Geospatial Science

Geospatial science is the science of where. Collecting data about the Earth and everything on it is where it starts, and then this data is used to understand why do things happen where they do, and what should be done about it.

Satellite and drone imagery show how a landscape is changing. Surveying and GPS take you outside to record exact positions on the ground. GIS software layers it all together so you can see the pattern and make the call.

Wildfire modeling, city planning, conservation, agriculture, public health and disaster response all use that data to make decisions. So does almost any field where the answer depends on location. If you want to step into a rapidly growing field that opens doors to a number of high-demand careers across a variety of industries, the Geospatial Science program at FRCC is a great fit.

Want to Learn More?

If you'd like to learn more about geospatial science, check out our geospatial science overview. If you'd like to learn more about our program, take a look at our FAQs and course planning guide for the answers to our most commonly asked questions.

Why Study Geospatial Science at Front Range Community College?

The skills you learn here are used in more than 400 occupations, from environmental science and engineering to public health, urban development and fire protection. What makes Front Range different is how you learn them. This is a HyFlex program, which means we are not an online program and we are not a traditional face to face program. Classes meet once a week in the evening with a live instructor, and you decide each week whether to attend on campus or join live online. Field work lives in four courses, and each one adds just two on-campus weekend blocks, Friday and Saturday. Certificate students take one of those courses, so two blocks and four days on campus total. AAS and BAS students take all four, so eight blocks and sixteen days, spread across the entire degree.

You also won't learn just the most popular software. Each course uses the tools the science actually calls for, spanning desktop GIS, image processing, survey and open source geospatial packages, so you leave able to move between them instead of fluent in only one.

That design exists because of who studies here. Most of our students are working adults balancing a job, a family, or both, and many are changing careers or building on an adjacent field like surveying, forestry, planning or the military. Students attend from across the country and internationally. Small classes mean real individual attention—and stackable credentials mean you decide how many courses to carry each semester and how far you want to go.

Stackable Program Options

FRCC makes entering this high-demand field seamless through stackable credentials. You don't have to commit to a four-year degree to get started, and you don't have to stop at a certificate if you want more. Every credential in our program builds directly on the last, so nothing you complete is ever wasted. You can enroll, graduate with a certificate, put it on your resume and come back for the next level when you're ready.

Check out the program options available. Remember, if a certificate is what you need right now, start there. If you decide you want more later, everything counts toward the next step.

• Foundations of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate. This offers a one- to two-semester entry point. It's designed for people who want core skills quickly, whether you're exploring the field or filling a specific gap in your current job.
• GIS Certificate. This certificate goes deeper across the full geospatial toolset and prepares you to work in a professional GIS support role.
• Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Geospatial Science. This is a full two-year degree that adds field work, UAS, and surveying, and prepares you for practitioner-level roles.
• Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Geospatial Science. Here you'll develop the analytical depth, programming skills, and domain specialization that positions you for senior roles, leadership, or graduate school.

Certificate Details

 

Degree Details

Careers & Outcomes

Your degree can prepare you for a career in a wide variety of fields.

 

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