Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
About
The course teaches state-of-the-art skills such as spatial data collection, management, analysis, visualisation and publication and enables students to develop skills in programming, spatial modelling, satellite technology, databases and a range of other digital technologies.
With over 80% of all data being geographic, GIS is now a business critical part of most Industry, government and community sectors, which in turn, has created a growing requirement for highly skilled GIS professionals. The GI sector itself, despite recessions and pandemics has been growing at around 10% per year and the number and variety of employment opportunities is increasing.
The course at UU has been providing skilled, employment ready, GIS professionals for over 20 years and is the largest GIS course in the UK and Ireland. The course is flexibly designed to accommodate students from various backgrounds and experiences, ranging from recent graduates from degree courses to people already in the workforce with many years previous experience who want to up-skill for promotion or pursue a career change. We offer substantial support to facilitate students who are studying on a part time basis. For instance, each module has e-tutors who provide strong online support through email and discussion boards. Furthermore, teaching staff are available for students via email, online chats and other communication methods.
Ulster’s strong reputation for provision and expertise in the GIS sector makes us an excellent choice for local students who are keen to up-skill for careers in key growth areas in the NI Economy.
Start dates
23 September 2024 to late April 2025 (30 weeks taught). Please note the application deadline for this programme is 16 September 2024.
Delivery format (fully online)
Typically the course will have 5 hours of taught content per week. Those undertaking the course should expect to spend 25 hours per week on the course.
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching will be fully online with lecture and practical material being released on a weekly basis. With no formally timetabled compulsory classes, the format of delivery provides you with the flexibility to study remotely at your own pace, from any place, at any time, with no requirement to attend the campus at any stage during the course.
There is strong support from a team of e-tutors who are experienced GI professionals with industry and/or research expertise in environmental research areas. Suggested reading materials, tutorials and discussion boards compliment the University's extensive online library resources of electronic journals, e-books, and databases facilitate a rich learning experience.
Assessment is 100% coursework using on-line submission and ranges from reports to essays.
Career options
GIS and geospatial technologies underpin a rapidly growing, multi-billion dollar industry, and are becoming increasingly mainstream within both the public and private sectors, resulting in a need for a steady supply of graduates who have a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The breadth of potential uses of GIS ensures a great diversity of job opportunities; for example, our graduates have found employment with mapping agencies, GIS, SatNav and technology companies, GIS and environmental consultancies, ecological and marine resource management and environmental agencies, renewable energy companies, forestry, fisheries, town planning departments, heritage agencies, health and emergency services, housing authorities, local government, aid agencies, countryside recreation, rural development, retail analysis, utilities and infrastructure, Further and Higher Education, mining and mineral exploitation and the oil industry, among others.
Academic Profile
Dr Sally Cook – Dr Cook’s teaching focuses on the science, technology and application of GIS, with emphasis on the use of GIS to map, model and undertake spatial and statistical analysis of social and environmental impacts. She is also involved in various outreach activities including facilitating greater use of GIS within secondary education through the GIS In Schools project.
Sally’s research interests focus mainly on the application of GIS technology and geographic methodologies, spatial data analysis and modelling to aspects of environmental, health and social sciences. These have been applied within University-funded projects such as widening access, spatial analysis of university data and encouraging uptake of GIS in secondary education as well as to externally funded research.
Adrian Moore is Professor of Geographic Information Science (GIS) and Course Director for the postgraduate GIS courses at Ulster. He is a Health Geographer with a wide range of academic publications and interests relating to the application of GIS digital technologies, spatial statistical analytics and a variety of quantitative and qualitative methodologies in examining the relationships between the physical and social environments, human health and health care delivery.
He is former Director and national council member of the United Kingdom Association for Geographic Information (AGI) and the founder and first Chair of AGI Northern Ireland. He is an Erskine Fellow of the University of the Canterbury, New Zealand. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Distinguished Business Fellow of Ulster University. He is a co-founder and former Director of Spatialest Ltd, a successful University GIS digital technology spin-out Company.
Dr Paul McKenzie – Paul is a Chartered Geographer (GIS) and a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (FRGS). His research focuses on the development of risk models for poverty mapping across large spatial scales. Other interests include the use of remotely sensed data to map and monitor the environment and the fusion of remotely sensed datasets to extract features in urban and agricultural landscapes. Paul has also a keen interest in developing the use of GIS in Schools.
This work has received a range of national and European awards and Paul leads the “digital earth Centre of Excellence” at Ulster University. Paul’s research uses spatial data and GIS to build area-based models that can be used to identify vulnerable communities. He is currently working on the FAIR (Fuel and transport poverty in the UK’s energy transition) project funded by CREDS. The project examines the intersections between fuel and transport poverty, and low carbon energy transitions, in the UK.
Contact
If you have any queries about the course, please email GES@ulster.ac.uk.
Modules
Principles of GIS (EGM711) Semester 1, weeks 1-6
This (COMPULSORY) module introduces the theory and practice of Geographic Information Systems, reviewing the breadth of potential GIS applications and equipping students with the key concepts and skills required relating to the input, management, manipulation, analysis and output of spatial data. Lecture-based teaching of key concepts is reinforced by linked practical exercises developing skills in ESRI’s ArcGIS. The module assumes no prior knowledge or experience of GIS.
Spatial Data Management (EGM712) Semester 1, weeks 7-12
This module builds on the knowledge and practical skills gained in EGM711 to provide further experience in the acquisition and management of spatial data. Methods for generating and integrating digital spatial data from primary and secondary sources are considered, with lecture and practical sessions looking at digitising, geo-registration, data collection (e.g. GPS and LiDAR) and using secondary sources such as the Census and government population statistics. The module also incorporates extensive practice in data handling, GIS functionality and analysis and statistics. Development of GIS software skills focuses primarily on ArcGIS, while the SPSS package is used to introduce statistical analysis of GIS data. EGM711 is a prerequisite for EGM712.
Introduction to Remote Sensing (EGM713) Semester 1, weeks 1-6
This module gives students a thorough grounding in digital remote sensing and analysis techniques. The module explores the theoretical principles of the discipline and is supported by the industry standard remote sensing software package ERDAS Imagine. Practical knowledge of remote sensing and image analysis is developed through a series of practical exercises and a project.
GIS Databases (EGM717) Semester 1, weeks 7-12
This module introduces the concept of developing a reliable spatial database for use in any organisation and provides an insight into both small scale and large scale relational spatial database management systems. A range of database skills are introduced which equip the student with knowledge of the potential and scope of databases within a range of different applications. Students are introduced to a range of open-source DBMS and GIS software including PostgreSQL, PostGIS and QGIS.
Part-time students have the opportunity to choose from a range of additional modules including GIS in Business and Society and GIS for Environmental Management.
Please note that module content is reviewed and updated on an annual basis and the content described here is subject to minor modifications.
Entry requirements
Academic qualifications
You must hold an honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a science, or other suitable discipline, or demonstrate your ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning.
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements