About

Are you curious about the challenges and rewards of learning a rapidly growing field that uses technology such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), digital maps, satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence? What if you could learn to use a diverse array of computer technology and science to solve environmental problems, manage resources, and enhance the quality of life in your community, or even around the world?

Careers in geographic information science and technology (GIST) are among the top three fastest-growing fields nationwide as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Geospatial job market growth rests upon a broad knowledge base of geospatial technology (computer cartography, digital mapping, GPS, satellite and aerial remote sensing) and comprehensive, geographic literacy (understanding people, places and the environment).

The GIST program provides a state-of-the-art foundation for a career in applying geographic information systems (GIS) and all these related technologies towards a vast array of potential careers, including cartographer, GIS analyst, computer mapping, photogrammetrist, surveyor, public works and utilities engineering, urban and regional planning GIS, environmental managers/scientist/engineer, and site location and market suitability analysts. GIS is often the behind-the-scenes infrastructure in everyday life, supporting our water, electricity, transportation business operations, and every other facet of civilization. It is also used to do market research, navigate and route traffic (MapQuest, GoogleMaps, Yahoo, etc.), and perform many daily activities that are often taken for granted (bus routes, school attendance zones, mobile phone location-based services).

ECU's GIST program provides a cutting-edge program in all these technologies of GIS, remote sensing, cartography, GPS and computer science (including the information technology to design, plan and implement GIS). In addition, several advanced areas of application are available, such as coastal and marine GIS, terrestrial laser scanning and advanced computer cartography. The program is strongly linked to demand for highly trained geospatial analysts and encourages active participation in internship and applied research projects, including private business, nonprofits, environmental groups and foundations, local, state and federal government agencies, and the military.

ECU Advantage

ECU's GIST program has a national reputation for applying GIS, with especially strong recognition for applications to environmental resources, hazards and coasts. Our program is focused on the undergraduate student and ensuring you acquire the latest GIS software, IT and spatial data analysis skills. ECU's GIST degree is one of only a few available at the undergraduate level nationwide with such depth and breadth of geospatial education and training. Hence, our alumni are poised to out-compete graduates from other programs with less geospatial and IT competency.

What You Will Study

Note: This program will no longer accept students going forward. If you have questions, please reach out to the program coordinator. 

Program Coordinator: Hong-Bing Su (221-A Brewster Building; 252-328-1040; suh@ecu.edu)  

The degree requires a minimum of 120 s.h. as follows:

I. General education requirements including the course listed below - 40 s.h.

(For information about courses that carry general education credit view the General Education Program section.)

  • MATH 1065 - College Algebra
II. Common core - 19 s.h.
  • GEOG 2400 - Spatial Data Analysis
  • GEOG 2420 - Cartography
  • GEOG 3420 - Remote Sensing of the Environment I
  • GEOG 3430 - Geographic Information Systems I
  • GEOG 3460 - GIS Applications Programming
  • GEOG 4430 - Geographic Information Systems II
  • GEOG 4999 - Geography Professional Seminar
III. Geographic information system electives - 15 s.h.

(Choose from the following.)

  • GEOG 3450 - GPS and Satellite Navigation Systems
  • GEOG 3480 - Drone Technology and Applications
  • GEOG 4340 - GIS for Health Studies
  • GEOG 4410 - Advanced Cartographic Design and Production
  • GEOG 4420 - Remote Sensing II
  • GEOG 4440 - Coastal Applications of GIS
  • GEOG 4450 - GIScience, Society and Technology
  • GEOG 4460 - Digital Terrain Analysis
  • GEOG 4470 - GIS for Conservation
  • GEOG 4491 - Supervised Study in Geographic Techniques
  • GEOG 4492 - Supervised Study in Geographic Techniques
  • GEOG 4493 - Supervised Study in Geographic Techniques
  • GEOG 4540 - Coastal Storms
  • GEOG 4580 - Radar and Satellite Meteorology
  • GEOG 4801 - Geographic Internship
  • GEOG 4802 - Geographic Internship
  • GEOG 4803 - Geographic Internship
IV. Environmental and human geography electives - 12 s.h.

