Geography Major: Geographic Information Science Concentration - Bachelor of Science (BS)
(All colleges)
Curriculum
42 credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GIS core | ||
| GEO 101 | Earth Environments | 4 |
| GEO 110 | World Cultural Regions | 3 |
| GEO 200 | Conservation of Global Environments | 3 |
| or GEO 203 | Urban Community Health: A Global Perspective | |
| or GEO 211 | Global Climate Change | |
| GEO 305 | Geographic Information Systems and Science I | 3 |
| GEO 401 | Capstone Seminar in Geography and Environmental Science | 1 |
| GEO 405 | Geographic Information System and Science II | 3 |
| GEO 415 | Remote Sensing of the Environment I | 3 |
| GEO 418 | Map Design and Geovisualization | 3 |
| GEO 445 | Remote Sensing of the Environment II 1 | 3 |
| or GEO 455 | Web Mapping | |
| or GEO 465 | Geospatial Automation | |
| GEO 485 | Geographic Information System and Science III | 3 |
| STAT 145 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| Earth's environmental systems | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | ||
| Meteorology | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Past Environmental Change | ||
| River Systems | ||
| Environmental Hazards | ||
| Humans and the environment | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Power, Space, and Global Change | ||
| Cities: Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Transportation Equity and Sustainable Communities | ||
| The Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean | ||
| Energy, the Environment, and Sustainability | ||
| Sustainable Development and Conservation | ||
| Islamic Asia: Cradle of Civilizations, Geographies of Conflict | ||
| Polar Environments | ||
| Sustainable Water Resource Management | ||
| Additional electives | ||
| Select three credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Geospatial Field Methods | ||
| Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing of the Environment II (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Internship in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 3 | ||
| Web Mapping (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Geospatial Automation (if not taken for GIS Core) 1 | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Geography | ||
| Independent Study in Geography and Environmental Science 2, 4 | ||
| Research in Geography and Environmental Science 2,5 | ||
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
GEO 445, GEO 455, or GEO 465 may apply to additional electives category if not used in the core.
- 2
- 3
A maximum of three credits of GEO 450 may apply to the major.
- 4
A maximum of three credits of GEO 490 may apply to the major.
- 5
A maximum of three credits of GEO 499 may apply to the major.
Exit survey requirement
During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required to graduate.
All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements.
College of Science and Health (CSH) Bachelor of Science core requirements
B.S. students graduating from the College of Science & Health are required to take:
- Two MTH/STAT courses or one MTH/STAT course and one CS course
Course List Code Title Credits Introduction to Computing 1 Introduction to Python Programming 1 Software Design I 1 Introduction to Computational Thinking 1 Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers I 1 Mathematics for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers II 1 Mathematics for Decision Making 1 College Algebra 1 Precalculus 1 Mathematics for Business 1 Applied Calculus 1 Calculus I 1 Calculus II 1 Mathematics for Middle School Teachers I 1 Mathematics for Middle School Teachers II 1 Mathematical Models in Biology 1 Elementary Statistics 1
- 1
Course may also satisfy a Core General Education Requirement.
- Two laboratory science courses, one of the two courses must be from a department outside of the student's major department:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Biological Anthropology 1 | ||
| Biology for the Informed Citizen 1 | ||
| General Biology 1 | ||
| Organismal Biology | ||
| Animal Biology | ||
| Plant Biology | ||
| General Chemistry I 1 | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology for Exercise and Sport Science I | ||
| Earth Environments 1 | ||
| Weather and Climate | ||
| Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | ||
| Microbes and Society 1 | ||
| Fundamental Physics I 1 | ||
| Fundamental Physics II | ||
| Physical Science for Educators 1 | ||
| Solar System Astronomy 1 | ||
| Stars, Galaxies and the Universe 1 | ||
| General Physics I 1 | ||
| General Physics II |
Notes: Mathematics courses can be pairs, i.e. MTH 150 and MTH 151.
- In addition to all other College of Science and Health core requirements, students from non-exempted programs2 must complete one of the following options. It is recommended that courses are selected in consultation with students’ academic advisor.
- Complete a second major; or
- Complete a minor outside the major; or
- Complete two certificates outside the major with at least 12 combined credits at the 300/400 level; or
- Complete an individualized option, consisting of 18 credits
- At least 12 credits must be earned at the 300/400 level outside the major department.
- The remaining six credits should come from
- 100 level or higher courses outside the major (all courses used to meet these requirements must be in addition to the minimum credits required in the Core General Education Requirements); or
- 300/400 level courses inside major not being used to fulfill major requirements.
- Internship credits may not count toward the individualized option.
- 2
The list of exempted CSH programs is on the CSH catalog page.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
Core General Education Program
The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the Core General Education Requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 101 (CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science) | 4 | GEO 200, 203, or 2111 | 3 |
| GEO 110 (CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World ) | 3 | CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy) | 3 |
| ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy) | 3 | UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success) | 2 |
| CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics | 3 | STAT 145 (CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning) | 4 |
| CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us | 3 | University Elective | 2 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 305 | 3 | GEO 405 | 3 |
| Earth's Environmental Systems (see list) | 3-4 | CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies or CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet1 | 3 |
| CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States | 3 | CSH Core (CS/MTH/STAT see list) | 3-4 |
| University Elective | 3 | CSH Core (Lab Science not GEO) | 4 |
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 1 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 415 | 3 | GEO 445, 455, or 465 | 3 |
| GEO 418 | 3 | GEO 485 | 3 |
| CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell | 3 | CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | University 300/400 Elective | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | University Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GEO 401 | 1 | Humans and the Environment (see list) | 3 |
| CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor | 3 | Geography Electives (see list) | 3 |
| CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor | 3 | CSH Core (300/400 not GEO) or Minor | 3 |
| CSH Core or Minor2 | 3 | CSH Core or Minor2 | 3 |
| University 300/400 Elective | 3 | University 300/400 Elective | 3 |
| University Elective | 3 | Exit Survey Requirement3 | |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
GEO 200 and GEO 211 may also satisfy CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet and GEO 203 may also satisfy CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies requirement. Must fulfill the other CGER with any course from the requirement course list.
- 2
See CSH BS Core Requirements for information on completing the individualized option. 300/400 requirements for graduation may be impacted.
- 3
During the student's last semester of enrollment, completion of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science exit survey is required in order to graduate.