OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 120
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.00
Other GPA requirements to graduate: 2.00 in program requirements
Required Course for fulfilling Capstone Experience, Service Learning Experience, and Writing Intensive in Major: GIS 424 or GIS 426
Residency requirement: Must complete at least 30 credits through UMM, at least 12 of which must be in their major and 9 of these 12 must be upper level (300 level or above).
Environmental GIS is, by nature, an interdisciplinary field, the approved program core incorporates coursework in geospatial technology, data acquisition, environmental studies, geographic inquiry, computer and data science, programming, and design. Each course in the program is included to address skills, knowledge and competencies outlined in the US Department of Labor Geospatial Technology Competency Model and emerging workforce needs as identified by the US Department of Labor and workforce research. Courses incorporate hands-on, applied projects that not only reinforce course skills and competencies, they also teach soft skills required for career success such as critical thinking, project management, oral and written professional communication, ethics, initiative, etc.
The program concentrations prepare students for specific sectors of the geospatial workforce, providing both specialized knowledge and advanced technical skills:
Ecological Applications concentration (18 to 20 cr) includes a thorough foundation in biological and ecological sciences and the GIS tools and practices used in natural science fields. Because this pathway includes multiple field courses, it is not available in an online-only format.
Community Applications concentration (18 cr) combines coursework in community studies and related social sciences with tools and practices used in community and regional planning, government, and land records management. This pathway is available in both on-campus and online formats.
Spatial Data Science concentration (17 to 18 cr) incorporates quantitative analysis and programming skills necessary for work in application development and research or conservation analytics. This pathway is available in both on-campus and online formats.
General Requirements
All University Core Requirements must be met, in addition to the Environmental Geographic Information Science requirements. Note that completion of some courses within the major, such as in mathematics, will also fulfill the Core requirements. Students must earn a minimum of 120 credits and achieve a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.00.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 in the program requirements is necessary for graduation. This GPA must be achieved by the completion of 60 total credits. If the student fails to maintain this average in subsequent semesters, a warning may be issued. The student may lose matriculated status if the average remains below 2.00 after the completion of another 12 credits. A student may petition to be readmitted to the program.
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