Geographic Information Science FAQ

 

General Questions:

  • Geographic Information Science or Systems. See more information here: https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/overview and here: https://www.gislounge.com/what-is-gis/

    GSS stands for geospatial sciences. It includes GIS, remote sensing and land surveying. 

  • Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information without physically being there. See more information here: https://gisgeography.com/remote-sensing-earth-observation-guide/
  • We have a four year undergraduate degree in geospatial sciences (GSS). In addition, we have a GIS certificate program. Both are housed in the Department of Geography and Anthropology. 
  • Dr. Ranbir Kang is the program coordinator for the GSS degree program. Professor Uli Ingram oversees the GIS certificate. 
  • The GSS major is a 4 year degree resulting in a Bachelor of Science. It includes many geospatial courses, as well as the full set of general education courses, and concentration courses. The GIS certificate consists of 4 courses and a practicum. It can be completed in 1 year. It is offered online and in-person.
  • Yes, students can take SURV 3320, SURV 3451 or GEOG 4410 which are remote sensing courses.
  • Professor Erinn Bariteau, Professor Dan Branham, Professor Uli Ingram, Dr. Ranbir Kang, Dr. Mark Patterson, Dr. Nancy Hoalst Pullen, Dr. Allen Roberts, Dr. Jun Tu, and Dr. Mostafa Arastounia.
  • Yes, we offer many of our GIS courses online. It is possible to complete the certificate completely online and the GIS degree mostly online, with just a few in-person classes.
  • It depends on the availability of the professors, and the demand of the students.
  • We use mostly ESRI products including ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ArcGIS Server in the GIS courses. In the remote sensing courses Idrisi or ArcGIS Pro is used.
  • KSU GIS students have access to the GIS software through a remote connection (available 24/7), or they can go to the Kennesaw campus to work in the GIS lab in-person.
  • Usually it does not. Feel free to contact Professor Ingram if you have any questions.
  • Most likely yes. The transfer credit will be evaluated during the admissions process.

  • GSS majors are required to complete an internship (GIS 3398), GIS certificate students are required to complete a practicum (GIS 4415).

    The prerequisite for GIS 4415 is Geog 4405 or Geog 4500 and permission of the GSS program coordinator. 

  • The practicum can be completed on-campus or off-campus, internships are off-campus. The practicum is only 3 credit hours whereas the internship is 6-9 credit hours. Otherwise they are very similar.
  • The pre-requisites are GEOG 4405 or GEOG 4500. You need to schedule a meeting with the internship/practicum coordinator the semester before your internship. To do so, you need to contact Dr. Nancy Pullen at npullen@kennesaw.edu. Once you have found an internship, you need to submit a proper job description from the company or organization to the KSU GSS internship coordinator.

  • You need to register for 6 hours of GIS 3398 (if you are a GSS major). You need to register for 3 hours of GIS 4415 (if you are pursuing the certificate).

    The prerequisite for GIS 4415 is GEOG 4405 or GEOG 4500 and permission of the GSS Internship Coordinator.

  • For every credit hour that you are registered, you will work 50 hours. For example, if you take 6 hours of GIS 3398, you will work 300 hours.
  • We send out opportunities to the GIS student mailing list. Once you take the first GIS course, you will be subscribed to our mailing list.  

  • See some information here: https://gisgeography.com/gis-degree/

  • No, but we send emails about many GIS jobs to our student and alumni mailing lists. You can also check the KSU Career Services website and the handshake app for job listings.
  • There are many companies and organizations that use GIS, such as city and county governments, utility companies, engineering companies, environmental companies, etc. Examples of previous internship sites are: City of Woodstock, City of Roswell, City of Alpharetta, Bartow County, Cobb County, Georgia DOT, National Park Service, USGS, Davey Resource Group, Edwards-Pitman, Intermx, Wood, Southern Company, Atlanta Gas Light.
  • Yes, there is sometimes, if you are presenting at a conference. We send out reminders of deadlines for financial support for travel through the KSU Office of Undergraduate Research.
  • https://list.kennesaw.edu/listserv/wa?SUBED1=GIS&A=1. Then click on Subscribe. You will receive an email to confirm your subscription.
  • It is up to you. You may use your KSU email, or an external one.
  • GIS Day is a worldwide celebration of GIS. It is celebrated annually in November as part of Geography Awareness Week. Information about KSU’s GIS Night can be found here: gisday.kennesaw.edu.



