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GIScience Virtual Collaboratory

K-State Curriculum and Training

About GIS

GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is both an exciting and rapidly developing technology that is used extensively throughout all levels of government, the private sector, and academia to provide support for spatial decision-making and problem solving.  Underscoring the importance and value of GIS, and other geospatial technologies such as remote sensing and global positioning systems (GPS), the U.S. Department of Labor (2004) identified “geospatial technology” as one of the three most important science and technology employment areas, along with biotechnology and nanotechnology. 

University Degree Programs

B.S., Geographic Information Science & Technology (GIST)

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the field that underpins the wise use of geospatial technologies and methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), acquisition and analysis of remotely-sensed imagery, cartography and mapping, and quantitative spatial analysis and modelling.  Collectively, this knowledge and skills area is referred to as Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS&T).

This interdisciplinary degree program is composed of equal parts computer science and geography/geographic techniques and affords students the opportunity to specialize in a variety of application areas via free electives to customize their educational program.  This design also provides students with the ability to earn additional academic credentials (e.g., double-major, minors, certificates) at little/no cost that are in line with interests and career plans, whether that is immediate workforce entry or further graduate-level education.

University Courses

Students in nearly every discipline stand to benefit from the use of GIS, and a greater understanding of GIScience, in the conduct of basic and applied science.  Kansas State University offers a number of introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses in geographic information science.  Most of theses courses (listed below) can be used to fulfill the requirements of two very popular interdiscplinary certificate programs - the Undergraduate Certificate in GIS and the Graduate Certificate in GIScience.  Be sure to consult the Undergraduate (700-level and below) or Graduate (500-level and above) Catalogs to review any prerequisite course requirements.

Basic GIS and GIScience Courses  
Course No.Course NameWhen OfferedCredits
GEOG 302Cartography and Thematic MappingFall, Spring3
GEOG 508Geographic Information Systems IFall, Spring4
GEOG 602Computer Mapping & Geographic VisualizationFall3
GEOG 605Remote Sensing of EnvironmentFall, Spring3
GEOG 608Geographic Information Systems IIFall, Spring3
GEOG 705Thematic Remote SensingFall, Spring3
GEOG 706Biophysical Remote SensingFall, Spring3
GEOG 707Remote Sensing of WaterFall3
GEOG 711Topics in Remote SensingSpring3
GEOG 712Internet GIS & Distributed GIServicesSpring3
GEOG 728Programming for Geographic Analysis - PythonFall3
GEOG 728Programming for Geographic Analysis - RSpring3
GEOG 795Topics in GIScienceFall, Spring1-3
GEOG 808GeocomputationSpring3
GIS Applications  
Course No.Course NameWhen OfferedCredits
AGRON 655Site-Specific AgricultureSpring3
BAE 869Advanced Watershed ModelingSpring (Even Years)3
CE 585Civil Engineering ProjectFall, Spring1-3
CE 752Advanced HydrologyFall3
CE 786Land Development for Civil Engineers and PlannersFall3
GEOG 610Geography InternshipFall, Spring, SummerVar
GEOG 707Remote Sensing of WaterFall3
GEOG 890Advanced Spatial Analysis TechniquesSpring3
GEOL 560Field MethodsFall3
PLAN 801Planning Methods IFall3
PLAN 836Community Plan PreparationSpring3
Computer Science and Programming  
Course No.Course NameWhen OfferedCredits
CIS 501Software Architecture and DesignFall, Spring3
CIS 560Database System ConceptsFall3
CIS 635Introduction to Computer-based Knowledge SystemsFall3
CIS 636Introduction to Computer GraphicsFall, Spring3
GEOG 728Programming for Geographic Analysis - PythonFall3
GEOG 728Programming for Geographic Analysis - RSpring3
GEOG 808GeocomputationSpring3
Statistics and Spatial Statistics  
Course No.Course NameWhen OfferedCredits
GEOG 700Quantitative Analysis in GeographySpring3
GEOG 880Spatial Data Analysis and ModelingSpring3
GEOG 895Topics in Spatial AnalysisFall, Spring, Summer1-3
STAT 703Introduction to Statistical Methods for the SciencesFall, Spring, Summer3
STAT 705Regression and Analysis of VarianceFall, Spring, Summer3
STAT 726Introduction to R ComputingFall (Global Campus)1
STAT 903Statistical Methods for Spatial DataSpring (Odd Years)3
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles  
Course No.Course NameWhen OfferedCredits
COT 674Processing Techniques for Low-Altitude Remotely Sensed DataFall3
COT 676Low-Altitude Remote-Sensing Product/Project DevelopmentFall3

 

Esri Training Opportunities

For those interested in focused hands-on tutorials designed to introduce basic GIS software skills, Esri makes available a number of Web-based short courses through their Esri Training site.  The Esri Software and Resources link will direct you to a page with more information about requesting access to Esri Training, as well as an outline of other resources available to Kansas State University faculty, staff, and students.