Geospatial Information Sciences Course Descriptions
GISC 6317 Computer Programming for GIS (3 semester hours) General
introduction to Visual Basic and other languages with GIS related applications.
Topics covered include fundamental data structures and algorithms,
user-interface design, component object model, and data base management. Emphasis on rapid GIS application development with hands-on
experiences. Students are expected to design and implement a
project.(3-0)Y
GISC 6311 (ECON 6311) Statistics for Geospatial Science (3 semester
hours) Introduces calculus-based statistical analysis and probability
theory, providing background for econometric and spatial modeling of simple
stochastic processes. Covers standard probability distributions
including Bernoulli, binomial, negative binomial, hypergeometric, Poisson,
normal, gamma, beta, t and F distributions; estimation and hypothesis
testing; introductory asymptomatic theory, including the Law(s) of Large
Numbers and the Central Limit Theorem; real-world applications of probability
theory, as time permits. (3-0) Y
GISC 6325 (GEOS 5325) Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 semester hours)
Application of airborne and satellite remote sensing for understanding the
surface of the earth. Focus on interpretation of images obtained by passive and
active imaging systems using electromagnetic radiation, especially visible,
infra-red, and radar. Laboratory course. (2-3) Y
GISC 6326 Geovisualization (3 semester hours) Examines the theoretical concepts and practical applications
of cartographic and geographic visualization. Topics covered in lectures
include concepts for geographic data representation, symbolization and map
design, and methods for geographic visualization and display. 3D visualization,
cartographic animation, and web based mapping may also be included. Lab
sessions explore the implementation of cartographic and geographic
visualization with industry standard GIS software. Prerequisite: GISC 6381 or
equivalent knowledge. (3-0) R
GISC 6332 GIS Applications in Criminology (3 semester hours) Examines
spatial distribution of crime, criminals, and criminal justice interventions.
Students conduct spatial analysis of point patterns and area-based data in
studies of the locations of crime events and rates, offenders, police
controlling practices, judicial districts and community corrections and how
they relate to physical and social characteristics of neighborhoods. (3-0) R
GISC 6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences (3 semester
hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated
for credit up to a maximum of 9 hours. Consult with adviser to determine
appropriateness of topic for degree plan. (3-0) R
GISC 6380 Spatial Concepts and Organization (3 semester
hours) Examines the recurring patterns of physical and human objects on
the Earth’s surface, the flows of circulations among them, and the spatial
concepts and theories which have been advanced to help understand and explain
these spatial arrangements. Provides a fundamental
understanding of spatial processes, concepts, and theories. (3-0) R
GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals (3 semester hours)
Examines the fundamentals of Geographic Information
Systems and their applications. Emphasizes the concepts needed to use GIS
effectively for manipulating, querying, analyzing, and visualizing
spatial-based data. Industry-standard GIS software is used to analyze spatial
patterns in social, economic and environmental data, and to generate
cartographic output from the analysis. (3-0) Y
GISC 6382 Applied Geographic Information Systems (3 semester hours)
Further develops hands-on skills with industry-standard GIS software for
application in a wide variety of areas including urban infrastructure
management, marketing and location analysis, environmental management, geologic
and geophysical analysis and the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
Prerequisite: GISC 6381, or equivalent with instructor’s permission. (3-0) Y
GISC 6383 Geographic Information Systems Management and Implementation
(3 semester hours) Management strategies for GIS are examined by presenting GIS
as an integrated system of people, computer hardware, software, applications
and data. Implementation is examined as a systematic process of user needs
assessment, system specification, database design, application development, implementation,
operation, and maintenance. Includes design of implementation
plans as case studies to explore various techniques associated with each step
of this process. (3-0) Y
GISC 6384 Spatial Analysis and Modeling (3 semester hours) Treatment of
more advanced topics in the application of spatial analysis in a GIS
environment. Topics covered include raster-based cartographic modeling,
3-d visualization, geostatistics and network analysis. Student will be
acquainted with state-of–the-art software through hands-on laboratory
experiences. Prerequisite: GISC 6381. (3-0) Y
GISC 6385 GIS Theories, Models and Issues (3 semester hours) Provides an
understanding of the underlying theories, mathematical and geometric tools, and
their computational implementations that establish GIS capabilities to handle
and analyze geo-referenced information. Associated issues (such as uncertainty,
spatial analysis and spatial data management) highlighted. Prerequisite: GISC
6381 and 6382, or equivalent with instructor’s permission. (3-0) Y
GISC 6387 Geographic Information Systems Workshop (3 semester hours)
Provides a structured laboratory experience focused on the students’
substantive area of interest. Each participant develops a project which should
include aspects of database design and manipulation, spatial analysis, and
cartographic production. Projects may be designed in coordination with a local
government, utility, business, or other entity that uses GIS in its operations
and research. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 6382. (3-0) Y
GISC 6388 GIS Application Software Development (3 semester hours)
Provides instruction and hands-on experience in specific techniques and
languages for developing application systems based on GIS concepts. Students
will learn to use current generation commercial software to design and
implement an application. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 6317, or consent of
instructor. (3-0) R
GISC 6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master’s Project (3 semester
hours) Requires completion of an original GIS project
by the student working alone or in a team. Team efforts must result in products
that can be associated uniquely with each student. Projects normally continue
efforts started in GISC 6387 or GISC 6386. (3-0) S
GISC 7310 Regression Analysis with Spatial Applications (3 semester
hours) The specification, interpretation and
properties of the multiple linear regression model including spatial and
aspatial regression diagnostics are examined. Extensions to the logistic and Poisson regression models and spatial
heterogeneity are provided. A review of
the key concepts of matrix algebra and simulation techniques is given. Practical data analysis for large datasets is
exercised by coupling statistical software with GIS environments. Prerequisite: GISC 6301 or GISC/ECON 6311 or
equivalent. (3-0) Y
GISC 7360 GIS Pattern Analysis (3 semester hours)
Examines univariate and multivariate methods for point pattern analysis,
geo-statistical surface interpolations, and spatial regression models.
