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- 2023 Archives
- Scientists dig deep and find a way to accurately predict snowmelt after droughts
- Cracking the Case of Missing Snowmelt After Drought
- 2023 Esri Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Daniel Murphy
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Kyle Kusack
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Matthew Taylor
- Anke Baker Wins Staff Achievement Award
- Spring 2023 Virtual Geospeaker Event with Ginger Gosnell-Myers
- CAG Paper Presentation Award - Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven!
- Informing & Engaging Urban Youth on Public Hearings: GEOG 363 Final Showcase
- Research Talk: Modeling Urban Wetland Complexities
- Highlight Paper: Quantifying land carbon cycle feedbacks under negative CO2 emissions
- Bright Addae winner of the 2023 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jonny Cripps
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Diandra Oliver
- 2023 Geospeaker Presentation with Dr. Pauline McGuirk
- Congratulations to Our Graduates - October 2023
- Evaluating the impact of educational goals at SFU
- The Belongings of Precariously Housed People - A Report
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Takuma Mihara
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Adrienne Arbor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Claire Shapton
- 2023 Distinguished Speaker Presentation with Dr. Deb Cowen
- Cheers to Paul Degrace and his well-earned retirement!
- 2024 Archives
- Professor Nicholas Blomley Honored with the Community-Engaged Research Achievement Award
- Graduate Students Claire Shapton and Marina Chavez Honored with the Community-Engaged Graduate Scholar Award
- Applications now open: 2024 ESRI Canada GIS Scholarship for SFU
- Associate Professor Rosemary Collard achieves 13th place on SFU Altmetric List
- The PEAK feature: GSU hosts inaugural RANGE conference
- Gabrielle Wong wins First Prize in 2023 Student Learning Commons Writing Contest
- Gabrielle Wong receives Warren Gill Memorial Award
- Professor Nick Blomley receives Warren Gill Memorial Award for Community Impact
- Geography Student Union recipient of the FENV 2024 Changemaker Awards
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland reveals the secret sauce of great teaching
- Senior Lecturer Tara Holland Receives SFU 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Bright Addae
- GIS undergraduate students participate in the Canada-wide 2024 AppChallenge competition
- Senior Lecturer Andrew Perkins Receives SFU 2024 Dean's Award of Excellence in Teaching
- Congratulations to Alysha van Duynhoven, Canada's 2024 ESRI Young Scholar
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Robert Ehlert
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Stephan Nieweler
- Eugene McCann writes on "livable cities" in The Tyee
- Tiana Andjelic wins the 2024 SFU ECCE GIS Scholarship Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Marina Chavez
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Mia Fitzpatrick
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Lan Qing Zhao
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Tyler Cole
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Benjamin Lartey
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Olivia Nieves
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Max Hurson
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to John Sykes
- Farewell to Robert "Bob" Horsfall, Associate Professor
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to André Araújo
- SFU Geography welcomes ethnobotanist, Leigh Joseph, as professor of Indigenous geographies
- Physical Geography September: What is Physical Geography?
- Alysha Van Duynhoven communicates award-winning research at international GIS conference
- How Dr. Tracy Brennand’s visionary leadership shaped the Department of Geography - a heartfelt thank-you
- Dr. Tracy Brennand honoured with the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) Award
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Jay Matsushiba
- Human Geography October: What is Human Geography?
- MA Student Joy Russell featured on CBC Vancouver
- Human Geography October: What is Urban Worlds?
- Ajay Minhas Receives 2024 Warren Gill Award
- Dr. Nadine Schuurman featured in SFU news article on Runnability
- GIS Month: What is Geographic Information Science (GIS)?
- Thesis Defence - Congratulations to Joy Russell
- Hallway Screens Slides
- 2023 Archives
- Alumni
GIS Month: What is Geographic Information Science (GIS)?
GIS, or Geographic Information Science is a powerful tool used to capture, store, analyze, and display spatial and geographic data. In combining layers of information about a place, GIS helps us understand spatial patterns, relationships, and trends. From urban planning to environmental conservation, GIS has become essential in addressing complex global issues like climate change, disaster response, and resource management.
