Programs
Graduate Program in Spatial Analysis
ObjectivesThe objectives of the Masters' program in Spatial Analysis are to:
- Provide in-depth knowledge, through courses, labs and seminars, of current practice (and possible future trends) concerning how:
- digital representations of geographic phenomena are constructed;
- extensive data bases can be assembled and processed in distributed computer environments; and,
- information can be passed from one analytical environment to another, involving the tools of spatial technology, particularly those of GIS.
- Explore and critically assess, again through courses, labs and seminars, ways in which analysis of large spatially-referenced data sets may be undertaken, considering:
- the fidelity, accuracy, and precision of digital representations of geographic phenomena;
- the data structure and quality inherent or explicit to digital databases;
- the methods of transferring and transforming digital datasets between applications and the effect of such transfers on the information content and data quality of the datasets.
- Provide focused discussions of the theoretical, conceptual, methodological issues/concepts practitioners need to know (and think) about when using spatially distributed information in strategic decision-making situations. This objective may be seen as focusing primarily on the academic first principles of spatial analysis.
- Generate, through a practicum placement the knowledge and awareness of ways in which spatial analysis is used in a private or public sector environment.
- Require students to demonstrate a critical understanding of the methodological and practical issues facing users of spatial information through the preparation of a major research paper focusing on strategic decision-making in a particular area.
- Provide opportunities for graduate students to complete the degree on a full-time (one year) or part-time (two year), basis.
The MSA degree prepares our graduates for careers in various types of public and private sector organizations - from major banks and retailers to environmental consultants. Recent MSA graduates have secured jobs within the following companies and departments, such as:
- City of Brantford
- City of Toronto
- Direct Energy
- DMTI Spatial Inc.
- Durham Police
- Enbridge Gas Distribution
- Environics Analytics Inc.
- Geomedia Inc.
- Government of Nunavut
- MapInfo Inc
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
- Ottawa Police Service
- Peel Region
- Queen's University
- Rogers Communications
- Royal LePage
- Ryerson University
- Scotiabank
- Sears Canada
- Shopper's Drugmart
- Simon Fraser University
- St. Michael's Hospital
- SUNY Buffalo
- Telus
- Toronto Region Conservation Authority
- Vancouver Police Department
- Wal-Mart Canada
- WWF � Canada
Selected MSA graduates chose to continue their academic education pursuing another professional or research master's, or a PhD at one of the following institutions:
- McMaster University
- Ontario College of Teachers
- University of Toronto
- University of Western Ontario
- Wilfred-Laurier University
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