Return to Geographic Information Systems | Community and Economic Development | Courses Index
[1] Graduate Courses in Geography and GIS (GEOG)
5310 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS A required course for participants in the Graduate Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through readings, computer exercises, and projects, this course examines the principles and techniques of computer handling of geographic data. The course includes the examination and evaluation of the characteristics, capabilities, and applications of various GIS techniques. Topics covered can include spatial data types and data structures, managing map image files, common analysis functions, data quality and map error estimation, and common applications areas. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: None.
5312 HEALTH APPLICATIONS OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS This course investigates emerging applications of geographic information systems (GIS) to health-related fields. Course topics include the use of GIS to map health-related events, identify disease clusters, investigate environmental health problems, and understand the spread of communicable and infectious disease. This course embeds GIS software instruction in the context of carrying out projects for visualizing and analyzing health-related data. Prerequisite: None. Offered periodically based on need.
5315 MAPPING FUNDAMENTALS FOR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS Since GIS products and reports contain a high proportion of graphic components such as maps, charts, statistical summaries, and diagrams, good cartographic design skills are important to anyone working with GIS technology. Through textbook and journal readings, advanced computer exercises and projects, students enhance their graphic communication skills from both a theoretical and hands-on perspective. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
5316 REMOTE SENSING FOR TEACHERS This course introduces K-12 teachers to the physics, interpretation, and analysis of remotely sensed data and to how imagery can be used to enhance instruction and increase student interest. Actual content, format, and activities will vary by semester and include some combination of traditional lecture/laboratory, intensive workshops, field-based activities, and individualized instruction. This course may be repeated for credit when content is different. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Offered Periodically based on need.
5317 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR TEACHERS I This course introduces K-12 teachers to applications of geographic information systems as instructional tools in the public school classroom. Actual content, format, and activities will vary by semester and include some combination of traditional lecture/laboratory, intensive workshops, field-based activities, and individualized instruction. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Offered Periodically based on need.
5318 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR TEACHERS II This course builds on the learning from the previous course in the sequence to help K-12 teachers learn to develop unit plans making extensive application of geographic information systems as instructional tools. Actual content, format, and activities will vary by semester and include some combination of traditional lecture/laboratory, intensive workshops, field-based activities, and individualized instruction. This course may be repeated for credit when content is different. Prerequisite(s): consent of instructor. Offered Periodically based on need.
5325 GLOBAL STUDIES A graduate elective. Through lecture and discussion, this course stresses the commonalities of peoples around the globe–all of whom have the same basic needs and face the same mega problems. The concepts of culture, values, diversity, perspectives, conflict, interdependence, and change are central to the course and are used to analyze various global issues. Prerequisite: Some college/university-level geography courses or consent of instructor. On demand.
5330 ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS OF GIS This advanced project-driven elective is designed for graduate students interested in the variety of environmental applications of GIS. Activities will vary with instructor, but may include such topics as human impacts on the landscape, environmental hazards, endangered species habitat inventory and protection, point and non-point pollutant sources, environmental justice, land use and land cover change, and environmental remote sensing. The student will use GIS software to complete directed exercises, as well as for the development of an individual project. Prerequisites: GEOG 5310 and GEOG 5315.
5333 GIS FOR PLANNING AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION This course is designed to meet the GIS needs of planners, public administrators, or consultants working with projects for governments or NGOs. Topics covered through readings, discussions, and software exercises include the following: projections and coordinate systems (especially State Plan and UTM), TIGER files, the integration of tabular Census data, cadastral mapping, networks (utility, highway, etc.), and demographic analysis. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
5340 FUNDAMENTALS OF DATABASE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Through readings, discussions, computer exercises, and projects, students will examine the principles of database design; design elements; graphic, topological, and tabular data structures; record and file formats; file organization and indexing; and hierarchical DBMSs. The principles and rules for relational, topological, and object-oriented DBMSs will also be addressed along with the development and amendment of prototype systems to meet user needs, specifications and predefined standards of design, testing, and overall documentation. Student projects will include constructing a variety of databases and demonstrating their operation. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
5345 DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING FOR GIS Through readings, computer exercises, and projects, this course focuses on digital processing of satellite images and aerial photographs derived from remote sensing platforms for earth resource management applications. The course emphasizes remote sensing processes, data acquisition alternatives, image processing system consideration, image display and scientific visualization, radiometric and geometric image correction, image enhancement and image classification techniques, as well as change detection analysis using remotely-sensed data to solve real world problems. An advanced project utilizing the techniques of satellite digital image analysis with an environmental focus of a selected area of the United States (or other part of the earth’s surface) is completed as the final project. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
6V60 DIRECTED READINGS AND RESEARCH IN GIS (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Detailed examination of a specific topic in geographic information systems through examination of appropriate scholarly works or through completion of a research project under the direction and supervision of a faculty member. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310.
6V85 GIS GRADUATE PROJECT (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) This is the capstone course for the MGIS non-thesis option. An appropriate GIS project will be developed by the student in close consultation with the academic advisor. Because GIS projects vary considerably in scope and purpose, individuals GIS Graduate Project deliverables will likewise vary but will include some combination of written project report, maps, database development, and GIS modeling and analysis. This activity is analogous to the composition of a thesis in the standard MGIS program, but places less emphasis on the work’s original contribution to scholarly knowledge and instead focuses on guided GIS project development and implementation such as our professional students undertake in the workplace. Students must complete a total of 3 credit hours of GIS Graduate Project to complete the program. Prerequisite: GEOG 6380. Fall, spring, summer.
6V90 THESIS RESEARCH (Variable credit: 1-3 credit hours.) Research writing, and oral defense of a master’s thesis on geographic information systems. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 6380.
6320 TECHNICAL ISSUES IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS Through reading, writing, and examining technology, students will become familiar with many of the common and sometimes troubling issues in GIS. Some of those issues include the variety of coordinate systems, projection choices, software, accuracy, and rubber sheeting. Much of the course will be comprised of written reports and papers which discuss and evaluate these issues. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
6328 SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND MODELING Through readings, computer exercises, and projects, the course emphasizes the fundamental statistical methods and procedures relevant to geographic data and spatial analysis. Topics include inferential statistics pertaining to geographic data; Voronoi’s diagram and the spatial concept; regression and spatial autocorrelation; point, line, and polygon data patterns and their trend analyses, spatial dependence; interpolation; uncertainty, spatial accuracy assessment and error estimations, overlay analysis, etc. A sophisticated final project, which utilizes statistical and analytical procedures, will be included. Students enrolled in this course must have access to specialized software. Contact the Chair of the Geography Department for necessary information. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310 or consent of instructor.
6380 GIS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Familiarization and practice with the tools and methods of research in geographic information systems at the graduate level. The course is facilitated through Blackboard. Prerequisite: GEOG 5310, Geographic Information Systems and GEOG 6328, Spatial Analysis and Modeling. On Demand.