GIS Track

Data Science and GIS in Action

Geographic Information Science (GIS) Track

Geographic Information Science (GIS), cartography, remote sensing, drones, and computer programming

Geographers have an ongoing concern with the acquisition, manipulation, and representation of spatial data.Ìý The widespread adoption of digital technology coupled with management of very large spatial data sets has led to the development of Geographic Information Science.Ìý Particularly with respect to digital information, the nature of geographical data that vary with scale, time, and spectral characteristics presents unique problems for geographers and environmental scientists.Ìý In our world of massive amounts of information, Geographers use remote sensing methods for collecting and integrating geographical data.Ìý They utilize cartography and geographic information systems to uncover spatial patterns and trends, to reconstruct past environmental conditions and to predict future scenarios. The use of such methods requires expertise not covered in human and physical geography concentrations.Ìý Conceptually, the societal, political and ethical implications of geographic information in policy and decision-making are only beginning to be understood; this forms an important component of study in geographic information science.Ìý The dissemination of geographic knowledge at all levels of education forms another important component of this concentration. Geographic information science is closely tied to the fundamental areas of geography--biophysical, human, and environment/society relations.

Students must complete at least 37 and no more than 45 credit hours in Geography with grades of C- or better (23 hours must be upper division). No pass/fail grades are allowed in the major. Transfer students majoring in Geography must complete at least 12 hours of upper-division Geography courses at CU-Boulder. No course may be used to fulfill more than one requirement for the major.

In addition to the courses required of all concentrations, complete the following GEOG coursework.

Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics4
Ìý
Select three of the following electives:9-12
Topics in Geographic SkillsÌý
Advanced Geovisualization and Web MappingÌý
Remote Sensing of the EnvironmentÌý
Research Seminar (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis)Ìý
Geographic Information Science: Spatial ModelingÌý
Geographic Information Science: Spatial ProgrammingÌý
Geographic Information Science: Space Time AnalyticsÌý
Geographic Information Science: Project ManagementÌý
Internship (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis)Ìý
Senior Thesis (may be applied to the concentration on a case-by-case basis)Ìý
Ìý
Take one upper-division elective from the Human Geography, Environment and Society Geography, or Physical Geography list.3-4
Ìý

Total Credit Hours

16-20