Master of Science [M.S] [Geospatial Information Science] From University of Gavle

Geospatial information science is concerned with techniques to collect process and make available all kinds of geographically related information and thereby supporting people in their daily professional and private lives. This master program provides you with the knowledge and skills needed for an advanced professional and/or scientific career in this field. The program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum of two years fulltime studies at campus. Courses are given in English by highly motivated staff from the divisions of computer science and geomatics, who has received top-level ranking of its programmes in the most recent evaluation conducted by the Swedish higher education authority. The pre-requisite for this two-year postgraduate programme in Geospatial information science is a completed Bachelor's degree, corresponding to a Swedish Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent academic qualifications from an internationally recognized university, including a minimum of 60 credits in a subject relevant for Geospatial information science (e.g. GIS, geodetic surveying, geography, software engineering, spatial planning).

The past two decades have witnessed tremendous development of 3D visualization techniques, geographic information technologies (GIT) involving GPS, remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Geographical information has become a vital part of our daily professional and private lives. The ever increasing availability of geographical information calls for professional and academic competence to study and carefully design geographical information systems and services, and likewise experts who can draw on the full potential of such systems. The potential of GIT and related systems is tremendous, which has been noted by the US department of Labor, as cited in the journal Nature, January 2004, GIT is ?one of the three most important emerging research fields, along with biotechnology and nanotechnology?.
The master programme in Geospatial information science provides you high level academic training of interdisciplinary character. It integrates ideas, theories and methods from geo sciences, in its broad interpretation, and from information technology or computer science. The core of the subject is technically oriented with a focus on collecting, making searchable, modeling, calculating, visualizing, and analyzing all types of geo-referenced data and information. In its social orientation, you will study how this type of information can be used to deal with concrete problems in spatial planning and decision making, and/or to simulate complex geographical phenomena and processes to reveal their underlying mechanisms (scientifically oriented use).The programme will provide the student solid and scientifically founded knowledge, as well as problem solving skills which both broaden and deepen previous university studies, e.g. studies in computer science and geographical information technology, land surveying or spatial planning. The student will be able to carry out professional activities that are largely self-directed and independent, which is required to gain employment as an expert in activities related to the geospatial information sector and/or for further academic studies leading to research degrees, such as e.g. the PhD programme in Geospatial information science offered at HiG.The program is interdisciplinary run and adapted to both market needs of special competence and post-graduate studies. The programme is given in English and consists of courses at both basic and advanced levels. The courses given at basic level have two purposes. The first is to offer the opportunity for progression, that is, students with insufficient knowledge in the other sub-disciplines in Geospatial information science are given the possibility to continue at advanced level. The other purpose is to offer students the opportunity to broaden knowledge in the subject?s disciplines.
Within the field of geomatics there is possibility for international exchange, for example through our Erasmus agreements. Both courses and thesis work are appropriate for study abroad. Note however, that participation in exchange may prolong your studies to some extent.