MS Applied Geospatial Sciences Degree Requirments

To complete this 36-unit plan, you take:

* 4 units of the Applied Geospatial Sciences core:

• GGR 681 (3) [Geographic Thought and Method]
• GGR 687 (1) [Thesis/Practicum proposal writing]
  

* 6 units of seminar topics, including one human geography topic and one physical geography topic:

• GGR 599, 698, PL 599, PRM 599
  - these are current issue and special topic classes;
  - other 400 and 500 level Geography, Planning and Recreation courses may also satisfy this requirement, with advisor approval, including GGR 461 and PRM 531 for the physical geography seminar.

* 6 units of GGR 689 or PL 689, a professional practicum, or 6 units of GGR 699 or PL699, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis.

• Please be aware that you can only count 6 units of practicum or thesis credit toward your degree. However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for GGR 689/699 or PL 689/699 each term once you begin work on your thesis.

* 20 units in one of the following emphasis areas:

(1) Geospatial Technologies Emphasis

• GGR 531 (4) GIS Principles I: Foundations
  • Overview of computer applications in map production, including geographic information systems.
• GGR 533 (4) GIS Principles II: Project Design and Implementation
  • Fundamentals of vector and raster geographic information systems.
• GGR 535 (4) GIS Programming I: Tools and Applications
  • Pre-requisite: GGR 4/533 or 4/534, or Instructor’s Consent
• GGR 536 (4) GIS Programming II: DBMS and Internet GIS
  • Pre-requisite: GGR 4/533 or 4/534, or Instructor’s Consent
• One of:
  • GGR 537 (4) GIS Analysis I: Environmental Modeling - Raster
    • Pre-requisite: GGR 4/535 or 4/536; Pre- or Co-requisite: STA 571 / 472 (or equivalent)
  • GGR 538 (4) GIS Analysis II: Spatial Data Analysis - Vector
    • Pre-requisite: GGR 4/535 or 4/536; Pre- or Co-requisite: STA 571 / 472 (or equivalent)
      
      
• If you already have skills in these areas, you may, with advisor approval, select electives from the following courses:
  • GGR 522 (4) Remote Sensing Techniques I
  • GGR 523 (4) Remote Sensing Techniques II
  • GGR 523 (2) Remote Sensing Techniques III
  • GGR 534 (4) Exploring Spatial Data
    

(2) Planning and Recreation Emphasis (selected from the following with advisor consent)

• PL 501 (3) Communities and Public Planning
  • This online seminar introduces students to major issues and approaches in public planning.
• PL 506 (3) Planning Analysis and Presentations
  • This online class introduces students to census and population data and its analysis and presentation related to land use issues.
• PL 514 (3) Sustainable Community Planning
• PL 521 (3) Land Use Planning Law and Ethics
• PRM 531 (3) Recreation Ecology and Physical Impact Analysis
• PL 532 (3) GIS for Planners
  • This online class teaches planners how to use geographic information systems for land and community analysis. (Computer knowledge and skills are a prerequisite for this course, along with permission from the instructor to register for it.)
• PL 545 (3) Community Planning and Public Health
• PL 599 pr PRM 599 (3) Current Issues / Special Topics
• PL 608 or PRM 608 (1-12) Fieldwork Experience (internship)
  
  
• You may take up to two 400 level classes in your graduate program, which, with advisor consent, may include the following:
  • PL 401 (2) Planning Permitting and Review
  • PL 402W (3) Environmental Impact Statements (undergraduate writing)
  • PL 405C (3) Planning Studio (undergraduate capstone)
  • PL 407 (3) Planning on Public Lands
  • PRM 423 (3) Recreation Facilities Planning
  • PRM 426 (3) Parks and Recreation Administration and Finance
    
  • PRM 446 (3) Protected Area Management
  • PRM 447 (4) Research and Evaluation in Parks and Recreation Management
    

(3) Custom Geography, Planning and Recreation Emphasis (selected from the following with advisor consent)

• Any combination of graduate level Geography, Parks and Recreation, and Planning courses.
  • Up to 12 units may be taken from other NAU graduate level courses or transferred from another university with your advisor’s consent.
    
    
• 6 units of GGR 689 or PL 689, a professional practicum, or 6 units of GGR 699 or PL699, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis.
  
  
• Please be aware that you can only count 6 units of practicum or thesis credit toward your degree. However, you may end up taking more units because you must enroll for GGR 689/699 or PL 689/699 each term once you begin work on your thesis.

Distance Learning (Online) Students

The MS Applied Geospatial Sciences degree program is available to distance learning students in a fully online format. In addition to meeting the requirements above, distance learning students must:

1. Arrange to attend the GGR 681 class in the Fall Semester virtually through Elluminate, Skype or some other teleconferencing mechanism. The faculty teaching this class will work with the student to accomplish this. Students residing in Arizona will be encouraged (but not required) to attend at least some of the classes in person, if at all possible.
2. May only do the Practicum option. Due to the greater challenge in advising, the Thesis option is not available to distance learning students.
3. Carefully construct a Program of Study based on the more limited range of online courses that are available. This is most suited to the Planning and GIS emphasis areas. Constructing a custom emphasis is possible, but may be more challenging.

Additional Notes

• Course titles and short descriptions can be found under the "Geography", "Planning" and "Parks and Recreation" Courses sections of the NAU Catalog.
• Courses at the 500 and 600 level listed in the NAU Catalog that are not listed above are seldom offered.
• Questions? Please read our FAQ.