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All classes in this program will be delivered online for the Winter 2021 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines. Learn more
Overview
Train to become a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologist, technician or analyst for a range of industries – from forestry and natural resource exploration to all levels of government – with the Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems degree.
Graduates possess the skills and knowledge to succeed in one of the fastest-growing sectors of information technology. 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’ll need to be comfortable working with computers and have a good working knowledge of file management, word processing and spreadsheet software applications.
This two-year program consists of two, 15-week semesters in year one, followed by a paid practicum in year two.
Finding a practicum placement is the student’s responsibility, but instructors and support staff will provide guidance and support. Students must be prepared to actively establish industry connections to secure their practicum.
Is this the right fit for me?
Typical GIS job postings suggest the ideal practitioner has a sound technical background, is self-motivated and disciplined in achieving results.
Successful GIS professionals can problem-solve with creative and innovative solutions and provide service based on the concept of continuous improvement.
Contact time with instructors in lectures and labs is about 25 hours per week. The average student is expected to spend an additional 25 hours per week on assignments, studying and projects
Graduates will often work in teams of various sizes. During the program, students will work in teams for projects or lab assignments. This requires good communication and interpersonal skills.
Accreditation
Discussions are pending with several national-level accreditation agencies. No formal accreditations are available at this time.
Credential
After successfully completing the program, graduates will receive a SAIT Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems degree.
Career opportunities
Graduates can job pursue opportunities in several industries including forestry, natural resource exploration, environmental, engineering consulting, government (municipal, provincial and federal), information technology, healthcare and tourism.
Potential positions include:
- GIS technologist
- GIS technician
- GIS analyst
- GIS specialist
- GIS team leader
Related careers include:
- geological technician
- field heat treatment technician
$56,000
Tuition and fees per year*
Year 3: $6,490
Year 4: $1,666
Year 3 (International): $21,849
Year 4 (International): $4,926
Year 1: TBA
Year 2: TBA
Year 1 (International): $20,742 (+fees TBD)
Year 2 (International): $4,240 (+fees TBD)
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change
Full costs
Tuition and financial aid
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
When can you apply?
- Applications for winter 2021 open March 30, 2020, until the program start date.
- Applications for spring and fall 2021 open Oct 7, 2020 until the program start date.
| Term | Program start |
|---|---|
| Winter 2021 | Jan. 11, 2021 |
| Spring 2021 | May 10, 2021 |
| Fall 2021 | Sept. 7, 2021 |
Constructing the future
How digital technology is changing the way we learn and work in construction.
Admission Requirements
Admission and selection
- Winter 2021 start: applications open March 30, 2020, until the program start date.
- Spring and fall 2021 start: applications are open Oct. 7, 2020 until the program start date but are subject to change.
Admission 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 evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada.
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 Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems and submit your transcripts and/or anticipated final grades.
- Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Find out how to monitor your application status after you apply.
Communication during selection
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.
Program completion
- Students in applied degree programs have seven years to complete the credential requirements.
- The time limitation begins on the date the student starts the first course in the credential.
- For more information, refer to AC 3.1.1 - Grading and Progression Procedure.
Courses
Program outline
Students are required to complete all courses noted below under the Third Year listing.
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.
Finding a practicum placement is ultimately the student's responsibility. The BGIS program does not place students with organizations. The students must be prepared to make the effort required to establish contacts within relevant industry sectors that are of interest to them and find their own practicum placement.
- Are you a manager or company owner looking to place a Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems student? Find out more information on SAIT's practicum opportunities.
Students who have already been admitted into the part-time offering can register for courses through mySAIT.
Third year
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-451 | GIS Data Capture II | 3.0 |
| GEOS-450 | Enterprise and Web GIS | 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 | |
Fourth year
Semester 7
| Course code | Course name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| GEOS-540 | Applied GIS Directed Field Studies | 30.0 |
| Fourth-year total | 30.0 | |
| Program total | 60.0 | |
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
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 and attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education through transfer to, within or from SAIT is available with the following universities and colleges:
- SAIT
- Algonquin College
- Holland College
To learn more, visit transfer options
Costs
2020/21 Domestic Tuition and Fees*
| Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $5,268 | $682 | $288 | $252 | $6,490 |
| 4 | $1,006 | $200 | $288 | - | $1,666 |
2020/21 International Tuition and Fees*
| Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $20,536 | $682 | $288 | $344 | $21,849 |
| 4 | $3,923 | $372 | $288 | $344 | $4,926 |
2021/22 Domestic Tuition and Fees*
Check back for updates on the 2021/22 domestic tuition and fees.
| Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBA | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
| 2 | TBA | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
2021/22 International Tuition and Fees*
| Year | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Health & Dental Plan | 2020/21 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20,742 | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
| 2 | $4,240 | $- | $- | $- | TBA |
*Fees and tuition are based on a two-semester full course load structure. There may be additional fees for practicums and terms held outside this time frame.
SAIT Fees
Campus athletic and recreation Fee: $171.20
Universal transit pass (UPass): $310 - Check eligibility here.
Student support fee: $100
Student technology fee: $100
Health and Dental Fees
Domestic Students
- Health Plan: $122
- Dental Plan: $130
- For students with existing health and/or dental plans, please refer to the Saitsa website for information on opting out.
International Students
- Health and Dental Plan: $344
- For more information on Health and Dental Benefits for International students please contact the International Centre.
Books and supplies*
- Books and supplied are approximately $800 per full-time semester
- Find out 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.
Winter 2021
Orientation
Orientation for new students will take place online on Jan. 8, 2021.
To find the time and platform, visit our orientation page.
Delivery
All classes in this program will be delivered online for the Winter 2021 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines.
How to register for classes
You'll follow a fixed block registration process to enrol in your classes. Learn how to register on our registration and schedules page.
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, SAIT offers some short courses before classes start, including PREP 100: The SAIT Experience and ETHI 110: SAIT Ethical Practices.
Required textbooks
The Winter 2021 booklist will be available about two weeks before classes start.
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 required this term.
Contact
403.284.8367
construction.bgis@sait.ca
Academic chair
Verda Kocabas, Academic Chair
verda.kocabas@sait.ca
Next steps for students that began Fall 2020
Fall 2020
Orientation
Orientation for new students will take place online on Sept. 4, 2020.
To find the time and platform, visit our orientation page.
Delivery
All classes in this program will be delivered online for the Fall 2020 term due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health and safety guidelines.
How to register for classes
You'll follow a fixed block registration process to enrol in your classes. Learn how to register on our registration and schedules page.
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.
Required equipment/tools
- Wi-Fi Connection at home for online connection
- BYOD computer needs to have a camera (720p HD or better)
Preparation courses
To support your success, SAIT offers some short courses before classes start, including PREP 100: The SAIT Experience and ETHI 110: SAIT Ethical Practices.
Required textbooks
The booklist will be available about two weeks before classes start.
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 required this term.
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.