College of Arts and Sciences

Spatial and Information Technology

Program Option

Environmental Science and Sustainability Department web site

Mathematics and Computer Science Department web site

The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2023-2024 academic year.  View requirements for previous catalog years here.

Program Overview

Understanding the way that entities are organized in space is critical for identifying trends and opportunities is a vast range of fields, including business, marketing, politics, urban planning, landscape design, and the environmental sciences. This interdisciplinary minor introduces students to the tools of spatial analysis, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and database management, that will allow them to produce the mapping, spatial visualization, and trend analysis required in an array of applications. Moreover, students will gain enough facility with coding to be able to develop their own tools or improve those currently available, allowing them to apply spatial analysis in new or specialized applications, and to keep up with a rapidly changing field.

The minor requires GIS through the intermediate level, basic computer coding using Python (the language of GIS applications), database management, and an advanced, hands-on GIS experience. This experience should allow students to develop their skills in a semester-long project, and also to focus their learning in an area in which they have a particular interest.


Program Requirements

Course Credits
CS 065 - Introduction to Computer Science I 3
CS 066 - Introduction to Computer Science II 3
ENSS 065 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 3
ENSS 165 - Applications of Geographic Information Systems 3
IS 160 - Database Management 3
Advanced Geographic Information Systems Experience - Consult advisor to plan an internship; independent study; research; or advanced, problem-based spatial technology course 3
TOTAL 18

The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.