Introduction

The program is aimed at professionals in public administration and private business who currently work with or want to work with maps and geodata. Through this study program, the candidates will learn about digital techniques and methods for the creation, analysis and presentation of geographic information.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

GIS is an instrumental subject which is compatible with other studies and specialities. The target group includes:

• Students with backgrounds from interdisciplinary study programmes in subject areas such as nature, health and environmental conservation; economics and administration, culture or sports/outdoor activities.
• Students who intend to take Bachelor’s-degree programmes and/ or post-graduate studies which might incorporate the GIS study programme.
• Employees in private or public organisations who seek advanced or follow-up training in GIS. To the extent that laboratory capacity allows, individual courses from the GIS study programme may also be used as elective courses in other study programmes.

The study programme is offered to students with 2 years of higher education; a total of 15-20 ECTS credits in mathematics, statistics and computer science is advisable. Applicants with relevant practice and fewer college-level courses will be evaluated individually. The applicants must possess a basic understanding of ICT and Windows applications.

Aim of the Programme

In the study programme, students will acquire a broad foundation in the use of GIS for business, administration, education and research both in Norway and abroad. In addition, students will, through lectures and exercises, become competent in the uses of GIS within the fields of specialisation which they have chosen for their professional educations, and will become competent to introduce the use of GIS within an organisation.

GIS has been taken in use for a rapidly expanding variety of applications. The study programme will provide a broad background in the use of GIS for business and administrative applications.

Learning outcome

The candidate should, after completing the program, have the following learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and general knowledge:
Knowledge:The candidates will acquire theoretical knowledge about data structuring, analysis and presentation of geographic information.
Examples of such skills are:Knowledge of basic digital geographical data types.Knowledge of basic computer modeling methods for geographic information.Knowledge of analytical methods for geographical information.Knowledge of cartographic presentation.
SkillsCandidates will acquire skills in the use of software and other technical equipment for the creation, analysis and presentation of digital geographic information.
Examples of such skills are:Practical use of surveying equipment such as total stations, surveying equipment and GPS.Practical use of software for digitization of geographic information.Practical use of software for the creation of geo-databases.Practical use of software for image processing and image analysis.Practical use of advanced software for analysis of geographic information.
General competence:Understanding the principles of surveying.Understanding the principles of how we use computer to process geographic information.Understanding the principles of how we can analyze geographic information.Understanding how maps and images can be used to communicate geographic information.

Curriculum and structure

Course Overview Code Course title Credits O/V *) Credits pr. semester   S1(A) S2(V) 5602 Databases 10.00 O 10   5701 Geodetic Surveing 10.00 O 10   5702 Geographical Analysis 10.00 O   10 5705 Project in GIS 10.00 O   10 5700 Digital Geodata 10.00 V   10 4112 Physical planning and environmental law 10.00 V   10 Total: 30 30 *) O - Mandatory course, V - Optional course

The one-year study programme is a specialised programme that is divided into courses that normally have a duration of one semester. The study programme comprises 60 ECTS credits divided into 30 ECTS each semester.

Internationalization

There are no specific programs for the internationalization of the study.

Teaching and Learning Methods

• Lectures
• A major project in groups with guidance
• Smaller projects integrated into the ordinary courses
• Self-study

Theory and Practical Training

The program has a substantial element of practice in terms of employment with compulsory exercises in hard and software use.

Assessment Methods

The students’ knowledge in all the courses in the study programme will be assessed.

Refer to the individual courses for the various types of assessment used.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean