2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog

Nov 23, 2024

2019-20 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Geographic Information Systems [GIS]

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The applied geography courses place a strong emphasis on computer literacy and spatial analysis skills in preparing students for careers in site assessment, marketing and demographic analysis. The Geography Department's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer lab features state-of-the-art hardware and software.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Study the world from a spatial perspective and be able to identify problems resulting from that study.
Design and apply appropriate methodologies which investigate some of those problems.
Suggest problems and hypothesize solutions to the problems with the use of statistical, methodological, and theoretical tools.
Develop the skills necessary to gather relevant information, evaluate it critically, and communicate it effectively.
Define the five themes of Geography (place, location, region, movement, human-environment interaction) and apply this knowledge globally (national learning objective). Students will be able to:

Locate and analyze the spatial patterns and features of major landforms, bodies of water, climate, and vegetation regions
Explain interactions between natural and human systems within the earth's environment
Locate and analyze major features of human activity on the earth, such as urban centers, agricultural regions, political divisions, and patterns of development
Organize the earth's surface into logical regions at different scales, such as neighborhoods, metropolitan areas, regions of the US and other recognized regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, the Pacific Rim, etc.
Use the techniques of geography and GIS to cartographically represent spatial patterns of physical and human phenomena
Spatially analyze numerical data and communicate their meaning and context

Career Potential

Environmental GIS specialist
Land use planner
Marketing and business geographics consultant
Law enforcement analyst
Transportation planner
Emergency response planner

A. Core in Geography: 22 credit hours

CAP 100 - Introduction to Computer Applications (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 110 - Physical Geography (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 120 - Cultural Geography (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 125 - Human Geography and Global Development (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 324 - Introduction to Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 400 - Geographical Analysis (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 440 - Seminar in Geography (3 cr. hr.)

B. Core in Geographic Information Technology: 12 credit hours

GRY 327 - Service Learning: Computer Mapping (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 328 - Geographic Information Systems (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 330 - Advanced GIS Techniques (4 cr. hr.)

C. Completion of one of the following:

Students must complete the requirements for one of the following four concentrations: Advanced Geospatial Applications (GIS_AGAP), Computer Techniques (GIS_CTEC), Demographics and Business Geographics (GIS_DBG), or Environmental Science (GIS_ENVS).

I. Advanced Geospatial Applications [GIS_AGAP]

Select 12 credit hours from the following:

GRY 326 - Computer Graphics in GIS (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 331 - Global Position System Technology (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 334 - Historical Geographic Information Systems (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 337 - Programming in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 495 - Independent Study in Geography (3 or 4 cr. hr.)
GRY 499 - Internship in Applied Geography (3 cr. hr.)

II. Computer Techniques [GIS_CTEC]

CAP 201 - C Programming (3 cr. hr.)
MCS 186 - Introductory Programming (3 cr. hr.)

And select at least six credit hours from:

CAP 204 - Programming with Visual Basic (3 cr. hr.)
CAP 250 - Computer Practicum (1-2 cr. hr.)
CAP 403 - Applied Data Analysis and Interpretation using SPSS (3 cr. hr.)
CAP 404 - Advanced Visual Basic Programming (3 cr. hr.)

III. Demographics and Business Geographics [GIS_DBG]

Select six credit hours from one of the combinations listed below:

And select at least six additional credit hours from the following:

CAP 230 - Introduction to SPSS (1 cr. hr.)
CAP 233 - Computerized Information Retrieval (1 cr. hr.)
CAP 240 - Intermediate Computer Applications (3 cr. hr.)
CAP 350 - Data Base Management Systems (3 cr. hr.)
and/or other advanced CAP courses in consultation with advisor that are not part of the CTEC concentration.

IV. Environmental Science [GIS_ENVS]

ENS 486 - Seminar in Environmental Science (3 cr. hr.)
EST 100 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (3 cr. hr.)

And select at least six credit hours from:

BIO 307 - Field Natural History (3 cr. hr.)
BIO 315 - Marine Biology (4 cr. hr.)
BIO 405 - Conservation Biology (3 cr. hr.)
BIO 412 - General Ecology (4 cr. hr.)
ECO 335 - Resource and Environmental Economics (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 261 - Physical Geology (4 cr. hr.)
GLY 367 - Geomorphology (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 371 - Meteorology (4 cr. hr.)
GLY 397 - Physical Oceanography (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 390 - Hydrogeology (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 430 - Field Hydrology (2-3 cr. hr.)
HLH 390 - Environmental Health and Ecology (3 cr. hr.)
HLH 391 - Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 cr. hr.)
POL 242 - Environmental Policy (3 cr. hr.)
POL 308 - Environmental Law (3 cr. hr.)

D. Additional Requirements

Foreign language: 3 credit hours
General Education: 28-31 credit hours
Other elective course work: 43-46 credit hours

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120

Example of the bachelor’s degree in GIS and a minor in Computer Applications over four years

First Year Fall

CAP 100 - Introduction to Computer Applications (3 cr. hr.)
CPN 100 - Writing Studies I (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 120 - Cultural Geography (3 cr. hr.)
POL 100 - Introduction to American Government and Politics (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 15

First Year Spring

CPN 101 - Writing Studies II (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 324 - Introduction to Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 261 - Physical Geology (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 221 - Social Geography (3 cr. hr.)
PHY 186 - Introductory Programming (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 16

Second Year Fall

CAP 204 - Programming with Visual Basic (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 110 - Physical Geography (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 125 - Human Geography and Global Development (3 cr. hr.)
GRY 328 - Geographic Information Systems (4 cr. hr.)
Foreign language 101 (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 16

Second Year Spring

GRY 326 - Computer Graphics in GIS (4 cr. hr.)
CAP 201 - C Programming (3 cr. hr.)
GLY 262 - Historical Geology (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 327 - Service Learning: Computer Mapping (4 cr. hr.)
HIS 101 - The World Since 1500 (3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 18

Third Year Fall

GRY 331 - Global Position System Technology (4 cr. hr.)
CAP 250 - Computer Practicum (1-2 cr. hr.)
ENG 200 - Introduction to Literature (3 cr. hr.)
ATH 120 - Backgrounds in Art (3 cr. hr.)
Elective ( 3 cr. hr.)

Total credit hours for semester: 14-15

Third Year Spring

GRY 337 - Programming in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 330 - Advanced GIS Techniques (4 cr. hr.)
GRY 370 - Will the World Provide? A Research Experience for Students (3 cr. hr.)
Elective (3 cr. hr.)
Any writing intensive (3 cr. hr.)

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Geographic Information Systems [GIS]

Student Learning Outcomes

Career Potential

A. Core in Geography: 22 credit hours

B. Core in Geographic Information Technology: 12 credit hours

C. Completion of one of the following:

I. Advanced Geospatial Applications [GIS_AGAP]

II. Computer Techniques [GIS_CTEC]

And select at least six credit hours from:

III. Demographics and Business Geographics [GIS_DBG]

Select:

Or select:

Or select:

And select at least six additional credit hours from the following:

IV. Environmental Science [GIS_ENVS]

And select at least six credit hours from:

D. Additional Requirements

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation: 120

Example of the bachelor’s degree in GIS and a minor in Computer Applications over four years

First Year Fall

Total credit hours for semester: 15

First Year Spring

Total credit hours for semester: 16

Second Year Fall

Total credit hours for semester: 16

Second Year Spring

Total credit hours for semester: 18

Third Year Fall

Total credit hours for semester: 14-15

Third Year Spring

Total credit hours for semester: 17

Fourth Year Fall

Total credit hours for semester: 13

Fourth Year Spring

Total credit hours for semester: 12