Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog Program: Geospatial Science, B.S. (R, L) Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Geospatial Science, B.S. (R, L)

  • Environmental Studies Concentration
  • GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics Concentration
 

The Geospatial Science program provides specialized course work for students who seek training in geographic information systems (GIS), geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), remote sensing, digital/web cartography, environmental sciences, geography, and for students seeking a solid geospatial science background in preparation for geoinformatics, environmental and management careers. The GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration provides students with essential mapping, GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial analysis skills.  The Environmental Studies concentration provides students with training in environmental challenges related to land use, water resources, climate, biogeography, and environmental regulation in addition to a foundation in GIS. From this interdisciplinary lens, students will learn how to address contemporary issues and build a sustainable future for our community and planet.

REAL Curriculum

This major fulfills the R and L areas of the REAL Curriculum.

Students fulfill the R area through classes requiring students to apply quantitative and scientific information to test problems to draw conclusions and to generate scientific and quantitative knowledge.  These requirements are accomplished through the skills and knowledge gained in a physical geography class, a Geographic Information System class and a spatial data analysis course.

Students fulfill the L area through classes requiring the students to develop professional skills and critically reflect on how their skills, abilities and experiences apply in a profession. Students develop these skills and reflect on their professional skills, experience and abilities in a number of classes teaching skills in areas such as map making, map reading, spatial data analysis, data visualization and interpretation, field data collection, satellite image processing, policy analysis and research techniques.

Students need majors and/or minors to fulfill the E and A areas to complete the REAL Curriculum requirements.

REAL Foundational Requirements

Foundational Writing (3 credits)

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
ENGL 111 - Principles of College Composition (GE)

Foundational Math (3 credits)

Requirement may be fulfilled through placement testing.

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
MATH 100 - Quantitative Reasoning (GE)
MATH 121 - Math Content for Teachers I (GE)
MATH 125 - Precalculus I (GE)

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Geospatial Science major includes 10-25 general education credits.

Major Requirements (68-72 credits)

B.S. Degree Requirements (8 credits)

Choose two courses from the following:

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
ASTR 111 - General Astronomy I (GE)
ASTR 112 - General Astronomy II (GE)
BIOL 103 - Environmental Biology (GE)
BIOL 104 - Human Biology (GE)
BIOL 105 - Biology for Health Sciences (GE)
BIOL 131 - Ecology and Adaptation (GE)
CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I (GE)
CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II (GE)
CHEM 120 - Chemistry of Life (GE)
GEOL 100 - Earth Resources and Natural Hazards
GEOL 105 - Exploring Earth (GE)
GEOL 106 - It’s About Time: A History of Earth, Life, and Global Change (GE)
PHYS 111 - General Physics I
PHYS 112 - General Physics II (GE)
PHYS 221 - Physics I (GE)
PHYS 222 - Physics II (GE)

Required Core Courses (31 credits)

Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
GEOG 103 - Introduction to Human Geography (GE)
GEOS 125 - Intro to Geospatial Data and Technologies (T)
GEOS 130 - Physical Geography (PS) (GE)
GEOS 250 - Introduction to GIS (T)
GEOS 270 - Fundamentals of Cartography (T)
GEOS 380 - Spatial Analysis Techniques (T)
GEOS 490 - Field Research Methods (T)
GEOS 496 - Senior Capstone Project
STAT 200 - Introduction to Statistics (GE)

Concentrations (29-33 credits)

Majors must choose at least one of the two concentrations shown below.

Environmental Studies Concentration (29-31 credits)

Geospatial scientists make important contributions to both the prevention and remediation of environmental problems, from waste management to species conservation. This concentration is intended to give geospatial science students the knowledge and skills to be able to do so.

Required Courses (20 credits)
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
GEOG 140 - Introduction to Environmental Studies (SS) (GE)
GEOS 241 - Environmental Regulation
GEOG 305 - Population Geography (SS) (GE)
GEOS 315 - Intermediate GIS Concepts (T)
GEOS 335 - Biogeography (PS)
GEOS 425 - Remote Sensing (T)
Two chosen from among the following in consultation with advisor: (6-7 credits)
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
GEOS 362 - Water Resources (PS)
GEOS 492 - Land Use
GEOS 480 - Seminar
GEOS 498 - Independent Study
One course from among the following: (3-4 credits)
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
ANSC 361 - Human Impacts on the Prehistoric Environment *
BIOL 215 - Plants and Society *
BIOL 216 - General Zoology *
BIOL 217 - Flora of Virginia *
BIOL 390 - Conservation Biology *
BIOL 392 - Environmental Toxicology *
BIOL 476 - Forest and Wetland Ecology *
CHEM 215 - Environmental Chemistry *
CHEM 324 - Analytical Chemistry *
CHEM 424 - Instrumental Methods of Analysis *
GEOL 360 - Geomorphology *
GEOS 350 - Geomorphology (PS) *
GEOL 455 - Principles of Engineering Geology *
GEOL 474 - Hydrogeology *
PHYS 301 - Atmospheric Physics *
Note(s):

*Please note that these courses have prerequisites, in some cases more than one. Consult this catalog for current requirements.

Concentrations

GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics Concentration (30-33 credits)

The GIS, Remote Sensing and Data Analytics concentration emphasizes the development of skills in cartography, remote sensing, and computer applications. Requirements are 15-16 hours of geospatial science and 15-17 semester hours to be selected from courses listed in art, mathematics, computer science, and English.

Required Geospatial Science Courses (15-16 credits)
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
GEOS 315 - Intermediate GIS Concepts (T)
GEOS 410 - Advanced GIS: Data Management, Modeling, Programming and Web Application Development (T)
GEOS 425 - Remote Sensing (T)
GEOS 480 - Seminar * or
GEOS 498 - Independent Study
Note(s):

* Must be in an area of applied GIS.

Required Courses outside Geospatial Science (15-17 credits)
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
ENGL 306 - Professional Writing (WI)
ITEC 304 - Database from the Manager’s Perspective
Three courses from among the following:
Course NameTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
ARTG 280 - Introduction to Graphic Design (GE)
ENGL 406 - Topics in Professional Writing
ITEC 120 - Principles of Computer Science I (GE)
ITEC 322 - Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science
ITEC 220 - Principles of Computer Science II (GE)
ITEC 281 - Data Management and Analysis with Spreadsheets (GE)
MATH 138 - Precalculus II (GE)
MATH 168 - Calculus I with Integrated Precalculus I (GE)
MATH 169 - Calculus I with Integrated Precalculus II (GE)
MATH 171 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (GE)
MATH 172 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (GE)
MATH 271 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry III
Note(s):

Internships are strongly recommended. Credit for internships may be gained through GEOS 499. Internships are taken pass/fail and cannot be used to fulfill requirements of the concentration.

Additional Degree Requirements

To graduate with a major in Geospatial Science, a student must have a grade point average of 2.0 in all courses taken for major requirements including those from other departments.

Open Credit Hours (48-52 credits)

These credits can be used to fulfill additional courses, majors, minors, and/or REAL Curriculum requirements, including Foundational Writing and Foundational Math.

Total Credits Needed for Degree 120

Notes: