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Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies

University of Arkansas

Geoinformatics Curriculum

Home » Education » University » Geoinformatics Curriculum

The University of Arkansas offers some 30 courses at the undergraduate level that provide a solid foundation for professional practice and advanced education in the arena of geomatics. These courses are offered in the departments of Geosciences, Civil Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Math and Biological and Agricultural Engineering.

We have selected the terms geoinformatics and geomatics to encompass these various offerings.

While the definition of geoinformatics is in a state of evolution, it has been described as "the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, geosciences and related branches of engineering" (Wikipedia, 2012).

The word geomatics is defined as "the branch of science that deals with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data relating to the earth’s surface" (Oxford Dictionaries, 2012).

These overlapping terms reference a wide range of topics, from in situ, remote sensor, and ancillary spatial data acquisition and analysis using geographic information systems (GIS) and geocomputation.  Overlapping terms used by others to cover aspects of the offerings include GIS, GIScience, geospatial technologies, surveying, geodesy, remote sensing, photogrammetry, etc.  In addition to encompassing some or all of these topics our understanding of the term is somewhat more expansive, including aspects of public policy, business, etc. the graphic below illustrates a sense of this relationship.

Course offerings:

We have prepared four “flow charts” to illustrate recommended and required offerings in geoinformatics and geomatics. These flow charts reflect the 2006 UA catalog copy.  Essential courses are shown in yellow boxes, possible courses in blue.  Catalog required prerequisites are shown with large linked arrows and recommended sequences are shown in light blue.  Not all students will desire to take all courses and each student should discuss the specifics with their advisor.

Note that different structures are presented for a student wishing to receive a degree:

• in computer science with an emphasis in geoinformatics and geomatics (course graphic 1*)
• in geosciences with a strong quantitative focus in geoinformatics and geomatics (course graphic 2*)
• in geosciences with basic quantitative skills in geoinformatics and geomatics (course graphic 3*)

The current graduate offerings (course graphic 4*).

Research opportunities

The educational program in geomatics at the University of Arkansas is closely linked to the extensive research opportunities in geoinformatics and geomatics. General information on research in this area is available here.  In addition to a focused curriculum, courses in this area can be taken to augment education emphases in a number of other areas.  For example the university has a strong emphasis in geoinformatics and geomatics as applied to archaeology, environmental studies, social analyses, and many others.