The Program mission is to provide students with analytical and technological tools for proposing, planning and assessing business solutions that have a spatial component. GIS for Business (also known as "Business Geographics") is a part of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) focused on solving business related problems. This one-year program is unique in Canada. Although individual courses on similar subjects are offered at many universities (mostly in geography departments), this program represents an integrated package. The program has an interdisciplinary character, because it integrates various fields such as geography, computer science, statistics, demography, marketing, etc. that are necessary for efficient use of GIS in solving business related problems. This advanced diploma program incorporates, along with GIS, other tools such as computer programming (including GIS and Internet), Database Management Systems, data mining, GPS, etc.
Students learn numerous marketable skills, including highly competitive technological, analytical, managerial, and business related skills. Case studies include applications in such domains as retail, transportation and distribution, tourism and recreation, health care, banking, insurance, real estate, utilities, communication and many others. Students in this program concentrate on such activities as trade area analysis, customer spotting, profiling and prospecting, market segmentation, determining market potential, site selection, spatial interaction modeling, network analysis, location/allocation modeling, etc.
The Program strength results from its uniqueness as an integrated package, a hands-on training using the newest technology and an abundance of business-related data. Other program’s strong points include excellent job prospects and impressive employment statistics, well established collaboration with business and industry enhancing education and training through solving real world problems, and applied research component present in major research projects.
The graduate profile represents the combination of numerous, highly marketable skills. In particular, a graduate completing the Geographic Information Systems for Business Advanced Diploma Program will be able to perform, among others, the following tasks:
Thanks to their marketable skills, the graduates from the program have been very successful in the job market. They were able to find jobs in a wide variety of private businesses and government organizations in such areas as banking, retail, real estate, market consulting, GIS vendors, grocery chains, and police.
The list of employers includes, among others, the Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Statistics Canada, Parks Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canada Customs Revenue Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Public Lands and Forests, Dalhousie University, Sobeys Inc., Loblaw Properties Ltd., Giant Food Stores, Royal LePage Commercial Inc., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, AT&T Broadband, The Loyalty Group (Air Miles), etc. More than 10% of our graduates have competed successfully for a job at ESRI Inc. (headquarters) and ESRI Canada, the largest GIS vendor in the world.
The most typical job titles are: market analyst, market research analyst, GIS analyst, GIS specialist, GIS technologist, project manager, and retail sales analyst. Our graduates are employed across Canada (in all provinces and major cities) and in such states as California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. In 2007, the mean salary corresponding to the GIS Analyst position is $49,700 and the mean salary for the GIS Specialist position is $53,700.
GIS for Business students conduct their major research projects through the entire academic year. The list of project sponsors contains almost forty public institutions and private companies, including Royal Bank of Canada, Statistics Canada, Parks Canada, Halifax Port Authority, Hewlett Packard Ltd, Sobeys Inc., Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, MTT Mobility, Nova Scotia Department of Health, to name only a few. The following are executive summaries from the major research projects completed in the academic year 2006/2007.
“The program gave me a competitive advantage, which set me apart from other job seekers with postgraduate education. Using the advanced GIS technology skills acquired from this program, I was able to provide my employer with a unique perspective into adding value to business data. I recommend the program to anyone wishing to become highly marketable in today’s business environment.”
Brian Baxter, Market Analyst
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
“I recommend the program both as a former student, and as a co-operative project sponsor. This course is a unique experience for students, to learn leading edge technology and analysis methods. Personally, the program was my ticket to a career job with a national grocery company and gave me the ability and experience to be competitive in the Information Technology job market.”
Steve Stewart, Market Analyst
Sobeys Inc. Stellarton, Nova Scotia
“The program provided me with these skills and the confidence to break into the job market. This is a great program. I like that the program teaches a wide range of skills.”
Jim Howard, GIS Analyst
The Titan Corporation, San Francisco, California, USA
“I have been hunting for this kind of resource for many years, but have been unable to have successful engagement with individuals who really knew what they were doing. So, it is with great pleasure that I look forward to developing an ongoing relationship with you.”
Jack Dangermond, President
ESRI Inc., Redlands, California
“I would like to complement you on the excellent program that you offer at your Lawrencetown facility. We have worked with the students and professors in the program for almost ten years to produce research projects as part of their course practicum. These projects and products have received rave reviews throughout our organization. I think this is a great example of inter-agency cooperation that benefits both agencies along with the students.”
Garth Horne, Senior Market Analyst
Atlantic Services Centre, Parks Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia
“The material that you have selected to teach seems to me (and I am in a position to know) to be a good (perhaps even the best) short list of things that Business GIS folks should know and be able to do. Overall I am impressed with what you have done in the way of curriculum, assignments, sponsors, projects and awards.”
Dr. Tony Lea, Senior Research Associate
Centre for the Study of Commercial Activity, Ryerson University, Toronto;
Senior Vice President, Environics Analytics Group, Toronto
“I'm very impressed with the breadth of your curriculum. It is quite thorough in that it covers all aspects of what is needed in the market place and will provide students with the skill sets needed in today’s market. You have a distinct advantage. You offer a very concentrated one-year program that will give your students an in-depth set of skills and knowledge that are needed in business today. It needs to be promoted not only in Canada but also in the States.”
Tony Burns, Manager
Industry Marketing Solutions for Business, ESRI Inc., Redlands, California
“You definitely add value to whatever background the students come to you with. You prepare them to enter directly into the workforce and contribute meaningfully in whatever business they enter. Students also learn the value of teamwork. Although each student must submit individual assignments they cannot get this work done without consultation with their fellow students. There is no doubt that the GIS for Business program is essential for COGS to have. It represents a state-of-the-art educational need in the province and Canada.”
Dr. Robert McCalla, Professor
Department of Geography, St. Mary’s University, Halifax