GSS Degree Questions:

  •  GSS Degree Description
  • Once you have been admitted to KSU, you will be able to log into Owl Express at:
    https://owlexpress.kennesaw.edu/    . You will declare your major under Student Records.
  • You can change your major in Owl Express at: https://owlexpress.kennesaw.edu/. You will change your major under Student Records.
  • No, it is not. There are quite a few GSS and concentration classes that are offered online, but not every single one.
  • If you are pursuing the Information Systems concentration, then you will be able to complete the IS Certificate without taking any additional courses. See more information here:  KSU Catalog - IS Certificate
  • Please contact Christine Jacobs (cjacob36@kennesaw.edu) if you have any questions or would like advising help.  
  • GSS majors are required to complete 6 credit hours of GIS 3398, but can complete as many as 9 credit hours.
  • Yes, students interested in undergraduate interest may take GIS 4100 – a directed applied research study.
  • Directed Applied Research. This is usually a 3 credit hour course where a student works with a professor on a faculty-led research project. Please contact the professors directly if you are interested in doing a DAR. See a listing of all the professors here:  https://chss.kennesaw.edu/geoanth/about/faculty-staff.php.
  • Many of the GIS and geography professors offer DAR opportunities. Some require GIS skills, and can be completed for upper level GIS course credit. Others are geography focused, and might work for credit for the human/environmental systems concentration.
  • You need to contact the professor you want to work with the semester before the semester you would like to complete the DAR. Once the professor has agreed to do the DAR with you, a GIS 4100 section will be created that you can then register for.



GIS Certificate Questions:

  •  Certificate Program Description
  • You may either pursue just the GIS certificate at KSU, or you may pursue a major and add on the GIS certificate. 
  • Yes it is.

  • For more information on specific classes, see our Geographic Information Sciences Certificate information in the KSU Undergraduate Catalog.

    Undergraduate students will need to be admitted as a regular student and select the certificate which they wish to pursue.  Students already admitted, need to go to Owl Express and select the certificate they would like to pursue in the change/major application.

    If you are pursuing only the GIS certificate (and not a degree at KSU), please follow the steps below to be admitted to KSU as an "Adult/Non-Traditional" student pursuing the GIS certificate. 

    How to petition to graduate with the GIS certificate

  • Undergraduate students will need to be admitted as a regular student and select the certificate which they wish to pursue.  Students already admitted, need to go to Owl Express and select the certificate they would like to pursue in the change/major application.

    If you are pursuing only the GIS certificate (and not a degree at KSU), please follow the steps below to be admitted to KSU as an "Adult/Non-Traditional" student pursuing the GIS certificate. 

    How to petition to graduate with the GIS certificate

  • You can start any semester. We offer course work all academic terms.
  • It can be completed in 3 semesters. That assumes that you take two GIS courses per semester, for two semesters, and then find and complete practicum during the last semester. It can take longer than 3 semesters for some students.

  • It is awarded after you complete GIS 4415, and if you have a B (a.k.a 3.0) average in the GIS courses.

    *The prerequisite for GIS 4415 is Geog 4405 or Geog 4500 and permission of the GSS program coordinator. 

  • Yes, you have to maintain a B (a.k.a 3.0) average in ALL courses that you take as part of the certificate.
  • No. The KSU GIS certificate prepares you for the GIS certification, but it is not the same. Please contact the program director if you are interested in more information about the certification exams.
  • Yes, you can.
  • We accept applications year around.

  • Please contact Christine Jacobs (cjacob36@kennesaw.edu) if you have any questions about the certificate or would like advising help. 

  • They are the same as the usual KSU undergraduate tuition. See link here:

    http://fiscalservices.kennesaw.edu/bursar/tuition-fees/tuition-fees.php
  • No, certificates are not covered by financial aid.
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