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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE (GIS)

PROGRAM UPDATED FALL 2010

For the B.S. Geographic Information Science (GIS) major (ref # 576), a minimum of 58 semester hours are required, with at least 29 semester hours at the 300 and 400 level. Additional program requirements are 19.5 - 20.5 hours. No minor is required for this program, although students are encouraged to minor in Computer Science or Computer Information Systems.
Students majoring in GIScience focus on the concepts and principles of GISystems, along with its four components:
(1) input, correction, and collection of geospatial data;
(2) storage and retrieval of geospatial data;
(3) manipulation and analysis of geospatial data; and
(4) maps and others forms of presentation of geospatial data.
For more information about the proposed new major (subject to approval), contact kevin.cary@wku.edu.
The Department recommends strongly that students take GEOG300 at the end of the sophomore or beginning of the junior year.
Students should view and download the Department's GIS Program guidelines and description, along with the Four-Year Program Schedule, which detail suggested courses for students to take each semester in order to graduate in four years. You can also view online the course rotation schedule for Spring 2011 through Spring 2013.

CORE REQUIREMENTS

 COURSE 28 HOURS
Geography 100 or Geol 102 Intro. to the Physical Environment 3 hours
Geography 110 World Regional Geography (110) 3 hours
CS 145 Introduction to Computing 3 hours
AMS 163 [old 202] Architectural Drafting 3 hours
CS 170 Introduction to Programming 3 hours
Geography 300 Geographic Research Methods 3 hours
Geography 316 Fundamentals of GIS 4 hours
Geography 317 Geographic Information Systems 4 hours
Geography 391 Data Analysis and Interpretation 3 hours
OTHER COURSES REQUIRED 10 HOURS
Geography 475 OR Geography 495 Internship, Study Abroad, or Research Project 6 hours
Geography 492 Advanced Spatial Analysis 3 hours
Geography 499 Professional Preparation 1 hour
PROFESSIONAL COURSES REQUIRED 19 HOURS
Geography 414 Remote Sensing Fundamentals 4 hours
Geography 417 GIS Analysis and Modeling 3 hours
Geography 418 Internet GIS 3 hours
Geography 419 GIS Applications Development 3 hours
Geography 443 Spatial Database Management 3 hours
Geography 477 GIS Special Topics 3 hours
ADDITIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS* 19.5 - 20.5 HOURS
CE 160/161 Surveying I and Lab 4 hours
CS 180 Computer Science I 3 hours
ENG 307 Technical Writing 3 hours
Mathematics 118 (or 116 + 117) Algrebra and Trig (can also take MATH 116 and 117 separately 5-6 hours
Mathematics 136 Calculus and Analytical Geometry I 4.5 hours

* (**) Additional Course Requirements are NOT part of the 58-hour GIS major . They are outside co-requisites required for this program.

Other Requirements: Students who wish to major in GIS are also encouraged to take the University Freshman Seminar Course, GEOG 175 for Geography and Geology Majors. See any Geography advisor for more information on this course.

For more information about this program, contact your GIS advisor, visit the Department office (EST 304), or call (270) 745-4555.

To send an email message to request more information, just click on: david.keeling@wku.edu

To return to the Department of Geography and Geology homepage, just click on the Department icon above.

This page last updated on 9/21/10.