Course info

This course serves as an introduction to GIS and is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of GIS. Unlike other disciplines, GIS is often regarded as a tool that, when added to your personal and/or professional tool set, will expand and enhance understanding in your own studies and interests. This is true, but there is science and knowledge that must be assimilated in order to use the tool in the proper manner (read: correctly, efficiently, and effectively). That body of information is referred to as GIScience.

Lectures, supported by readings in both required texts, are designed to provide the requisite theory, concepts, and principles for informed, productive use of a GIS – to teach you the essential GIScience. Computer (laboratory) work combines GIS concepts and technical skills for the completion of regular graded exercises and a final project. Lecture and lab materials will be integrated to the greatest possible extent. Successful completion of the final project and presentation will require a synthesis of past experience, lecture concepts, and skills developed in lab work throughout the semester.
Proficiency in GIS requires a user to posses many skills. Some of the most important include organization, attention to detail, self-discipline (commitment to learning), creative thinking, computer competency, and many more. You are expected to already possess all of these attributes to some degree, and hopefully will strengthen them by the end of the course.