Underlying models and processes leading to spatially clustered and spatially
dispersed patterns are discussed. Course has particular relevance for local and
global spatial analyses of crime, disease, or environmental patterns.
Prerequisites: GISC 6381 or GISC 6311 and GISC 6301 or equivalent. (3-0) R
GISC 7361 Spatial Statistics (3 semester hours) The
application of statistical techniques to the explicit treatment of space
(geography) in social science models. Covers indices of
spatial autocorrelation, the specification of autoregressive models (Gaussian,
Poisson, binomial/logistic), geostatistical modeling, spatial filtering,
Bayesian map analysis, random effects in models, and imputation of missing
geocoded data. Prerequisite: GISC 7310 or EPPS 7316 or equivalent; GISC
7360 recommended . (3-0) R
GISC 7363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing (3 semester hours)
Provides a conceptual overview and hands-on experiences in Internet mapping and
web-based geospatial information processing with state-of-the-art commercial
software. Topics covered included client/server configuration, distributed data
access and display, web-based user interaction and customization. (3-0) T
GISC 7364 Demographic Analysis and
Modeling (3 semester hours) Examines key
demographic models for population analysis, their underlying theoretical
foundations, and extensions into the spatial domain. Incorporates
quantitative estimation and projection techniques and their use within a
geographic information systems framework. Provides
a solid understanding of spatio-temporal population
dynamics, either local or global, which is essential to many disciplines
engaged in planning for the public and private service sectors, for
transportation networks or for regional development projects.
Prerequisites: EPPS 7313. (3-0) R
GISC 7365 (GEOS 5326) Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing (3
semester hours) Introduction to remote sensing digital image processing
techniques. Topics covered include principles of remote sensing and
remote sensors, image visualization and statistics extraction, radiometric and
geometric correction, image enhancement, image classification and change
detection. Innovative image processing approaches will also be introduced.
State-of-the-art commercial image processing software is used for labs and
applications development. (3-0) Y
GISC 7366 (GEOS 5329) Applied Remote Sensing (3 semester hours) Focuses
on the application of remote sensing techniques to solving real world urban and
environmental problems in areas such as urban and suburban landscape, lane use
and land cover, transportation and communication, vegetation and forestry,
biodiversity and ecology, water and water quality control, soils and minerals,
geology and geomorphology studies. The current generation, industry standard software
is used for labs and applications development. Prerequisite: GISC 6325/GEOS
5325 (3-0) Y
GISC 7367 (GEOS 7327) Remote Sensing Workshop (3 semester hours) An independent project is designed and conducted by the
student, after instructor approval. The project develops and demonstrates
student’s competence in using remote sensing techniques in a substantive
application appropriate to his/her field of interest. Projects may be developed
in coordination with a local government, utility, business, or other entity,
which uses remote sensing in its operations and research. A formal presentation
and a project report are required. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 7365/GEOS
5326. (3-0) Y
GISC 7387 GI Sciences Research Design (3 semester hours) Examines issues
relative to the conduct of effective and valid research in geospatial
information sciences and related fields.(3-0) Y
GISC 7389 GI Sciences Ph.D. Research Project Qualifier (3 semester
hours) Requires completion, according to uniform guidelines established by the
GI Sciences program, of a GI Sciences Research Project and its presentation to
a committee of at least three GI Sciences faculty. May be
repeated once in the immediately following semester. May
substitute for GISC 6389 GI Sciences Master’s Project.
Prerequisite: completion of 24 hours of coursework in GI Sciences Ph.D. program
(3-0) Y
GISC 8320 Seminar in Spatial Analysis (3 semester hours) Examines
selected topics in spatial analysis or GI Science. (May be
repeated for credit when topics differ). (3-0) R.
GISC 6V98 Master’s Thesis (3-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision of a student's master’s thesis research. Prerequisite:
Consent of GIS Program Head and instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) ([3-9]-0) S
GISC 8V01 Independent Study in GIS (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for a student’s individual study of a topic agreed upon by the
student and the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) ([1-9]-0) S
GISC 8V27 Internship in GIS (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for a student’s internship, which must be related to GIS.
([1-9]-0) S
GISC 8V29 Research in GIS (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision of research conducted by a student. Prerequisite: Consent of
instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) ([3-9]-0) S
GISC 8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision
of a student's dissertation research. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
(May be repeated for credit.)([1-9]-0) S