Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

Geographic Information Systems, BS Major in


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The BS Major in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows students to complete a broad-based interdisciplinary course of study with required concentrations in geography and geographic information systems, in related applications and methods, in mathematics and statistics, in the natural sciences, and with a selection of relevant electives from across the curriculum.

Program Requirements


Candidates for graduation must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Grade requirement: Courses with grades lower than C- do not count toward the total number of hours required for the major.
  2. Residency requirement: At least 15 semester hours must be in-residence.
  3. A student must complete a series of courses designed to provide knowledge in a professional, scientific, or technical area outside of geography which complements the student’s studies within geography. Such a professional, scientific or technical core will consist of at least 18 semester hours and can be satisfied in one of the following ways:
  • Completion of:
    • A minor or major in an area outside of geography.
    • An individually designed professional, scientific or technical core of at least 18 semester hours outside of geography, subject to the approval of the student’s geography adviser who will consult with the appropriate other department(s). Examples of an individually designed core might be pre-medical studies, pre-law studies, or other professional areas.
    • A second major outside of geography, 18 semester hours of which will count toward the BS in geography.
  1. At least 65 s.h. must be completed in liberal arts course work.
  2. Completion of the BS Degree Requirements as indicated in the Bulletin.

Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 30 minimum


Completion of a minimum of 30 s.h. of course work as outlined below, consisting of: 12 s.h. of core required courses in geography; minimum of 6 s.h. of applications and methods courses in geography, computer sciences, engineering, sustainability, geology, or information technology; a minimum of 6 s.h. of mathematics requirements; a minimum of 3 s.h. of natural science requirements in physics, chemistry, geology, or biology; and a minimum of 3 s.h. of electives, selected from the list of courses specified below.

C. Mathematics Requirements – Semester hours: 6 minimum


Students without a background in high school calculus are strongly advised to take MATH 050 before continuing on to calculus.

Chosen from following:

D. Natural Science Requirements – Semester hours: 3 minimum


Chosen from the following:

E. Electives – Semester Hours: 3 minimum


Chosen from following and with an advisor’s permission:

NOTE: Prior to taking elective courses, see advisor to develop a course plan. Click on course titles listed below to access course descriptions and check prerequisites, as well as scheduling information (in order to ensure eligibility to enroll and proper completion of academic background courses). Note that not all courses are offered every semester. Courses taken to fulfill elective requirements must be different from courses taken to fulfill Core and Science requirements for the degree

Special Topics Courses and Internships


Up to 6 semester hours of credits can be counted as electives with permission of the Global Studies and Geography chairperson:

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