Geography Major: Geographic Information Systems Concentration

Requirements for a Major

Minimum requirement for the major is completion of a six-course (18 credit) core curriculum and one of five concentrations. Students will declare a concentration in either General Geography, Environmental Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Earth System Science, or Earth Science Education. Study Away/Study Abroad is strongly encouraged for geography majors.

Ancillary Requirements(6 credits)
To be taken by the time the student has accumulated 21 credits in the major:
CS-135Programming for Non-CS Majors3
MA-150Statistics I3
Core Courses(18 credits)
GS-101Physical Geography3
or GS-110 Meteorology
GE-102Human Geography3
GS-140Physical Geology4
GS-165Geographic Information Systems I4
GE-200Geography Literature Seminar1
GE/GS-400Geography Seminar3
Requirements for the Concentration in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)(21 credits)
GS-218Introduction to Remote Sensing3
GS-318Geographic Information Systems II3
Three Additional Courses
4 courses at the 200 - 400 level in either physical or human Geography. Students are encouraged to focus on one area. Regional courses are not appropriate12
Select one of the following:3
Independent Study: Geography
Readings and Directed Research
Internship: Geography
Total Credits39

Geography Major: GIS Concentration

Sample Timeline for Completion of Degree

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Semester OneCredits
LASCFirst-Year Seminar (FYS) 3
EN-101 College Writing I 3
MA-150 Statistics I 3
GE-102 Human Geography 3
GS-101 Physical Geography 3
 Credits15
Semester Two
EN-102 College Writing II 3
LASCLASC Elective (CON) 3
LASCLASC Elective (TLC) 1 3
GS-165 Geographic Information Systems I 4
GS-140 Physical Geology 4
 Credits17
Year Two
Semester Three
GS-218 Introduction to Remote Sensing 3
CS-135 Programming for Non-CS Majors (QR) 3
LASCLASC Elective (NSP) 1 3-4
LASCLASC Elective (CA) 1 3
LASCLASC Elective (HBS) 1 3
 Credits15-16
Semester Four
GS-318 Geographic Information Systems II 3
GS/GE 2XX+Elective 3
LASCLASC Elective (ICW) 1 3
LASCLASC Elective (GP) 1 3
LASCLASC Elective (USW) 1 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Semester Five
GE-200 Geography Literature Seminar 1
GS/GE 2XX+Elective 3
GS/GE 2XX+Elective 3
LASCLASC Elective (NSP) 1 3
LASCLASC Elective 1 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits16
Semester Six
GS/GE 2XX+Elective 3
LASCLASC Elective 1 3
LASCLASC Elective 1 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Four
Semester Seven
Select one of the following: 3
Independent Study: Geography
or Independent Study: Geography
Readings and Directed Research
or Readings and Directed Research
Internship: Geography
or Internship: Geography
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
Semester Eight
GS-400 Senior Seminar (CAP) 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
SELECTGeneral Elective 3
 Credits15
 Total Credits123-124
1

The sequence of LASC courses marked with 1 is a suggestion but serves as a reminder that LASC designated courses must be taken to satisfy the LASC requirements.

Students are required to meet with their academic advisor to review their courses for the upcoming semester. A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation.  First-year and transfer students with 45 or fewer credits at the time of admission shall complete two academic programs (a major/major or major/minor) to qualify for graduation.  For more information, please view the MajorPlus section of this catalog.