Spatial Information Science & Engineering (M.S.)

About

The School of Computing and Information Science offers leading-edge research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs in Spatial Information Science and Engineering and an all coursework, all e-learning master’s degree program in Spatial Informatics. Almost all SIE required and elective courses are available simultaneously online as well as on campus.

From mobile phone technologies to robotics, geographic informations systems (GIS), the Internet of Things (IOT), and sensor networks, most modern information systems are now highly dependent on location and spatial concepts for organizing and tracking data and information. Spatial Computing describes the overarching research and scholarly domain that is being advanced by our academic programs. While the terms are often used interchangeably, we use Spatial Informatics to designate the academic learning domain intersecting spatial topics that extend primarily from a computing foundation. Spatial Information Science and Engineering is used to identify our research-based degrees that advance understanding in handling location and time in emerging information systems and applications. Geographic Information Systems is a domain focused on learning and applications in a popular and wide-spread software approach to handling location-based data.

M.S. Options

The thesis option is the scientific track, typically requiring a strong undergraduate background in engineering, computer science, human-computer interaction, or mathematics. Prospective master’s students from other disciplines must complete requisite math and engineering courses to succeed in an engineering graduate curriculum. The thesis option includes a substantial individual research project forming the basis for a master’s thesis.

The project option is designed for students who prefer to focus primarily on coursework rather than research. Formal coursework is complemented by a one-semester project in which students demonstrate their ability to apply acquired knowledge to implement a particular solution.

Apply

Program Highlights

In-depth skills in problem solving
Computer processing
Research methods
Information systems design
Multimedia communications

Requirements

M.S. Thesis Option

A minimum of 30 graduate course credits (400 level or above) on an advisor-approved program of study, including:

At least 24 graduate course credits
At least 6 thesis credits (SIE 699)
At least 12 graduate course credits at the 500 level or above
At least 18 graduate course credits in SIE
No more than 6 credits of independent study (598, 698, or equivalent courses)
Breadth Requirement: One 3-credit graduate course from at least 3 out of 5 areas

Formal Representations of Spatial Phenomena
Spatial Cognition and Interaction
Database Systems
Geographic Information Systems
Information Policy

M.S. Project Option

A minimum of 30 graduate course credits (400 level or above) on an advisor-approved program of study, including:

At least 12 graduate course credits at the 500 level or above
At least 18 graduate course credits in SIE
No more than 6 credits of independent study (598, 698, or equivalent courses)
Students pursuing the Project Option may qualify to submit the
Breadth Requirement: One 3-credit graduate course from at least 4 out of 5 areas

Formal Representations of Spatial Phenomena
Spatial Cognition and Interaction
Database Systems
Geographic Information Systems
Information Policy

Accelerated Program

By planning ahead during your undergraduate program, you can finish in a single year the Master of Science in Spatial Information Science and Engineering, the Master of Science in Spatial Informatics, or the Master of Science in Information Systems. The final year in completing the Master’s degrees may be taken either on campus or online.

Undergraduate students from any degree program at the 91�� may apply as early as the summer before their junior year for admission. Applications for conditional “early admission” should be received preferably by the middle of the first semester of the junior year and are not accepted after the senior year has commenced.

Note: In addition to 91�� students, students at 91�� Machias may also participate. Students from other UMS campuses may propose participation by having their faculty contact us to cooperatively propose a 4+1 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

By taking a course overload of three credits in the second semester of the junior year and a course overload in each semester of the senior year, a motivated student typically may acquire 9 credits (but no more than 12) for graduate school (at undergraduate tuition rates) prior to acquiring their undergraduate degree, assuming they receive a B or better in the courses. These courses, if chosen appropriately, may double count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degree.

By taking a 3-credit Information Systems Internship graduate course (SIE 590) with a corporation, agency, or non-profit organization during the summer, a student may readily complete the coursework master’s degree in a single year after their undergraduate degree. This master’s degree will be highly complementary to an undergraduate degree in almost any field and attractive to employers.

