Programs

Graduate Program in Spatial Analysis

The objectives of the Masters' program in Spatial Analysis are to:

1. Provide in-depth knowledge, through courses, labs and seminars, of current practice (and possible future trends) concerning how:
   1. digital representations of geographic phenomena are constructed;
   2. extensive data bases can be assembled and processed in distributed computer environments; and,
   3. information can be passed from one analytical environment to another, involving the tools of spatial technology, particularly those of GIS.
2. Explore and critically assess, again through courses, labs and seminars, ways in which analysis of large spatially-referenced data sets may be undertaken, considering:
   1. the fidelity, accuracy, and precision of digital representations of geographic phenomena;
   2. the data structure and quality inherent or explicit to digital databases;
   3. 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.
3. 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.
4. Generate, through a practicum placement the knowledge and awareness of ways in which spatial analysis is used in a private or public sector environment.
5. 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.
6. 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