Department of Geography
Minor in Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing
Students on Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 requirements GISRSMIN
Requirements
The minor requires at least 15 credit hours, including the requirements listed below.
- Environmental Remote Sensing. One (1) course:
- GEOG-G 336 Environmental Remote Sensing
GEOG-G 336 Environmental Remote Sensing
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Principles of remote sensing of the earth and its atmosphere, emphasizing satellite data in visible, infrared, and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Emphasis on practical applications and digital image analysis.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Geographic Information Science. One (1) course:
- GEOG-G 338 Geographic Information Systems
GEOG-G 338 Geographic Information Systems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Overview of the principles and practices of geographic information systems (GIS). The course will deal with issues of spatial data models, database design, introductory and intermediate GIS operations, and case studies of real-world GIS applications. Laboratory exercises will provide significant hands-on experience. Lecture and laboratory.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Electives. Nine (9) credit hours:
- GEOG-G 237 Mapping our World: From Mercator to Mashups
- GEOG-G 250 Computing in the Geospatial Sciences
- GEOG-G 397 Social and Historical Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG-G 436
- GEOG-G 438 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG-G 439 GIS and Environmental Analysis
- GEOG-G 481 Terrestrial Ecosystem Modeling
- GEOG-G 485 Geospatial Programming
- GEOG-G 488 Applied Spatial Statistics
- GEOG-G 489 Geospatial Analysis of Big Data in Python
GEOG-G 237 Mapping our World: From Mercator to Mashups
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Mapping lets us visualize our world and see how patterns change across places. For example, we can analyze how a bike-share program changes commuting patterns, or how urban farming emerges in a transforming city. Students learn how to develop digital maps and interpret spatial processes while gaining valuable experience with GIS software.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 250 Computing in the Geospatial Sciences
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- A first course in scientific computing that emphasizes practical applications in the geospatial and environmental sciences. Requires high-level programming using MATLAB for visualization, data analysis, and modeling. Teaches problem solving through analysis and interpretation of a wide range of environmental and geographic data.
GEOG-G 397 Social and Historical Geographic Information Systems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Covers the ways scholars in the humanities and social sciences, such as historians, demographers, and archaeologists, have utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to answer research questions, as well as the methods and processes used to analyze the relationships between people and their environment across space and time.
GEOG-G 438 Advanced Geographic Information Systems
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- GEOG-G 338 or consent of instructor
- Description
- Covers intermediate and advanced theory in geographic information science and spatial analysis using GIS software. Provides an in-depth look into this rapidly developing field and teaches the skills needed to construct, manage, and analyze data and models.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 439 GIS and Environmental Analysis
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Applications of geographic information science principles in the collection and analysis of spatial data. Integration of GIS, remote sensing, and/or GPS technologies. Review of current literature on techniques, theory, technology, and applications with an emphasis on environmental issues. Discussions, laboratory, and research project.
- Repeatability
- May be repeated with a different topic for a maximum of 6 credit hours.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 481 Terrestrial Ecosystem Modeling
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: Computer programming experience highly recommended
- Description
- Introduces the major components of terrestrial ecosystem models - the land component of earth system models that are used in climate change projections. These components include biogeochemical, hydrology, and energy cycles, as well as processes that impact ecosystems, such as disturbance, land use change, and land management.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 485 Geospatial Programming
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Notes
- R: GEOG-G 336 and GEOG-G 338
- Description
- Introduces both JavaScript and Python programming languages in conjunction with the Google Earth Engine and ArcGIS for geospatial analysis. Provides hands-on programming experience to independently solve problems in Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sending (RS) analysis, including machine learning.
GEOG-G 488 Applied Spatial Statistics
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- 6 credit hours of geography or consent of instructor
- Description
- Extension of traditional statistical analysis to spatial data. Spatial means and spatial variances, the examination of differences in samples over space, spatial autocorrelation, nearest neighbor analysis, map comparison techniques. Emphasis is on practical applications.
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
GEOG-G 489 Geospatial Analysis of Big Data in Python
- Credits
- 3
- Prerequisites
- None
- Description
- Introduces the Python programming language and the Python skills needed to perform complex geospatial data analysis and data visualization with large spatiotemporal datasets (e.g. modeling, remote sensing, or GIS data).
- Summer 2025CASE NMcourseSpring 2025CASE NMcourseFall 2024CASE NMcourse
- Minor GPA, Hours, and Minimum Grade Requirements.
- Minor GPA. A GPA of at least 2.000 for all courses taken in the minor—including those where a grade lower than C- is earned—is required.
- Minor Minimum Grade. Except for the GPA requirement, a grade of C- or higher is required for a course to count toward a requirement in the minor.
- Minor Upper Division Credit Hours. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed at the 300–499 level.
- Minor Residency. At least 9 credit hours in the minor must be completed in courses taken through the Indiana University Bloomington campus or an IU-administered or IU co-sponsored Overseas Study program.
Minor Area Courses
-
Unless otherwise noted below, the following courses are considered in the academic program and will count toward academic program requirements as appropriate:
- Any course contained on the course lists for the academic program requirements at the time the course is taken—as well as any other courses that are deemed functionally equivalent—except for those listed only under Addenda Requirements
- Any course directed to a non-Addenda requirement through an approved exception
This program of study cannot be combined with the following:
- Bachelor of Arts in Geography (GEOGBA)
- Bachelor of Science in Geography (GEOGBS)
- Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (GISRSACRT)
- Minor in Geography (GEOGMIN)
Exceptions to and substitutions for minor requirements may be made with the approval of the unit's Director of Undergraduate Studies, subject to final approval by the College of Arts and Sciences.