Overview
The Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems program will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed in one of the fastest-growing sectors of information technology.
Geographic Information System (GIS) combines the power of relational database management systems with the flexibility of cartographic display technology and is used for problem-solving and decision making.
To succeed in the program, you will need to be comfortable working in a computer environment and have a good working knowledge of file management, word processing, and spreadsheet software applications.
This is a two-year, applied degree program consisting of two 15-week semesters in year one, followed by a work-integrated learning (practicum) in year two. For online delivery, students can take the courses part-time such as a couple of courses per semester.
The program accepts students into the first semester in September as well as January.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students with higher grades usually experience more success in SAIT programs.
Typical geographic information systems job placement advertisements suggest that the ideal practitioner has a sound technical background, is self-motivated, and is disciplined in achieving results.
Successful geographic information systems professionals are also associated with individuals who can problem-solve through the application of creative and innovative solutions, and provide service based on the concept of continuous improvement.
For on-campus delivery, contact time with instructors in lectures and labs is about 25 hours per week. The average student is expected to spend about an additional 25 hours per week on assignments, studying, and projects.
For online asynchronous delivery, online learning requires more independent learning time from the students. Students spend 10-15 hours per week per 3 credit course in the BGIS program to study materials, do the readings, homework, assignments, etc. It is highly recommended that students take 2-3 courses per semester.
Graduates will often work in teams of various sizes. In this program, all courses require working in teams for projects or lab assignments. This requires good communication and interpersonal skills.
Credential
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems degree.
Get more information about this and similar programs
Career opportunities
Graduates can job pursue opportunities in several industries including forestry, natural resource exploration, environmental, engineering, consulting, government, information technology, healthcare and tourism.
Potential positions include:
- GIS technologist
- GIS technician
- GIS analyst
- GIS specialist
- GIS team leader or manager
Related careers include:
- geological technician
- field heat treatment technician
Tuition and fees
Domestic 2022/23
- Year 3: $8,246
- Year 4: $2,955.18
International 2022/23
- Year 3: $24,164.93
- Year 4: $7,517.82
Final costs are dependent on the number of course credits a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
How one SAIT alumnus is innovating the avalanche industry
With a SAIT degree, Nathan Kneisel was able to acquire leading GIS app skills and enable industry to streamline avalanche and geotechnical workflow with custom 3D GIS apps.
Admission requirements
Application dates
This program may not have an intake every semester. See available intakes above.
| Intake semester | Semester begins | Applications open | Domestic applications close* | International applications close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | March 30, 2022 | Oct. 27, 2022 | Now closed |
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | June 13, 2022 | Feb. 24, 2023 | Jan. 23, 2023 |
| Summer 2023 | July 4, 2023 | Oct. 5, 2022 | April 28, 2023 | June 20, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | Oct. 5, 2022 | June 28, 2023 | May 23, 2023 |
| Winter 2024 | Jan. 8, 2024 | March 29, 2023 | Oct. 26, 2023 | Sept. 28, 2023 |
| Spring 2024 | May 6, 2024 | June 12, 2023 | Feb. 23, 2024 | Jan. 22, 2024 |
*In some instances, domestic applications will be accepted after the application deadline. In that case, the program's intake status will remain open.
Program requirements
A two-year diploma from a recognized Canadian college, technical institute or equivalent, or successful completion of two years at a recognized post-secondary academic institution.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the construction.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | April 28, 2023 |
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
Courses
Program outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
Year three
Semester 5
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| COMM-415 | Professional Communications | 1.5 |
| GEOS-406 | Geospatial Project Foundations | 1.5 |
| GEOS-409 | GIS Data Capture I | 3.0 |
| GEOS-410 | GIS Data Manipulation and Transformation | 3.0 |
| GEOS-418 | GIS Data Modeling | 3.0 |
| GEOS-419 | GIS Data Analysis and Output | 3.0 |
| Semester 5 total | 15.0 | |
Semester 6
| Course code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| GEOS-450 | Enterprise and Web GIS | 3.0 |
| GEOS-451 | GIS Data Capture II | 3.0 |
| GEOS-456 | GIS Programming | 3.0 |
| GEOS-457 | Cartography and Geovisualization | 3.0 |
| GEOS-459 | Applied GIS Capstone Project | 3.0 |
| Semester 6 total | 15.0 | |
| Third-year total | 30.0 | |
Year four
Semesters 7 and 8
After completing all third-year academic requirements, students must successfully complete an 800-hour work experience practicum to meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems degree.
| Course name | Credit | Course code |
|---|---|---|
| GEOS-540 | Applied GIS Directed Field Studies | 30.0 |
| Fourth-year total | 30.0 | |
| Program total | 60.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $201
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $6,030 | $916 | $553 | $7,499 |
| 4 | 2 | $1,151.72 | $916 | $553 | $2,300.72 |
Domestic cost per course
| Course credits | Course cost |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | $301.50 |
| 3.0 | $603 |
International tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $710.40
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | $21,312 | $916 | $553 | $22,781 |
| 4 | 2 | $4,070.57 | $916 | $553 | $5,539.57 |
International cost per course
| Course credits | Course cost |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | $1,065.60 |
| 3.0 | $2,131.20 |
*Maximum fee. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits a student takes per semester and whether they opt-out of health and dental benefits.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $196
- Universal transit pass (Upass): $320
- Student support fee: $200
- Student technology fee: $200
The above fees are based on a course load of nine (9) or more credits per semester. Students taking less than nine (9) credits per semester do not qualify for the UPass. Other fees will be adjusted based on reduced credit load.
Saitsa fees
Student Association fee
- Maximum: $291
This is the maximum amount the student will pay. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits the students take per semester.
Health and dental fees
- Health plan: $127
- Dental plan: $135
Students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Please refer to Saitsa's website for information.
Students taking less than nine (9) credits per semester do not qualify for health and dental benefits.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $500 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation for students beginning in Winter 2023 will take place on SAIT campus on Friday, Jan. 6. Look for ORNT 118 in your schedule in mySAIT for the time and exact location.*
You can also prepare by attending Big SAIT Welcome, online information sessions, international or Indigenous orientation, and completing the preparation courses below.
*If your orientation takes place on the first day of classes, you will not see a separate ORNT 118 in your schedule. Students registering in classes via open registration will need to enroll themselves in ORNT 118.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on Tuesday, Nov. 15 for Winter 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a workstation hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.
Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck, no textbook purchase is required this term.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8367
Email: construction.bgis@sait.ca
Academic Chair
Verda Kocabas, Academic Chair
Email: verda.kocabas@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