(Choose from the following courses. A minimum of 3 s.h. must be above 2999.)

  • GEOG 1000 - People, Places, and Environments
  • GEOG 1250 - Water in the Environment
  • GEOG 1300 - Weather and Climate
  • GEOG 2003 - Geography of the Global Economy
  • GEOG 2019 - Geography of Recreation
  • GEOG 2250 - Earth Surface Systems
  • GEOG 2300 - Environment and Society
  • GEOG 2350 - Climate Change: Science and Society
  • GEOG 2510 - Physical Meteorology and Thermodynamics
  • GEOG 3001 - Historical Geography of the United States
  • GEOG 3003 - Political Geography
  • GEOG 3004 - Urban Geography
  • GEOG 3025 - Racial Geographies
  • GEOG 3049 - Latin America
  • GEOG 3050 - Africa
  • GEOG 3051 - Asia
  • GEOG 3055 - North Carolina
  • GEOG 3100 - Special Topics
  • GEOG 3220 - Soil Properties, Surveys, and Applications
  • GEOG 3230 - Global Climates
  • GEOG 3240 - Biogeography
  • GEOG 3250 - Environmental Hazards
  • GEOG 4210 - Fluvial and Hydrological Processes
  • GEOG 4220 - Coastal Geography
  • GEOG 4230 - Earth Surface Processes
  • GEOG 4240 - Environmental Security
  • GEOG 4250 - Environmental Impact Analysis
  • GEOG 4270 - Water Resources Management and Planning
  • GEOG 4310 - Geography of Transportation and Trade
  • GEOG 4315 - Geographic Images
  • GEOG 4320 - Gender, Environment, and Development
  • GEOG 4325 - Resources, Population, and Development
  • GEOG 4330 - Agricultural Geography
  • GEOG 4335 - Geography of Tourism
  • GEOG 4345 - Human Migration and Global Restructuring
  • GEOG 4360 - Geographies of Global Climate and Environmental Change
  • GEOG 4510 - Meteorological Instruments and Observations
  • GEOG 4530 - Micrometeorology
  • GEOG 4590 - Tropical Meteorology
  • GEOG 5281 - Selected Topics in Physical Geography
  • GEOG 5282 - Selected Topics in Physical Geography
  • GEOG 5283 - Selected Topics in Physical Geography
  • GEOG 5393 - Seminar in Human Geography
  • PLAN 1900 - Sustainable Cities
  • PLAN 2030 - Global Cities
  • PLAN 3020 - Environmental Planning
V. Cognates - 9 s.h.

(Choose from the following courses.)

  • CSCI 1000 - Explorations in Computing
  • CSCI 1010 - Algorithmic Problem-Solving
  • CSCI 1011 - Algorithmic Problem-Solving Lab
  • CSCI 2400 - Discrete Structures I
  • CSCI 2405 - Discrete Structures II
  • CSCI 3700 - Database Management Systems
  • GEOG 2003 - Geography of the Global Economy
  • ICTN 1500 - Information and Cybersecurity Technology Fundamentals
  • ICTN 1501 - Information and Cybersecurity Technology Fundamentals Laboratory
  • ICTN 2150 - Network Fundamentals
  • ICTN 2154 - Digital Communication Systems
  • ICTN 2155 - Digital Communication Systems Laboratory
  • ICTN 2158 - Computer Networking Technology
  • ICTN 2159 - Computer Networking Technology Laboratory
  • ICTN 2510 - Network Environment I
  • ICTN 2511 - Network Environment I Laboratory
  • ICTN 2530 - Network Environment II
  • ICTN 2531 - Network Environment II Laboratory
  • ICTN 2900 - Fundamental Network Security
  • ICTN 2901 - Fundamental Network Security Laboratory
  • ICTN 3540 - Network Environment III
  • ICTN 3541 - Network Environment III Laboratory
  • MATH 1083 - Precalculus
  • MATH 2119 - Elements of Calculus
VI. Minor and/or electives to complete requirements for graduation
    For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
    Request Revision