The Geographic Information Science and Geographic Analysis minor has a broad interdisciplinary application. The analytical methods introduced and the technologies used in the different courses and applied lab work are relevant to many disciplines including: urban and regional planning, marketing and business, archaeology, agriculture, conservation and engineering. This minor is designed for all students desiring to gain a background in the geographic theory, methods, tools and technical skills that will increase their employment potential in any number of applied fields where geographic analysis is a valuable skillset.
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing this minor, students will be able to:
- Address spatial thinking and spatial problem-solving across a range of disciplines and applied fields.
- Appropriately and accurately make use of different digital data sources, and apply geographic information science tools and analysis to these data in order to analyze and recommend actions related to real world problems.
- Understand and appropriately apply geographic analysis principles and methods, including spatial modelling, to real-world problem solving.
- Use state-of-the-art geographic information system software and computer cartography software to implement spatial analysis of geographic problems faced by managers, planners, and employees across a range of fields and disciplines.
- Master concepts of spatial data collection, spatial data entry, and spatial analysis/geographic analysis for real-world problem solving.
- Utilize geographic analysis methods and analytical procedures to produce cartographically sound thematic maps from geographic information.
Effective Spring 2021
Additional coursework may be required due to prerequisites.
Students must satisfactorily complete the total credits required for the minor. Minors and interdisciplinary minors require 12 or more upper-division (300- to 400-level) credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division | ||
| GR 220 | Mapping, Cartography, and Spatial Thinking | 3 |
| Required Upper Division | ||
| GR 323/NR 323 | Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation | 3 |
| GR 420 | Spatial Analysis with GIS | 4 |
| GR 430 | Land Change Science and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GR 431 | Land Change Science Lab | 1 |
| Required Upper Division (Quantitative - choose one) | 3 | |
| Quantifying Anthropology | ||
| Quantitative Geographical Methods | ||
| Upper Division / Lower Division (Select a minimum of 4 credits) | 4 | |
| Python for STEM | ||
| Geography of Global Health | ||
| GIS for Social Scientists | ||
| Independent Study 1 | ||
| Methods in Digital History | ||
| Programming for GIS I | ||
| Programming for GIS II | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 21 | |
- 1
Variable credit course which must have a geospatial component. The appropriateness for the Independent Study to count for the minor will be determined by the instructor leading the Independent Study and the Geography Program Director or Department Chair.