Aug 13, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Geospatial Science, BS

Degree Maps

The BS in geospatial science program is designed to educate students in spatial science theory and application in order to meet increasing job market demands. It includes the major fields of geographic information systems, remote sensing, and surveying and global positioning systems. Students will start with the fundamentals of geospatial sciences both in theory and application and complete the degree with an emphasis in natural resources or land surveying. Students who complete the surveying concentration will satisfy the academic background requirement to become a registered surveyor in Texas; actual licensing requires work experience in addition to the educational background.

In order to receive the BS in geospatial science, a student must complete the listed general education core, the common core of the geospatial science major and one of the three concentrations for a total of 120 semester credit hours of coursework. Specifically, it requires completion of:

University Core Curriculum Requirements

Communication - 010

Three hours from:

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric and Composition Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

INCM 1305 - International and Intercultural Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 2333 - Teamwork and Group Communication Credit(s): 3

Mathematics - 020

Three hours from:

MATH 1342 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credit(s): 3

Life and Physical Science - 030

Three hours from:

ENVR 1301 - Intro to Environmental Science Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

ASTR 1303 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Credit(s): 3
ERTH 1303 - Earth Science Credit(s): 3
PHYS 1305 - Conceptual Physics I Credit(s): 3

Language, Philosophy and Culture - 040

Three hours from:

PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3

Creative Arts - 050

Three hours from:

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century) Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1304 - Art History II (14th Century to the present) Credit(s): 3
DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 2366 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3
HORT 2120 - Floral Design Lab Credit(s): 1
HORT 2220 - Floral Design Credit(s): 2
MUMH 1307 - Intro to Music Literature Credit(s): 3
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3

American History - 060

Six hours from:

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3

Government/Political Science - 070

Six hours from:

GOVT 2305 - Federal Government Credit(s): 3
GOVT 2306 - Texas Government Credit(s): 3

Social and Behavioral Sciences - 080

Three hours from:

ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
FORS 2351 - Introduction to Human Dimensions and Recreation Credit(s): 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

Component Area Option - 090

Three hours from:

ENGL 1302 - Research and Argument Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

BUSI 2304 - Business Communication Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2311 - Technical and Scientific Writing Credit(s): 3

Geospatial Science Major Required Courses

A grade of C or better is required for each course listed below:

FORS 2323 - Surveying and Mapping Credit(s): 3
FORS 2023 - Surveying and Mapping Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 2001 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 2024 - Introduction to Spatial Science Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 2301 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credit(s): 3
GISC 2324 - Introduction to Spatial Science Credit(s): 3
GISC 3001 - GIS Applications Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 3090 - GIS in Natural Resources Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 3301 - GIS Applications Credit(s): 3
GISC 3390 - GIS in Natural Resources Credit(s): 3
GISC 4000 - GIS Programming Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4010 - Landscape Modeling Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4015 - Spatial Analysis Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4300 - GIS Programming Credit(s): 3
GISC 4301 - GIS Database Management Credit(s): 3
GISC 4305 - Remote Sensing Applications Credit(s): 3
GISC 4310 - Landscape Modeling Credit(s): 3
GISC 4315 - Spatial Analysis Credit(s): 3
GISC 4320 - Ecological Planning Credit(s): 3
MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit(s): 3
MATH 1316 - Plane Trigonometry Credit(s): 3

Core Science Labs

Required Lab

Three hours from:

ENVR 1101 - Intro to Environmental Science Lab Credit(s): 1

Geospatial Science Concentrations

The geospatial science major will consist of one of the following concentrations:

Cultural Resources
Natural Resources
Surveying

Cultural Resources

Cultural Resources Required Minor

Select an academic minor 18 to 24 credit hours with the guidance of an advisor. The minor must contain at least six advanced semester credit hours of coursework taken at SFA.

