Geographical Information Systems MSc

The following modules are available in 2023/24 for Geographical Information Systems MSc and are examples of the modules you are likely to study. All modules are subject to change. You will study 180 credits in total.

Compulsory modules

Professional and Personal Development – 30 credits
This module aims to develop students’ technical skills through exposure to non-traditional software.

GIS Data Visualisation and Analysis – 30 credits
This module develops core visualisation and spatial analysis and statistical skills required for the analysis of geographically referenced data focussing on a range of socio-economic and environmental applications.

Dissertation – 60 credits
This dissertation module provides an opportunity to develop an individual programme of research over a nine-month period. Students may decide to expand on work/ideas covered as part of their programme or to select a new issue to explore. Students will work closely under the guidance of an allocated supervisor and are expected to complete an independent piece of academic work.

Optional modules

GIS and Environment – 15 credits
This module looks at the many ways in which GIS can be applied to the study of the environmental sciences including modelling terrain, hydrology, ecology and land use. The module considers important issues in the application of GIS such as sampling strategies, scale and generalisation, error and uncertainty, and grid-based modelling before moving on to look at how these methods can be applied to gain a better understanding of landscape processes. The module concludes with a look at how GIS is being applied to inform better decisions about the natural environment within the human dimension of the planning process. The module is assessed through the completion of practical assignments and an individual project report.

Geodemographics and Neighbourhood Analysis – 15 credits
Area characteristics about neighbourhoods have widespread use in analyses which inform policy decision making in public (local and national government), and private (commercial) organisations as well as the third sector (charities). Area characteristics are also linked to individual level data to determine variations in health and educational application, for example. On this module, students will learn how to construct a variety of area measures and methods to incorporate these in analyses. The knowledge and skills involved are highly useful in many career settings including academic, public, private and third sector settings.

Digital Image Processing for Environmental Remote Sensing – 15 credits
On completion of this module students will:- have been introduced concepts, theories and methods of earth observation from aircraft and earth orbital satellites for environmental research and for input into GIS;- be able to use appropriate software to read, display, restore, enhance, classify and extract information about the land surface from diverse types of remote sensing images;- understand the standard workflow used to turn remote sensing data (i.e. images) into information (i.e. thematic outputs) in a range of applications.

Web-based GIS – 15 credits

This module skills students up to be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the principles of web-based GIS; a working knowledge and understanding of client side and server side technologies as well as how to set up a working custom GIS-based web client and server.

Predictive Analytics – 15 credits

This module explores and evaluates a range of spatial modelling techniques used in an applied context to simulate and predict consumer behaviours.

Programming for Geographical Information Analysis: Core Skills – 15 credits

This module provides foundation level skills in computer programming. It introduces different types of programming and software development practice in general and in a geographical context.

The full list of module information can be read in the course catalogue.