BS Geography: emphasis in Geographic Information Science
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GEOGRAPHY MAJORS ARE CHANGING SLIGHTLY DUE TO COURSE CHANGES. UPDATED VERSIONS OF THE GEOGRAPHY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE STARTING FALL. IF YOU ARE ALREADY A GEOGRAPHY MAJOR THESE CHANGES WILL NOT AFFECT YOU - PLEASE REFER TO AIM ON ROUTE Y TO SEE WHAT COURSES YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND STILL NEED. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT THE GEOGRAPHY DEPT.
Geographic concepts and geospatial technologies: GIS, Remote Sensing, and Cartography
This program uses technological tools to solve a variety of
geographic
problems in fields as varied as city government, business, scientific
research, and public land management. The U.S. Department of Labor
recently identified GIS as one of the top three careers poised for
explosive growth in the future. In the GIS program, students learn a
variety of technical skills currently in demand in the job market, but
it also focuses on the fundamental principles of geography and
geographic information that will make students more able to solve
difficult problems, and adapt to a constantly changing industry.
Geospatial careers are very diverse, so this emphasis provides a
basic education (and options for advanced specialization) in five areas:
- geographic information science, the study of the nature of geographic
information
- geographic information systems, the management and
analysis of digital geographic information
- remote sensing, the observation and analysis of geography from the air or space
- cartography, the visual communication of geographic information via maps
- application development, writing programs to automate geospatial tasks
This emphasis is ideal for students who enjoy: maps, computers,
working in both the field and the office, solving difficult problems,
and mixing their creative and technical talents.
Career Opportunities
- Typical employers include: municipal government, state government,
federal government, consultants, map publishers, non-profit
organizations, large retail businesses, utilities, GIS/RS software
vendors, GIS/RS data vendors
- Job titles include: GIS Technician, GIS/Image Analyst, Cartographer, Application Developer, GIS Coordinator/Manager
Program Requirements
Required Courses
Major Options
Geography Electives
Recommendations (do not count toward major)
- At least one internship, research assistantship, or teaching assistantship
- At least one college-level mathematics course (Math 110, 111, 112)
- Courses in allied technical skills, such as surveying/CAD (CE En
112, 113), information technology (IT 210, 344, 347, 355), or
programming
- Minor (or equivalent) in an application domain, such as urban
planning, business management, history, geology, wildlife and wildland
conservation, agronomy, landscape management
- Keep a printed portfolio of all coursework (especially maps and images) to show employers
Expected Learning Outcomes
Each outcome is aligned with units in the national-standard
Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge (BoK) produced by the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science.
Successful graduates of this program will be able to
- understand the fundamental principles and theories of human and
physical geography, and recognize their connections to geospatial data
models and analytical procedures
- BoK Units: CF2 Cognitive and social foundations, CF5 Relationships
- Courses: Geog 100, 101, 120, 130, 222, systematic & regional electives
- explain the fundamental theories of geographic information science
and correlate them to the data models and procedures underlying
geospatial technologies
- BoK Units: CF2 Cognitive and social foundations, CF3 Domains
of geographic information, CF4 Elements of geographic information, CF5
Relationships, CF6 Imperfections in geographic information, GD1 Earth
geometry, GD3 Georeferencing systems, GD4 Datums, GD5 Map projections
- Courses: Geog 212, 213, 219, 311
- Acquire and process application-appropriate geospatial data from primary and secondary sources
- BoK Units: GD7 Land surveying and GPS, GD8 Digitizing, GD10
Aerial imaging and photogrammetry, GD11 Satellite and shipboard remote
sensing, GD12 Metadata, standards, & infrastructures, GS5
Dissemination of geospatial information, OI6 Coordinating organizations
- Courses: Geog 212, 213, 219, 311, 313
- select the appropriate data format (e.g., raster, vector,
coordinate system) for a given application, design application-specific
data models, and transform existing data into appropriate forms
- BoK Units: DM3 Tessellation data models, DM4 Vector and object data models, DN1 Representation transformation
- Courses: Geog 212, 311, 313, 317
- analyze geospatial data for tasks in scientific research and/or
decision support, using common and custom analysis procedures (GIS, RS,
statistical)
- BoK Units: AM2 Query operations and languages, AM3 Geometric
measures, AM4 Basic analytical operations, AM5 Basic analytical
methods, AM6 Analysis of surfaces, GD11 Satellite and shipboard remote
sensing
- Courses: Stat 221, Geog 212, 222, 412, 413, 521R
- design quality thematic maps for visualization and communicate GIS application results
- BoK Units: CV2 Data considerations, CV3 Principles of map
design, CV4 Graphic representation techniques, CV5 Map production, CV6
Map use and evaluation, DN2 Generalization and aggregation
- Courses: Geog 211, 213, 312, 411
- create programs and scripts to automate geospatial tasks, implementing geographic algorithms, using visual development tools
- BoK Units: DM1 Basic storage and retrieval structures, DA6 Application design
- Courses: CS 142, CHum 287, Geog 217, 317, 412, 413
- work with interdisciplinary teams to develop solutions to complex
tasks that integrate relevant geospatial concepts and technologies
- BoK Units: DA1 The scope of GIS&T system design, DA4 Database design, DA5 Analysis design
- Courses: Geog 399R, 411, 412, 495R, 521R
- continue to learn and be involved in the industry and profession,
including learning new and additional software, using new government
initatives, and participating in professional networking opportunities
- BoK Units: GS4 Geospatial information as property, OI3
Organizational structures & procedures, OI4 GIS&T workforce
themes, OI5 Institutional & inter-institutional aspects, OI6
Coordinating organizations
- Courses: Geog 311, 399R, 412, 413, 521R
- BoK Units: GS4 Geospatial information as property, OI3
Organizational structures & procedures, OI4 GIS&T workforce
themes, OI5 Institutional & inter-institutional aspects, OI6
Coordinating organizations
- Courses: Geog 311, 399R, 412, 413, 521R
