Geographic Information Science
Program Learning Outcomes for the Geographic Information Science certificate program
- Students will be able to state how a research project contributes to an existing body of geographic literature. The MA program emphasizes the geographic approach where students apply concepts of space place location scale borders and regions for example to examine and test hypotheses regarding natural and human systems and explain association and causation in human.environment interactions.
- Students will be able to compare geographic perspectives evaluate evidence (qualitative and.or quantitative) and arguments and use evidence to support their conclusions. They also will learn to think creatively about strategic solutions to both global and local challenges to environmental and social sustainability. Student will apply critical thinking and creative solutions to global and local challenges to comprehend complex issues facing people places and spatial processes.
- Students will learn to connect phenomena spatially systematically or otherwise and explain human and environmental causes of current and emerging societal stresses and crises including climate change biodiversity loss desertification and deforestation sea level rise poverty and inequality urbanization geopolitical crises and migration. This learning outcome necessitates a broad and integrative knowledge of human and environmental global phenomena.
- Students will be able to design legitimate geographic methodology and implement legitimate geographic methodology. Students will learn to use qualitative quantitative and mixed method approaches and tools including statistical spatial analysis grounded and social constructivist theory remote sensing and GIScience assisted by geographical and geospatial technologies as well as theoretical insight into connections between regions and multiple factors that produce place.
- Student will be able to communicate through oral and visual presentation of spatial and geographical information. By incorporating written oral and visual methods (including graphs and maps) students will learn to communicate efficiently with clarity and purpose in the language of the discipline of geography. They will be prepared to become active informed citizens ready to have an impact on society and the environment.