Master of Arts in Environmental Remote Sensing
& Geographic Information Systems

The ERS/GIS program is designed for students with diverse natural science and social science backgrounds who desire specialized training in the use of remote sensing and GIS in environmental and natural resource analysis and management. Students are trained for careers in the private, public and non-profit sectors where there is increasing demand for professionals with advanced technical skills who can organize and analyze spatial environmental data.

Applicants to this program must have complete calculus through integration and statistics through multiple regression. Candidates who do not have the required quantitative skills may be admitted, but they will be required to do independent work or additional coursework to acquire the necessary background. Interested students should contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Robert Kaufmann, to ascertain if they have the required background.

Degree Requirements. Students must take at least 10 courses (40 degree credits): (1) Five core classes; (2) Two interdisciplinary breadth courses; and (3) Three electives in a concentration area.

Core Classes (five courses)
• CAS GE 502 Remote Sensing of the Environment
• CAS GE 505 Geographic Information Systems

Plus three classes from:
• CAS GE 565 Environmental Analysis and Modeling using GIS
• GRS GE 640 Digital Image Processing in Remote Sensing
• GRS GE 645 Physical Models of Remote Sensing
• GRS GE 646 Remote Sensing of the Lower Atmosphere
• GRS GE 648 Remote Sensing of Vegetation
• GRS GE 805 Spatial Data Analysis Using GIS

Interdisciplinary Breadth Requirement (two courses)
Theory and Concepts (one course)
• CAS GE 504 International Resources and Environmental Issues and Management
• CAS GE 510 The Physical Environment: Principles and Policy
• CAS GE 503 Micrometerology: Energy and Mass Transfer at the Earth's Surface
• CAS ES 511 Groundwater Hydrogeology (Earth Sciences Dept.)
• CAS BI 648 Biodiversity and Conservation Biology (Biology Dept.)

Modeling and Analysis (one course)
• CAS GE 550 Modeling Social and Environmental Systems
• CAS ES 577 Groundwater Modeling
• CAS GE 517 Models for Hydrologic Analysis
• CAS GE 712 Regional Energy Modeling