Program Description
The Associate of Applied Science degree in Geospatial Information Science and Technology (GIST) is designed for students wishing to gain a background in the field of the collection, analysis and manipulation of geospatial data. Geospatial data is information that identifies the geographic location and characteristics of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth. GIST refers to study of the supporting science, hardware, software, and data acquisition skills required to collect and synthesize geospatial data. A geographic information system (GIS) is one form of geospatial technology; global positioning systems (GPS) and remote sensing (RS) are others.
The general education requirements for this program are designed to encourage students to develop skills in critical and creative thinking and to gain the scientific and analytical background required to maximize the potential of geospatial technologies. This AAS degree in GIST prepares students for employment as technicians in the fields of natural resources, government public safety, mapping and utility companies, oil and gas, health and human services, and consulting firms. Students will leave the program with both a theoretical background and hands-on skill set in the field of geospatial technologies.
General Education Requirements
| Writing Level I (WR1) |
3 credits |
| American & Wyoming Government (POLS 1000) |
3 credits |
| MATH/APPM/LSCI |
(in program) |
| Student must complete six (6) credits of general education courses distributed over two (2) different general education areas, one of which is either WR2 or ORAL. |
| ARTS/HUM/IT/ORAL/SOC/WR2 |
(in program) |
| UNST |
1 credits |
Program Requirements
Course Requirements
| CMAP 1200 | Computer Information Systems | 3 credits |
| | | |
| ENGL 1020 | English Composition II | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| ENGL 2002 | Technical Writing | 3 credits |
| | | |
| GEOG 1020 | Intro to Human Geography | 3 credits |
| GIST 1200 | Geospatial Foundations | 4 credits |
| GIST 2110 | Techniques in Cartography | 4 credits |
| GIST 2310 | Intro to Geographic Information Systems | 4 credits |
| GIST 2410 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems | 4 credits |
| MATH 1400 | College Algebra | 4 credits |
| | | |
| STAT 2050 | Fundamentals of Statistics | 4 credits |
| | OR | |
| STAT 2070 | Intro Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 credits |
| | | |
| OEAC 2025 | Wilderness Navigation | 1 credits |
Program Electives
Students must choose a minimum of four (4) credits from the following courses:
| BIOL 1080 | Intro to Environmental Science | 4 credits |
| ENR 2425 | Mountain Environments | 4 credits |
| OEAC 2020 | Mountaineering: | 1 - 5 credits |
| OEAC 2030 | Wilderness Backpacking: | 1 - 5 credits |
| OEAC 2031 | Combined Expeditions: | 1 - 5 credits |
| G&R 2032 | Winter Expedition: | 1 - 5 credits |
| | NOLS Wind River Wilderness Course | 1-5 credits |
Students must choose a minimum of seventeen (17) credits from the following courses:
| GIST 2120 | Geographic Information System Databases | 3 credits |
| GIST 2125 | Geographic Info Systems Database Apps | 1 credits |
| GIST 2130 | Spatial Analysis | 4 credits |
| GIST 2135 | Applied GPS for GIS | 3 credits |
| GIST 2140 | Survey of Remote Sensing Applications | 4 credits |
| GIST 2190 | Intro to Programming Geospatial Information Science and Technology | 3 credits |
| | | |
| GIST 2395 | Capstone Project in Geographic Information Systems | 3 credits |
| | OR | |
| CPED 1000 | Co-Op Work Experience I: | 3 credits |