Bachelor of Applied Technology Geographic Information Systems
Frequently Asked Questions General How can I take the Bachelor of Technology GIS Program?
The Bachelor of Technology GIS (BGIS) program consists of two delivery methods, which are the online or daytime instruction. Is the daytime program full-time or part-time?
In terms of the daytime program, once accepted, you have the option of a full-time or part-time stream. There is only a September intake option for the daytime stream. How long is the program and how long do I have to complete it?
The daytime, full-time stream is a two-year program consisting of 8 months academic training and a minimum 960 hour practicum. There is also an online program option where completion schedule depends upon the pace at which you wish to take the courses. You have a maximum of seven years within which to complete the Applied Degree. For the full-time, daytime stream the first half of the program is in-class instruction with the second half being the GIS practicum. More details are provided about the practicum below. How many online courses do I need to take at any given time, and can I pursue the Bachelor of Technology GIS through the online route?
You can take the online courses at your own pace and can certainly complete the entire degree online. Registration What is the registration process?
Applicants for the daytime, full-time stream are encourage to submit their application packages prior to June 30th in order to maximize the likelihood of receiving a seat for the fall stream. Fees are normally required prior to July 30th though this is up to the discretion of the Registrars office. You need not register into the Applied Degree program up front in the online scenario, but would have to register for the online scenario prior to commencement of the practicum component. Registration can be completed online through www.sait.ca. When can I register for the daytime program?
The daytime program has a yearly intake in September. Applications are accepted through the SAIT online registration beginning in November of the previous calendar year. When can I register for online course delivery?
In the online process, we have three intakes of January, May and September. What do I need to provide to register?
Supporting documentation is not required upon application. However, validating your completion of the admission requirements will be requested later in the process. - A minimum of two years post-secondary education are required for program entry. To validate this you must provide the applicable transcripts;
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A letter stating why you are interested in entering the program along with your GIS area of interest; -
A letter of reference from either an industry or education sponsor; and -
And a resume of experience. The above material is provided to the SAIT customer service office, who will direct the information to our department as part of the process. Is financial assistance available to me?
Yes there is financial assistance available including loans, grants, bursaries and scholarships. For those interested in financial assistance this is applied for through the funding avenues available through the province and federal equivalent. Contact SAIT student financial aid for more information as this is not done through the program specifically. Some bursary/scholarship options are available specific to GIS which you can contact us directly about for more information. Practicum How does the practicum work?
In terms of the GIS Work Experience Practicum (PRAC-425) you are not assigned a role but are responsible for finding a position on your own. You are assisted in doing so by a Practicum Coordinator who provides postings and contacts where possible along with a series of preparatory workshops run throughout the academic year. These sessions assist in terms of developing skills in resume building, interview participation, developing a portfolio and networking. The postings provided as part of this process tend to favour jobs local to Alberta but support is available for students wishing to work anywhere in Canada or internationally. When can I start the practicum?
You can register for the GIS Work Experience Practicum (PRAC-425) once you have completed 50% of the program course load, of which two of that initial 50% must include completion of the courses GEOS 401 and GEOS 403. Course Instruction Are your instructors up-to-date in GIS technology, project knowledge and industry awareness?
Our instructional staff consists of an Academic Coordinator, Practicum Coordinator/instructor and four full-time instructional staff. Several supporting instructors from industry assist in teaching the optional or online courses. Our staff is highly active in the GIS industry and are well versed in the latest technical information. The intent is for our instructor group to provide the students with the latest, industry relevant skills to secure meaningful, fulfilling GIS jobs as quickly as possible. See the Instructor Bios section for more information. What is the course progression in the BGIS program?
In terms of the course structure in the program there is a 400, 410 and 420 series of courses. The 400 series are core foundation courses, the 410 series are intermediate to advanced level courses and the 420 series includes the GIS Major Project (GEOS-421) course along with the GIS Work Experience Practicum (PRAC-425). The 460 series are elective/option courses. Note that GEOS-401, 402 and 403 are key courses that must be completed and, given our goal of providing flexible learning, also lend themselves well to online completion prior to taking the daytime courses if desired. See the “What Do You Teach?” section for more information. Are the courses transferable?
As for transferability, the program is recognized as an Applied Degree. For example, the University of Calgary MGIS program recognizes the academic program though requires a bridge of courses to gain entry, as the practicum year does not count academically. We also have defined ties to specific schools in terms of course transfer. Most schools assess the acceptance of our courses on a case-by-case basis, as SAIT does with any program when measuring equivalency with our program. For more information on transferability see the contact information below. Contact Information For more information please contact the SAIT BGIS Program at:
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