Lab Option

One hour from:

ASTR 1103 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Laboratory Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1103 - Earth Science Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1105 - Conceptual Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Approved Concentration Electives

Thirteen credit hours of electives approved by advisor from prefixes AGBS, AGET, AGRI, ANSC, BIOL, BUSI, ENVR, FORS, GEOG, GISC, MATH, SUST.

Liberal Arts Electives

Zero to six credit hours of coursework from College of Liberal and Applied Arts course prefixes ANTH, CRIJ, HIST, MILS, PADM, PHIL, PSCI, SOCI.

Natural Resources

Natural Resources Required Minor

Select from the following academic minors (Forestry, Geospatial Science, Earth and Geologic Resources, Biology, Agriculture) for 18 to 24 credit hours with the guidance of an advisor. The minor must contain at least six advanced semester credit hours of coursework taken at SFA.

Lab Option

One hour from:

ASTR 1103 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Laboratory Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1103 - Earth Science Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1105 - Conceptual Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Approved Concentration Electives

Thirteen to nineteen credit hours of electives approved by advisor from prefixes AGBS, AGET, AGRI, ANSC, BIOL, BUSI, ENVR, FORS, GEOG, GISC, MATH, SUST.

Surveying

Surveying Required Courses

BLAW 3366 - Real Estate Law Credit(s): 3
BLAW 4368 - Oil and Gas Law Credit(s): 3
FORS 2019 - Dendrology Lab Credit(s): 0
FORS 2319 - Dendrology Credit(s): 3
FORS 4360 - Forestry Internship Credit(s): 3
GISC 4002 - Drones and GIS Lab Credit(s): 0
GISC 4302 - Drones and GIS Credit(s): 3
HORT 3125 - Design App Software I (CAD) Lab Credit(s): 1
HORT 3225 - Design Application Software I (CAD) Credit(s): 2
INDS 1325 - Introduction to AutoCAD Credit(s): 3

Lab Option

One hour from:

ASTR 1103 - Classical and Modern Astronomy Laboratory Credit(s): 1
ERTH 1103 - Earth Science Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1105 - Conceptual Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1

Approved Concentration Electives

Thirteen credit hours of electives approved by advisor from prefixes AGBS, AGET, AGRI, ANSC, BIOL, BUSI, CRIJ, ENVR, FORS, GEOG, GISC, HIST, MATH, PSCI, SUST.

Surveying Concentration - Geospatial Cultural Electives

Three hours from:

FORS 4343 - Weather and Climate Credit(s): 3
GISC 4325 - Mobile and Field GIS Credit(s): 3
GISC 4025 - Mobile and Field GIS Lab Credit(s): 0
HIST 2301 - Texas History Credit(s): 3
Or a GEOG prefix (1000-4000) level course for three credit hours.

General Electives

The student may be required to complete additional elective hours to complete the degree.

Degree Total Hours: 120

Grade Requirements

A grade of at least C in each first-year English course (ENGL 1301 , ENGL 1302 )
A C average in work completed in the major field
A C average in work completed in the minor field

The required averages are based on those SFA courses taken in each category that are included in the student’s official degree plan (Degree Works). Transfer and advanced placement coursework are not included in GPA calculations.

In-Residence Requirement

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Undergraduate degrees require at least 25% semester credit hours completed in-residence.

Undergraduate degrees with 120 hours total degree program hours require a minimum of 30 advanced (upper level) in-residence semester credit hours. The in-residence hour requirement will be fulfilled as part of the individual discipline major, which includes as least 12 advanced in-residence semester credit hours. Minor requirements also may contribute to the total in-residence hours as at least six advanced in-residence semester credit hours are required. The balance of in-resident hours will be fulfilled through additional advanced semester credit hours and may include further major and minor coursework.

Undergraduate degrees with more than 120 total degree program hour requirements will ensure semester credit hours for the specific discipline include at least 25% of total semester credit hours in-residence.

View HOP policy 02-214.

Texas Success Initiative Program

All students must satisfy provisions of the Texas Success Initiative program. See the TSI information catalog page.