Graduate-level courses to double count must be at the 500-599 level. See SIE course descriptions for overviews and example syllabi of courses taught by the core Spatial and Information Systems faculty members. All courses are taught simultaneously on campus and online by professors with geospatial specialties, often drawing examples from this field. For Four Plus One students pursuing the MSIS after completing the undergraduate degree, see the MSIS Curriculum for a list of relevant courses.

To save course credit tuition dollars for the student, the Application for Admission to the Four Plus One Program is submitted to the SIE/MSIS Graduate Coordinator rather than to the graduate school.

If a student is accepted and the following performance criteria are met, the SIE/MSIS faculty:

Accepts the student’s graduate courses completed while an undergraduate within their graduate program of study.
Supports the student’s application for formal admission to the graduate school after completion of the undergraduate degree.

To apply for early admission before or during the junior year, an applicant should

Have an overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.25
Have completed the 91�� General Education Requirement in Math
Provide three letters of recommendation from current or previous university instructors

Continuation in the graduate program is based primarily on performance in the graduate courses and the overall GPA upon graduation from the undergraduate program.

Accepted Four Plus One students must submit the full application to graduate school in their senior year. The GRE exam is typically waived for these high-performing students. A GPA below 3.0 at undergraduate graduation should be assumed as cause for discontinuation from the program.

Students with two or fewer semesters remaining to complete their undergraduate degree program do not qualify for the Four Plus One Program. However, their applications will be considered within the regular MSIS admissions process, allowing them to transfer up to two graduate courses prior to formal admission.

The Graduate School Rules for Four Plus One Programs may be found in Section 3.3.

Exceptions granted in the past have included

Allowing a student to count more graduate courses taken at the undergraduate tuition rate than the twelve normally allowed for a Four Plus One student prior to formal entry into graduate school
Allowing a student with a 3.25 GPA to double count 9 graduate credits in the undergraduate program since their major GPA was above 3.5
Allowing a student who entered as a Four Plus One Student to convert to a thesis program (Four Plus Two Program) in order to accept a funded graduate assistantship

Program Learning Outcomes

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut placerat quam in neque ornare faucibus.

Careers

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Biomedical Engineering Students holding a tube with tweezers

At a Glance

Degree Level

Master

Degree Earned

Master of Science in Spatial Information Science & Engineering

Mode of Study

In-Person, Online

Time to Complete Degree

30 Credits

Degree Level

Master

Degree Earned

Master of Science in Spatial Information Science & Engineering

Mode of Study

In-Person, Online

Time to Complete Degree

30 Credits

Be A Black Bear From Anywhere

Earn your degree with 91��Online

Featured Courses

XXX 101

A really, really, really Long course title goes here

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut placerat quam in neque ornare faucibus. Integer porttitor ligula dui. Nam feugiat magna nibh. Ut id velit eu velit vehicula pharetra ut eget justo. Proin dignissim non mauris a condimentum. Vivamus semper sem sodales, elementum mi eget, pulvinar ipsum. Proin lacinia condimentum pulvinar. Praesent elit risus, aliquet at blandit a, tempor vehicula enim. Phasellus euismod sem eu lorem vulputate dignissim. Fusce commodo tempus ex, non varius.

XXX 101

A really, really, really Long course title goes here

XXX 101

Research Learning Experience

A really, really, really Long course title goes here

Learn More about RLE Courses

Scholarships

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Next Steps

two researchers working with soil testing equipment

The lawn in front of Fogler Library in springtime, people are outside enjoying the nice weather

Schedule a visit

A blue umaine graduate school notebook on a desk next to a laptop and some allen wrenches.

Apply

Contact

School of Computing and Information Science

Boardman Hall, Room 348

umaine.edu/scis/

207.581.2188

scis@maine.edu

Admissions

Graduate

5775 Stodder Hall

umaine.edu/graduate/apply/

207.581.3291

graduate@maine.edu

International

Chadbourne Hall, Room 122

207.581.3437

207.581.2920

internationaladm@maine.edu

91��

New Student Orientation

June 22–23 & 25–26

Popular Pages

Quick links

Popular Pages

Quick links