Arizona State University opens the first GIS undergraduate major in the United States

Arizona State University opens the first GIS undergraduate major in the United States Facing the gradual development and maturity of the field of surveying and mapping technology, Arizona State University in the United States will add a front...

Faced with the gradual maturation of the field of surveying and mapping technology, Arizona State University will add a cutting-edge, brand-new geography degree called Geographic Information Science (GIS). This major will help students improve their ability to apply for jobs.

This major hopes to cultivate students who have not only the theoretical knowledge and spatial thinking to solve geographical problems, but also the practical skills of software development. In other words, students who study this major will likely work in large companies in cutting-edge fields such as surveying, navigation, and location services after graduation.

"This is the first undergraduate geographic information science major in the United States," said Elizabeth Wentz, director of ASU's School of Geographic Sciences and Urban Planning. "This major requires a solid foundation in the two disciplines of computer science and geography. Therefore, in the teaching plan, it is necessary to ensure that they can learn theoretical knowledge and have practical operational capabilities, so that they can develop a new surveying and mapping tool software from scratch."

> GIS has two meanings: Geographic Information System - a software tool that combines maps and information; Geographic Information Science - studies how to expand the capabilities of GIS software. GIS spans many fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for GIS majors is growing at twice the rate of other industries. Similarly, in the next ten years, 80% of jobs will require professional skills, just like those in the GIS major.

>Students graduating from GIS majors will enter companies such as Google and Esri, as well as GPS navigation software R&D companies, and may receive higher salaries (US$58,000 to US$126,000). In addition, government departments from local to national levels also need talents trained in GIS majors, because they have the knowledge background and skills of both computer science and geography.

"This major is a good combination of computer science, geographical analysis and practical problem-solving methods," said Geography Professor Sergio Rey, who is also a teacher in the GIS major. "Teaching in this major will bring students newer forms of spatial thinking and computing skills, thereby bringing them gains beyond teaching."

Through the skills acquired from teaching, students propose new methods and develop new mapping, analysis and navigation software. For example, students might come up with a new way to find crime hotspots, or they might use this new method to develop new software that can analyze criminal behavior.

Graduates of this major can work in software development companies. They can develop web or mobile map applications, or improve existing high-end desktop map software. They can develop custom software tailored to the individual needs of their clients, whether they are environmental experts studying animal migration, associations responsible for local business activities, or clients who need improvements to military reconnaissance tools.

"Many schools in the United States teach students how to use professional geographic information system software, but Arizona State University is one of the few schools that allows students to learn how to develop GIS software." Wentz explained. "At the same time, our school has some well-known space scientists, and they are also involved in the GIS teaching program to a large extent."

"Arizona State University provides you with a variety of opportunities here. As long as it is your dream, you can do it." Nathaniel Gaytan, one of the first batch of students to register, commented on the geographic information science major.

>The GIS major will be set up in the College of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning. According to the "Almanac of Higher Education", the college ranks seventh in the geography rankings in the United States.

Students in this new major will have the opportunity to work with more than 40 teachers in the school. Whether it is data mining or humanities, these teachers have professional knowledge and conduct relevant research and teaching in the fields of geography and urban planning.

Three professors at Arizona State University are academicians of the National Academy of Sciences, one is a winner of the National Science Foundation Young Scientist Award, two Guggenheim Fellows and members of the National Research Council's Geographic Sciences Committee. Their outstanding work in GIS algorithm and software development has been internationally recognized, such as the open source software GeoDA and PySAL.