Bachelor of Arts in Geographic Information Science

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the scientific discipline that conducts spatial analysis to examine economic, environmental, physical, and social phenomena. The study of spatial data structures and computational techniques to capture, represent, process, and analyze geographic information are essential to GIScience. GIScience overlaps with and draws from many research fields such as computer science, statistics, mathematics, and psychology, and contributes to progress in those fields. GIScience also supports research in many academic disciplines such as natural resource management, environmental science and engineering, geosciences, agriculture, marine sciences, sociology, history, public health, business, and anthropology.

Courses in GIScience enable students to develop capability in spatial thinking and gather in-depth knowledge in geospatial technology. Geospatial technology is a term used to describe the range of modern tools contributing to the geographic mapping and analysis of the Earth and human societies, e.g. geographic information systems (GISystems), remote sensing, the global positioning system (GPS), spatial statistics, web mapping and navigation technologies.

Students can obtain a B.S. or B.A. degree. The GIScience B.A. degree does not require students to take biology, chemistry, physics, or calculus, and focuses on classes related to spatial analysis of social issues. The GIScience B.S. degree requires students to take biology, chemistry, physics and calculus and is intended as preparation for students pursuing a career in natural science or engineering with geospatial technology.

International applicants should have college preparatory coursework in the core subjects of English (if offered), mathematics, physical science, and social science reflected throughout their high school academic careers. Students applying to the School of Engineering must have taken secondary school level physics and chemistry.
International applicants who have completed one year or more of full-time coursework at a post-secondary institution in the United States. The total amount of academic work completed must be officially graded by the registrar of that institution and have a cumulative GPA value of 3.0 or higher, excluding ESL curriculum.
International applicants who have received a degree from an international post-secondary institution whose language of instruction is English. Official documentation will be required from the institution's Registrar's office stating that the medium of instruction for the degree received was English.
International applicants who have achieved 510 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section of the SAT or 24 or higher on the English, Reading, and Composite on the ACT.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo are required for International applicants whose primary language is not English. The minimum score requirement for the TOEFL is 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based), minimum score requirement for the IELTS exam is 6.5, minimum Duolingo score requirement is 100. Test scores must be sent directly to the University of Connecticut from the respective test provider.