College of Geosciences
Curriculum in Spatial Sciences
A degree in Spatial Sciences offers students the opportunity to obtain a career in a cutting-edge discipline at the intersection of environmental and spatial sciences. The spatial sciences combine multidisciplinary fields of scientific study with geospatial technologies including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and Remote Sensing. A student armed with this degree will possess an advanced knowledge of these technologies, experience in interpretation of aerial photographs and satellite images, as well as a broad understanding of computer applications and database management. Graduates are capable of working as environmental and natural resource managers; yet they also possess the necessary skills to map geographical features, patterns, changes; further, they should be able to lead and conduct modern environmental decision-making, planning, and problem solving activities.
Texas A&M University, through a joint program between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (lead by the Department of Forest Science and Spatial Sciences Laboratory) and the College of Geosciences (lead by the Department of Geography), offer this degree as the first of its kind in the nation. Through core course work in spatial sciences and supporting courses students will learn to utilize the full potential of the spatial sciences in real-world problem solving. From real-time wildfire risk assessment to crime analysis, from mapping habitats for endangered species to mapping tsunami damage with satellite photography, from collecting GPS data on trees in rainforests to building a database in a computer, the spatial sciences are fast becoming an integral part of modern resource management.
Students in this degree program receive help from faculty advisors in their areas of interest. Faculty advisors meet regularly with students to discuss courses and career opportunities. The total number of credit hours required for a degree is 131.
FRESHMAN YEAR
| First Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | Second Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHEM 101 Fundamentals of Chemistry I | (3-3) | 4 | CHEM 102 Fundamentals of Chemistry II | (3-3) | 4 | |
| ENGL 104 Composition and Rhetoric | (3-0) | 3 | CPSC 110 Programming I | (3-2) | 4 | |
| MATH 141 Business Mathematics I | (3-0) | 3 | MATH 142 Business Mathematics II | (3-0) | 3 | |
| History elective1 | 3 | History elective1 | 3 | |||
| Humanities elective2 | 3 | KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity | (0-2) | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 |
SOPHOMORE YEAR
| First Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | Second Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL 111 Intro. Biology I or BOTN 101 Botany |
(3-3) | 4 | AGEC 350 Env. and Nat. Resource Economics | (3-0) | 3 | |
| COMM 203 Public Speaking | (3-0) | 3 | AGRO 301 Soil Science | (3-2) | 4 | |
| RENR 205 Fund. of Ecology | (3-0) | 3 | BIOL 112 Intro. Biology II or GEOG 203 Planet Earth |
(3-2) | 4 | |
| RENR 215 Fund. of Ecology Lab. | (0-3) | 1 | POLS 206 American National Govt. | (3-0) | 3 | |
| Communication elective3 | 3 | Natural resource elective4 | 3 | |||
| KINE 199 Required Physical Activity | (0-2) | 1 | 17 | |||
| 15 |
JUNIOR YEAR
| First Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | Second Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGSM 337 Tech. for Env. and Nat. Resource Engineering | (3-0) | 3 | GEOL 352 GPS in the Geosciences | (1-3) | 2 | |
| GEOG 398 Interpretation of Aerial Photos | (2-3) | 3 | POLS 207 State and Local Govt. | (3-0) | 3 | |
| MGMT 309 Survey of Management | (3-0) | 3 | RENR 444 Remote Sens. in Rew. Nat. Res. | (2-3) | 3 | |
| GIS elective5 | 3 | STAT 211 Prin. of Statistics I or STAT 302 Statistical Methods |
3 | |||
| Natural resource elective4 | 3 | Natural resource elective4 | 3 | |||
| Social and behavioral science elective6 | 3 | Elective | 3 | |||
| 18 | 17 |
SENIOR YEAR
| First Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | Second Semester | (Th-Pr) | Cr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BESC 403 Sampling and Env. Monitoring | (2-3) | 3 | RENR 470 Env. Impact Assessment | (3-0) | 3 | |
| FRSC 484 Internship | 3 | Spatial sciences electives7 | 6 | |||
| Spatial sciences elective7 | 3 | Policy/regulations elective9 | 3 | |||
| Natural resource elective4 | 3 | Elective | 3 | |||
| Visual and performing arts elective8 | 3 | 15 | ||||
| Elective | 3 | |||||
| 18 | ||||||
total hours |
131 | |||||
NOTES:
- History electives to be selected from the University Core Curriculum.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from GEOG 202, 301, 305, or 323.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from ENGL 210, 301; AGJR 404.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from AGRO 310; FRSC 304; RENR 375, 410; RLEM 301; WFSC 428.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from FRSC 461, GEOG 390, LAND 461, RENR 405.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from AGEC 105, ECON 202; GEOG 201, 304, 440.
- To be selected in consultation with academic advisor from AGSM 410; CPSC 206, 310; CVEN 201; ENDS 370, 375; FRSC 462; GEOG 361, 475; PLAN 365; RPTS 307; STAT 212.
- Visual and performing arts electives to be selected from the University Core Curriculum.
- To be selected in consultation with faculty academic advisor from FRSC 406, GEOG 330, MGMT 209, PHIL 314, PLAN 365, WFSC 303.
* See University Core Curriculum, item 7.