Southeast Missouri State University GIS program is preparing students for growing career field

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.(KBSI) — Southeast Missouri State University is showing its commitment to student success, by preparing graduates for the GIS rapidly growing field. The university is training future professionals in its Geographic Information Science (GIS) department, a field that is becoming increasingly pivotal across multiple industries.

Dr. Seong Nam Hwang, a professor of biology at SEMO, highlights the program’s mission to provide students with the skills needed to become geospatial professionals and GIS experts.

“The GIS program is designed to shape the next generation of geospatial professionals and GIS experts through a combination of hands-on learning, interdisciplinary coursework, and advanced GIS applications,” Hwang said.

The program provides students with the knowledge and technical skills to tackle real-world challenges. From mapping disaster risk areas to managing city infrastructures and tracking environmental changes, SEMO’s GIS program helps students apply their education in major ways.

“What really sets us apart is our emphasis on real-world experience,” Hwang says. “Our students don’t just learn theory. They collect real-world data using mapping technologies and generate various forms of semantic maps to visually communicate their research findings.”

This hands-on approach helps set SEMO’s GIS program apart from others, giving students the expertise to earn careers in fields such as cartography, urban and regional planning, risk analysis, crop management, law enforcement, land surveying, historic preservation, and more.

“It is commonly estimated that 80 to 90% of government data has a geographic or location-based component, which means that GIS can be applied across industries and government agencies,” Hwang explained. “The demand for geospatial professionals is rapidly growing. Some students may also pursue advanced degrees in geoinformatics, geoscience, or related fields.”

Hwang encourages all students to explore the opportunities that SEMO’s GIS program offers.

“We welcome prospective students to visit and see what we are all about,” he said.

With a focus on real-world applications and growing career opportunities, SEMO’s GIS program is positioning students for success in a growing industry.

You can find out more about SEMOs GIS program HERE.