Graduate Program Information
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Curriculum program plans shown reflect current degree requirements. Previous academic year requirements can be accessed from the catalog page by choosing the appropriate academic year.
Master of Science in Earth Remote Sensing
| Major Code: | 8089 | Degree Awarded: | Master of Science |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery Mode(s): | Classroom | Location(s): | Main Campus - Melbourne |
| Admission Status: | Graduate | Age Restriction: | No |
Earth remote sensing is the science, engineering and art of quantitative measurement from satellites, aircraft, marine vehicles, buoys and moorings, radar and other platforms removed from the target. It includes understanding the instrumentation, software, radiative transfer, hydroacoustics and principles of systems designed to acquire, process and interpret information about Earth for application to vital contemporary problems in agriculture, coastal zone management, ecology, engineering, environmental science and resource management, forestry, land use, meteorology, natural hazards, oceanography, urban planning and other issues.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission to the Earth remote sensing program should have undergraduate majors in the physical or life sciences with strong backgrounds in computer science. Students with bachelor’s degrees in other scientific or engineering fields may need to complete certain preparatory coursework before starting the master of science program, and completion of such courses may require additional time. Any such requirements will be determined by the program chair and graduate faculty before admission. The prospective student will be advised of these requirements prior to acceptance. Applicants must submit GRE General Test scores for evaluation, a statement of interests, a résumé and three letters of recommendation.
General admission requirements and the process for applying are presented in the Academic Overview section of the university catalog.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Earth Remote Sensing is offered with thesis and nonthesis options. The thesis option requires the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours of required and elective credits (includes six credit hours of thesis) and the nonthesis option requires a minimum of 33 credits hours (includes a written final program examination), based on an approved program plan developed in conjunction with the faculty adviser. Included in the total are at least nine credit hours of core remote sensing courses as listed below.
| Core Courses | CREDITS | |
| ENS 5000 | Environmental Science Seminar (each semester) | 0 |
| ENS 5010 | Environmental Optics and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| MET 5233 | Atmospheric Remote Sensing | 3 |
| OCE 5550 | Bathymetry | 3 |
| OCN 5704 | Oceanic Remote Sensing | 3 |
Electives
A list of restricted electives is available from the department.
The curriculum is modified to meet the student’s needs, background and chosen area of emphasis, which may be atmospheric, land, submarine or oceanic remote sensing. Students are required to attend the graduate seminar.