields
- Demonstrate personal and professional growth by selecting and completing electives that align with one’s interests, goals, and values.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:Academic
a) Program Chairs will determine, in consultation with Assessment Services, which components of the CRT will be required and the cut off scores for each component, in order to verify an applicant's potential for success and program admission.
Admission Requirements for ADGIS and BGIS Programs
- The minimum requirement for entry into the Advanced Certificate, ADGIS, or Year 3 of the BGIS program is successful completion of 60 credits from a diploma/associate degree or applied/academic degree from an accredited post-secondary institution with an average GPA of at least 2.33.
- Successful completion (“C” grade) of a 100 or 200 level introductory statistics course is required for students planning to complete the BGIS.
- International students will be expected to provide documentation of English proficiency as per Policy 8611.
Minimum entry is also possible with equivalent education or work experience, such as a background doing research or using GIS and/or other computer software.
Letter of intent, not exceeding 500 words, stating your background and interest in the field of geographic information systems.
Demonstrated competency in computer technology, including spreadsheet use, word processing, computer graphics and presentations is required. In addition, international students will be expected to provide documentation of English proficiency (refer to the college calendar for requirements).
Applicants may be required to complete modules in mathematics, writing and computer technology skills if knowledge gaps in one or more of these areas are identified by the school chair.
General
a) Applicants must submit a completed application form and other required documents (i.e. secondary school and any post-secondary transcripts, application package) to the Registrar’s office.
b) Personal Reference (only ADGIS and BGIS)
(i) All applicants must have two academic or professional references. Students must ensure that referees complete and submit the form provided in the application package. Both references must indicate a favourable chance of applicant success in the program (i.e., must score over 3.5 in the reference answer rating system)
c) Letter of intent (all programs)
(i) Applicants should highlight experience in GIS and/or computer skills in this letter. Demonstrated competency in computer hardware and software technology, including, spreadsheet use, word processing, computer graphics and presentations is recommended.
Note: An applicant with reasonable potential for success on the basis of work experience or other criteria may be admitted, notwithstanding some deficiency in prior formal education.
Applicants with no accredited post-secondary credential may require academic upgrading prior to starting the program. They are urged to apply for the program at least one year in advance. All applicants wishing to enroll in the BGIS must have completed 60 post-secondary credits, as outlined in 1. a. above.
APPLICATION PROCESS
1. Before an applicant's file is considered to be complete, the following must have been received by the Admissions office:
a) completed application form;
b) official transcripts of all relevant post-secondary education;
c) official transcripts of high school grades will be required for applicants entering without a credential from an accredited post-secondary institution;
d) completed Letter of Intent; and
e) For ADGIS and BGIS, two personal reference forms completed by a current or previous instructor, counselor or employer, e.g., supervisor. Personal references should be submitted by the referee directly to the Admissions Office (photocopies are not acceptable).
2. Deadline for completing the application file is normally one month prior to the commencement of the program.
3. Late applications will be accepted if space is available.
4. Part time applications for the Advanced Certificate will be accepted.
In order to receive your credential in your program, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00.
PROMOTION
1. Each semester must be completed with a Grade Point Average of 2.00 ("C" average) or better with no more than two grades below a "C" to continue into the next semester. GPA will be based on all grades for courses scheduled for a given year and semester as per the course calendar. All grades below a "C" grade must be raised to a satisfactory level in order to graduate (see below).
2. Students not eligible to continue to the next semester will not be permitted to upgrade any marks but must repeat all courses with grades below a "C" prior to proceeding to the next semester.
3. Students receiving a final grade of "C-" or lower in the prerequisite course will be required to withdraw from the subsequent course requiring the prerequisite. Students receiving the "C-" or lower grade must re- register in, and successfully complete the course with a "C" grade or better before going on to the subsequent course.
4. Students receiving a final grade of "C-" or lower in a course will be required to withdraw from the subsequent course requiring the course as a prerequisite. Students receiving the "C-" or lower grade must re- register in, and successfully complete the course with a "C" grade or better before going on to the subsequent course.
GRADUATION
All programs: All courses must have at least a “C” grade, except for GIS 320 which needs a “CRG” to be eligible for graduation.
BGIS: All courses from the ADGIS program as listed above, plus 60 additional credits (normally, these credits would be earned previously to meet the admission requirements for entry to the program) are required plus the following:
Note: Students completing the BGIS following the ADGIS will be deemed to have completed sufficient new work notwithstanding Policy 8617
Courses
GIS427 - Project Management
GIS 427 Project Management will focus on skills pertaining to issues surrounding the management of GIS projects from start to finish. Emphasis areas will include description of the project work environment, organizational skills and tools, deliverable oriented performance appraisals, leadership and team orientation. In addition to these emphasis areas, supporting information covering costing, budgeting, meeting preparation, time management and communication skills will be addressed.
GIS492 - Bachelor of Geographic Information Systems Thesis
GIS 492 Bachelor of Geographic Information Systems Thesis involves the design and planning of an independent research project. Tasks include a literature review of the background information, experimental design, data acquisition and management, analysis, and technical reporting (written, visual, and oral). Students will have the opportunity to apply geospatial technology theory and skills to a real world project with an experienced supervisor. Course deliverables will include a project proposal, a proposal poster presentation, four progress reports, a completed geospatial product, a final thesis document, and a thesis defense seminar. This course is normally started in the fall with approval of the School Chair.
You must take:
three (3) General electives (these could be UAS electives or GIS electives)
These electives must be approved by the School Chair prior to registration.
GIS435 - Statistics and Spatial Data Management
GIS 435 Statistics and Spatial Data Management is a two part course that starts with a review of essential statistical techniques and secondly focuses on statistical approaches used in spatial analyses. Emphasis will be placed on integrating practical examples into course exercises and projects. Basic statistical concepts of exploring data, probability distributions, hypothesis testing, one sample, two sample tests, regression, ANOVA, and model building will be addressed using real data and a variety of computer software. Students will explore geostatistical functions such as interpolation, point pattern analysis, kernel density estimation, kriging and trend surface analysis in the second part of the course.
GIS437 - Emerging Trends In GIS
GIS 437 Emerging Trends in GIS. As the vast field of Geomatics and specifically GIS changes and evolves on the technical level, new ways to do things are continually being introduced. To stay abreast of these important changes, Emerging Trends in GIS will focus on exposing learners to practice a variety of current, high-level and technical topics with a focus on the following main areas: Open Source GIS, GIS in the Cloud, mobile applications, ArcGIS Pro and Augmented Reality. In addition, learners may be exposed to integrating ArcGIS functionality within Microsoft Office products, gaming, the incorporation of time (4D) and a general reliance on Location Based Services. Topics may change as industry demands.
You must take:
two (2) General electives (these could be UAS electives or GIS electives)
These electives must be approved by the School Chair prior to registration.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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