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Undergraduate Courses

GIS Course Descriptions (WKU Undergraduate Catalog)

GISC 216 Geotechnologies in a Global Community
General Education Course (Colonnade Connections Category, Local to Global Subcategory)
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status.
Lecture and Lab
Introduces the purpose, operation, and application of the Geographic Information Science technologies in contemporary society. This course cannot be substituted for any other GIS course (course fee).

GISC 316 Fundamentals of GIS
4 Credit Hours
Lecture and Lab
Fundamentals of GIS data management and cartographic design for GIS. Topics include data organization, map projections, scale and accuracy.  Hands-on work in geospatial data acquisition, base map development and map production (course fee).

GISC 317 GIS
4 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 316 with a grade of "C" or better; or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
This course is an introduction to the principles and applications of computer-based GIS.  Spatial information sources, data encoding, storage, management, analysis, and display are highlighted throughout the application of GIS techniques to problems in a variety of fields, including land use and natural resource management, transportation, and urban and regional planning.  Students will become acquainted with both raster and vector data models using GIS software (course fee).

GEOG 391 Spatial Data Analysis
4 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: MATH 183 and GISC 316; or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
Statistical concepts and methods emphasizing their applications in a spatial context. Statistical description and hypothesis testing. Visualization analysis of spatial patterns and relationships (course fee).

GISC 414 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
4 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 317 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
Fundamentals of remote sensing theory and application including the electromagnetic spectrum, history of remote sensing, sensing platforms system limitations and applications for vegetation studies, land-use change and environmental management. Course includes a lab component (course fee).

GISC 417GIS Modeling & Analysis
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 317 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
This course develops expertise with a broad range of spatial analysis and modeling functions using GIS.  A problem-oriented approach stresses the utility of GIS analysis to fields such as agriculture, biology, business, engineering, geology, natural resource management and urban planning.  The objectives of this course are:  (1) to develop familiarity with digital spatial data sources, types, and access issues; (2) to develop working knowledge of spatial analysis functions supported by a GIS; (3) to develop competency with cartographic modeling using desktop GIS software; and (4) to develop experience with production and presentation of a GIS project (course fee).

GISC 418 Internet GIS
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 417 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
This course develops an understanding and expertise in utilizing different techniques for creating, analyzing and disseminating GIS data and services via the internet/web.

GISC 419 GIS Programming
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 317 with a grade of "C" or better; or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
Learning the process of expanding GIS functionalities. Customizing a GIS system via computer programming.  Very few commercial GIS software deliver exactly what users require 'out of the box' to fully meet requirements and needs of different application domains. In this course, students will learn the process of expending GIS functionalities via customization and computer programming. This course covers a variety of topics related to custom geoprocessing, particularly Model Builder and Python scripting in ArcGIS desktop (course fee).

GISC 423 Geoprocessing and GIS Applications
4 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 317 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
Explores selected issues related to urban applications of GIS. Develop analytical skills and knowledge in transportation, urban management, locational analysis, and business geography (course fee).

GISC 443 GIS Databases
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 417 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
An introductory to the concepts and principles of GIS database planning, design, implementation and administration.  This course will focus on the ESRI geodatabase model in ArcGIS Desktop software along with spatial databases engines (ArcSDE) used with database management systems software (course fee).

GEOG 475 Selected Topics (Independent Study/Research) in GIS
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: Senior standing, GISC 317 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Seminar
Independent research on a selected problem under the supervision of a faculty member. Contact the faculty member you wish to work with on a research project/problem.

GEOG 477Special Topics in GIS
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GISC 417 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Seminar
Special topics in GIS involves directed research of a selected problem under the supervision of a faculty member.  Contact the faculty member you wish to work with on a GIS area.

GEOG 492 Advanced Spatial Analysis
3 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: GEOG 300 and GEOG 391 with a grade of "C" or better or permission of instructor.
Lecture and Lab
This course examines multivariate statistical methods for analyzing and modeling spatial data and processes.  Regression methods, including spatial autocorrelation and spatial varying parameter models, are explored, along with Kriging and other multivariate methods (course fee).

GEOG 495 GIS Internship or Research Practicum
3 to 6 Credit Hours, Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Internship
Supervised internship or research with faculty, government, community, or private concerns. May be repeated for a maximum of 12 credit hours in the major, with a maximum of 6 credit hours permitted in minor programs.  Contact organization you wish to work with on an internship.