Geographic Information Sciences Major

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Program Coordinator/Contact
George White, Department Head
Department of Geography
109 Wecota Hall
605-688-4511
E-mail: george.white@sdstate.edu
Click here for additional information.

Program Information
The major in Geographic Information Sciences allows students to gain hands-on experience with computerized Geographic Information System (GIS) that integrate hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows researchers to work with data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. With GIS’s capability to enhance geo-spatial data analysis, there is a demand for GIS trained college graduates by many local, state, and federal governmental agencies, including the US Geologic Survey.

Qualified students may also enhance their academic experience and career qualifications with participation in the GIScCE Center of Excellence Scholars Program. The program is both an academic and a professional curriculum designed to enable SDSU students to achieve educational and research experiences that uniquely qualify them for a career in GISc/Remote Sensing.

Academic Requirements
Students must earn at least a “C” in each course used to meet the major requirements.

Course Delivery Format
The Geographic Information Sciences program includes lecture, discussion, laboratory research, fieldwork, and travel, with limited online coursework.

Requirements for Geographic Information Sciences Major: 120 Credits

Bachelor of Science

System General Education Requirements*: 30

Goal #1 Written Communication:
ENGL 101
, and
ENGL 201
Credits: 6
Goal #2 Oral Communication:
SPCM 101
Credits: 3
Goal #3 Social Sciences/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #4 Arts and Humanities/Diversity Credits: 6
Goal #5 Mathematics Credits: 3
Goal #6 Natural Sciences Credits: 6

Institutional Graduation Requirements**: 5

Goal #1 First Year Seminar Credits: 2
Goal #2 Cultural Awareness and Social and Environmental Responsibility Credits: 3

College of Arts & Sciences Bachelor of Science Requirements: 34

Bachelor of Science

Natural Science Credits: 14
With 6 credits of Biological Sciences
With 8 credits of Physical Sciences
Social Sciences Credits: 12
Humanities Credits: 8

SGRs, IGRs, and/or Major coursework may satisfy some or all of the above requirements. Consult program advisor for details. See the College of Arts and Sciences for additional information about Bachelor of Arts Specifications and Bachelor of Science Specifications .

Major Requirements: 41

GEOG 131-131L - Physical Geography: Weather and Climate and Lab * (COM) Credits: 4
GEOG 132-132L - Physical Geography: Natural Landscapes and Lab * (COM) Credits: 4
GEOG 200 - Introduction to Human Geography * ** (COM) (G) Credits: 3
GEOG 210 - World Regional Geography * ** (COM) (G) Credits: 3
GEOG 382 - Quantitative Research Methods in Geography (AW) Credits: 3
GEOG 383-383L - Cartography and Lab Credits: 3
GEOG 447 - Geography of the Future Credits: 3
GEOG 483-483L - Air Photo Interpretation and Lab Credits: 3
GEOG 484-484L - Remote Sensing and Lab Credits: 3
GEOG 472 - Introduction to GIS Credits: 3
GEOG 473-573 - GIS: Data Creation and Integration Credits: 3
GEOG 474-574 - GIS: Vector and Raster Modeling Credits: 3
or GEOG 475-575 - GIS Applications Credits: 3
MATH 120 - Trigonometry * (COM) Credits: 3

Electives: 41

Suggested Elective:
GEOG 382 - Quantitative Research Methods in Geography (AW)
Credits: 3
For those seeking careers in GISc programming, these additional courses are suggested:
- GEOG 384-384L - Advanced Cartography and Lab
  Credits: 3
- GEOG 485-485L - Quantitative Remote Sensing and Lab
  Credits: 3
- CSC 105 - Introduction to Computers (COM)
  Credits: 3
- CSC 150 - Computer Science I (COM)
  Credits: 3
- CSC 205 - Advanced Computer Applications (COM)
  Credits: 3
- CSC 474-574 - Computer Networks
  Credits: 3
- MATH 115 - Precalculus * (COM)
  Credits: 5
- MATH 215 - Matrix Algebra
  Credits: 2
- GE 120-120L - Engineering Drawing/CAD and Lab Credits: 3
- GE 121 - Engineering Design Graphics I
  Credits: 1
- CEE 106-106L - Elementary Surveying and Lab
  Credits: 4
- CEE 304 - Land Surveying
  Credits: 3
- CEE 434-534 - Hydrology
  Credits: 3

Total Required Credits: 120

Curriculum Notes

* The 30 credit Board of Regents System General Education Requirements (SGRs) must be completed as part of a student’s first 64 credits.

** South Dakota State University has a 5 credit Institutional Graduation Requirement (IGRs).

(G) Globalization Requirement.

(AW) Advanced Writing Requirement.

Students must take the proficiency examination after completing 48 credits. English 101, and a course in each of the General Education areas of social science, mathematics, natural science, and humanities and arts must be taken prior to taking this exam.