What are the main areas of Geographic Information Science (GIS)?
- Spatial Data Acquisition and Management – How is geographic data collected and organized? Spatial Analysis in GIS involves examining the locations, attributes, and relationships of features in spatial data.
- Remote Sensing and Image Analysis – How do we observe Earth from a distance?
- Spatial Simulation and Space-Time Modeling – How does geography and patterns on the earth’s surface change over time?
- Data Visualization and Cartography – How do we communicate geographic information visually?
- Ethics, Privacy, and Emerging Technologies – What are the ethical considerations in GIS? How do we continue to develop spatial technologies that rely on human data while protecting privacy?
Explore the world through GIS
The Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science equips you with data management and spatial analysis skills, allowing you to incorporate real world data, map and analyze patterns, visualize complex data, and make informed decisions about real-world issues, from climate change impacts to urban planning. GIS skills are commonly used in urban and land-use planning, healthcare, transportation planning, resource management, public safety and risk assessment, among others.
Geography Programs in GIS
The Department of Geography offer many programs with GIS Components. You can choose from a major or minor or a certificate to complement your studies.
Geographical Information Science Major
The NEW GIS major gives you a full spectrum GIS foundation while allowing you to explore GIS uses in areas of your personal interest. You will learn theory, applications, and management of geospatial technologies as well as ethics and privacy related to ubiquitous spatial data and tracking. This mix of core concepts, critical thinking and advanced technical skills this will equip you to work in a variety of GIS-related positions, addressing both social and environmental challenges. Our focus on hands-on learning enables you to fully explore how to use GIS.
Physical Geography Major in Geosystems and GIScience
The Geosystems and GIScience stream in the Physical Geography major focuses on the linkages between earth systems science and spatial information science. It also covers the requirements for the Certificate in Geographic Information Science and you can benefit from overlapping requirements between your major and the GIS certificate program.
Geographical Information Science Minor
Combining foundational courses in human and physical geography with specialized electives in geovisualization, remote sensing, spatial analysis and modeling, the GIS minor provides the conceptual and technical skills needed to work in GIS-related positions. The GIS Minor can be applied to majors in Human Geography, Physical Geography, Humanities-related and Science-related fields.
Geographical Information Science Certificate
The GIS Certificate offers a focused program combining geography courses with specialized training in geovisualization, remote sensing, and spatial analysis and modeling also. Designed to provide strong conceptual and technical foundations, the certificate is ideal for students pursuing GIS-related careers across Human Geography and Physical Geography. You can benefit from overlapping requirements between your major and the certificate programs.
What can you study?
Careers in GIS
Career Pathways for GIS graduates are diverse. Career and Volunteer Services can help guide you in choosing a career with your GIS major. You can work as:
- Cadastral management
- Cartographer
- Emergency Management Specialist
- Environmental Consultant
- Geospatial Data Scientist
- Geospatial Software Developer
- GIS Analyst
- GIS Project Manager
- GIS Technician
- Hydrologist
- Market Research Analyst
- Natural Resource Manager
- Public Health Analyst
- Remote Sensing Specialist
- Surveyor
- Transportation Planner
- Urban Planner
"You never know where life will take you. I followed my interest in geography and aerial photography and now I fly satellites for a living!!"
BRENDAN GOSTMANN
Co-op Opportunities in GIS
As part of your Bachelor of Science degree, you have the opportunity to join the Co-op program where you get the chance to apply your knowledge to real-world projects. You gain experience and develop professional skills, while building a network of contacts over the course of 3 terms. Work in areas of government, conservation and urban planning.
Student Stories in GIS
Join our community at SFU Geography
Whether your goal is to work in urban planning, sustainability initiatives or transportation, SFU Geography's GIS programs offer real world exploration and hands on experience. There are many career pathways to explore with this degree!
Interested in becoming a part of the SFU Geography community? Check out our programs to see what major is the right fit for you.