Forest Resources and Conservation (Concentration in Geomatics)

Course Overview

Online, MS Geomatics, Forest, Resources and Conservation(non-thesis) The School of Forest Resources and Conservation prepares Geomatics students to become geospatial technology experts through the online Master of Science degree. The Geomatics faculty is nationally and internationally recognized as authors, presenters, and educators. This faculty has developed a flexible degree program that can accommodate each student's interests in the broad field of geospatial science. Furthermore, MS graduates are well-positioned in the job market to enhance their careers and take advantage of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projection of 18% job growth in the geospatial workforce through 2018. The program offers instruction and learning opportunities with the convenience and flexibility of online delivery so students can continue to work while going to school. Geomatics has applications in all disciplines which depend on spatial data including forestry, environmental studies, planning, engineering, navigation, geology, geophysics, and national intelligence. Thus, this field of study is fundamental to all areas of study which use spatially related data such as Surveying, Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry, Cartography, Geographic Information Systems, Property or Cadastral Studies, Global Positioning, and Geospatial Analysis. Collection and analysis of location based information requires an ever-expanding skill set that is valued by both private industry and public agencies as geospatial information guides many of the strategic decisions made by these organizations. The School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) now offers an online graduate concentration program in Geomatics that addresses a national need for professionals trained in this geospatial field. Working professionals and full-time graduate students in the Southeastern US are particularly targeted for this degree program. The need for a Geomatics program is increasing as agencies and private companies involved in geospatial activities are striving to retool their work force with solid academic training in Geomatics. A sound science-based Geomatics foundation is needed for developing and implementing evermore complex geospatial projects. We need to equip our graduate students with geospatial skills and science-based principles that are transportable from one task to another for them to be effective in the future as geospatial analysts, GPS specialists, professional surveyors and mappers, GIS analysts and managers, cartographers, imagery analysts, software developers, geodesists, academic educators, and research scientists.