Geographic Information Systems Spatial Technologies Applications and Research Contiguous Bachelor's-Master's Pathway

Degree Requirements

Introduction

The 4+1 contiguous bachelor’s/master’s pathway provides an opportunity for qualified UC Santa Cruz undergraduates to complete both a bachelor’s degree and the GISTAR Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in five years. This pathway is designed for students seeking advanced training in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial data science, and geospatial technologies.

Students accepted into the pathway complete graduate-level preparatory coursework during their senior year and, upon completion of the bachelor’s degree and admission to the GISTAR M.A., complete the remaining master’s degree requirements in one additional academic year (three quarters).

Eligibility and Preparation

Eligible UCSC undergraduates from geospatially related majors—including environmental dtudies, ecology and evolutionary biology, environmental sciences, computer science, anthropology, mathematics, Earth and marine sciences, engineering, and related fields—may apply to the pathway. Students intending to pursue the 4+1 option will take the graduate-level ENVS 215A/B/C/L GIS series during undergraduate senior year under the guidance of the GISTAR graduate advisor.

Eligible students typically begin planning during their junior year in preparation for subsequent graduate-level study in the GISTAR M.A. program. The ENVS 215 GIS sequence provides foundational preparation for graduate-level study.

Students apply to the pathway through the department. Admission to the pathway is separate from admission to the master’s program and does not guarantee acceptance to the GISTAR M.A.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must submit the following:

• A minimum 3.0 GPA overall and in the major.
• One letter of recommendation from a UCSC faculty member addressing the student’s preparation and potential for graduate study in GISTAR.
• A one-page personal statement describing academic preparation, motivation for the 4+1 pathway, and professional goals.
• Unofficial transcripts.

Application to the Master's Degree

Students in the pathway must apply to the GISTAR M.A. program through the standard Graduate Division application process, and all applicants are evaluated using the same admissions criteria regardless of pathway participation.

Requirements and Planners

Program Structure

Complete GISTAR M.A. degree requirements can be found on the master’s degree catalog page.

Senior Year (Undergraduate Status)

Students complete ENVS 215A (Fall), 215B (Winter), 215C (Spring), and 215L (Lab), typically as part of their bachelor’s degree requirements.

Master's Year (Graduate Status, 40 Credits Total)

Fall Quarter

• GIST 220 Cartography and Visualization (5 credits)
• GIST 240 GIS Programming and Development (5 credits) or GIST 250 Geospatial Technology Applications (5 credits)

Winter Quarter

• GIST 230 Remote Sensing (5 credits)
• GIST 290A Capstone Project I (10 credits)

Spring Quarter

• Approved Elective (5 credits)
• GIST 290B Capstone Project II (10 credits)

Students complete a total of 40 graduate credits after matriculation, satisfying the requirements for the GISTAR M.A. degree.

Students take either GIST 240 OR GIST 250.

Unit and Degree Requirements

Students must adhere to the following university policies:

• A minimum of 40 upper-division credits applied to the bachelor’s degree may not be used to satisfy master’s degree requirements.
• Courses applied to the master’s degree cannot be counted toward the minimum 40 upper-division credits required for the bachelor’s degree.
• Students must complete at least 35 graduate or upper-division units after matriculation into the graduate program.

Advising and Flexibility

Students in the pathway work closely with undergraduate and graduate advisors to plan their coursework. While the pathway follows a structured sequence, limited flexibility may be available. In certain cases, and with departmental approval, a required course may be completed through independent study or equivalent coursework (e.g., summer session).

Completion Timeline

Students on the pathway are expected to complete the master's degree in one year. Students who miss a course should work with their advisor to discuss options for staying in the course sequence, including the possibility of alternative registration and enrollment statuses and/or course options.

Elective Courses List for the MA in GISTAR

Below is a partial list of recommended GISTAR elective courses, with approval of GISTAR advisor, students may select other UCSC graduate-level courses related to their capstone project to fulfill the elective requirement.