Program Details
Prepare for a career in the growing field of Environmental GIS.

Students will:
Program competency Domains:
Concentrations
Community Applications
18 Credits
The Community Applications concentration prepares students for careers or graduate study in planning, land conservation, community resilience and sustainability.
The 18-credit concentration combines coursework in community studies and related social sciences with tools and practices used in community and regional planning, government, and land records management. This pathway is available in both on-campus and online formats.
Ecological Applications
18-20 Credits
The Ecological Applications concentration prepares students for careers or graduate study in the biological and ecological sciences and conservation. Potential employers are state and federal agencies, tribes, resource extraction industries, and non-profit organizations.
This 18–20 credit concentration incorporates field-based courses in biology and ecology. Students must take a minimum of three semesters of courses on campus.
Spatial Data Science Concentration
17-18 Credits
The Spatial Data Science concentration prepares students for careers or graduate studies in spatial data science, GIS application development, and geomatics. This 17–18 credit incorporates quantitative analysis and programming skills necessary for work in application development and research or conservation analytics.
About the Program
Our interdisciplinary curriculum incorporates coursework in geospatial technology, data acquisition, environmental studies, geographic inquiry, computer and data science, programming, and design.
Each course in the program is included to address skills, knowledge and competencies outlined in the US Department of Labor Geospatial Technology Competency Model and emerging workforce needs as identified by the US Department of Labor and workforce research.
Courses incorporate hands-on, applied projects that not only reinforce course skills and competencies, they also teach soft skills required for career success such as critical thinking, project management, oral and written professional communication, ethics, initiative, etc.
More ways to study
Set a path that works for you
Whether you’re online or on campus, you’ll learn in small classes, typically of fewer than 20 students. That means you’ll get personal attention from your instructors and advisors from day one. Our faculty members work hard to ensure that students are given access to internship and research opportunities that suit their strengths and interests. Because we spend so much time getting to know our students, our partner organizations trust that job references and letters of recommendation from UMaine Machias faculty are meaningful and sincere.
Employment Outlook
The US Department of Labor classifies geographic information systems science and technology as a “bright outlook” field. In 2018 there were 2,153 job openings and just 1,594 graduates in New England, and demand in the field is expected to increase by 9% from 2016 to 2026.
In 2018 there were 2,153 job openings and just 1,594 graduates in New England, and demand in the field is expected to increase by 9% from 2016 to 2026.