Graduate Studies

GIScience and Geoenvironment
2024-2025

Admission | Courses | Program | Requirements | Certificate | Profile

Chairperson:  Samuel K. Thompson
Graduate Committee Chairperson: Samuel K. Thompson
Office:  Currens Hall 400
Telephone: (309) 298-1648 Fax: (309) 298-3003
E-mail: eagis@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/eagis
Location of Program Offering: Macomb

Graduate Faculty

Professors

  • Jongnam Choi, Ph.D., The University of Georgia
  • Yongxin Deng, Ph.D., University of Southern California
  • Redina Finch, Ph.D., University of Illinois
  • Sunita George, Ph.D., University of Georgia
  • Christopher D. Merrett, Ph.D., University of Iowa
  • Christopher J. Sutton, Ph.D., University of Denver
  • Samuel K. Thompson, Ph.D., University of Akron

Associate Graduate Faculty

Professor

  • Kyle Mayborn, Ph.D., University of California-Davis

Associate Professor

  • Steven Bennett, Ph.D., Indiana University

Learning Outcomes

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

 Program Description

The Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Geographic Information Sciences offers a Master of Science in GIScience and Geoenvironment and post-baccalaureate certificate programs in Community Development and Planning and GIS Analysis.

The Master of Science in GIScience and Geoenvironment focuses on training in GIScience, to deepen students’ understanding of core GIScience theories and ideas, to strengthen their ability in applying and developing GIScience methods for various environmental and social applications, to grow their skills in using and manipulating GIS tools, including its software and data, and to build up students’ experiences and capabilities in designing, implementing and managing GIS projects. Progressive training is available at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels.

The requirements are highly flexible, allowing students to arrange a program of study which serves as a basis for further graduate study or to prepare students for positions in industry, business, or government.

As a STEM program, international students are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension, up to 36 months.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program

Please go to Integrated Programs for details and program offerings.

 Admission Requirements

  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 OR 3.0 or higher GPA for the last two years (60 s.h.) of undergraduate work

  • Completion of a minimum of 24 semester hours in geography, GIS, or related coursework. Exceptions may be made if the student has a strong background in cognate areas or if undergraduate deficiencies are removed by taking courses as required by the Departmental Graduate Committee. Students must complete any deficiency prior to starting the M.S. program or during the first semester of coursework.

  • In order to be considered for a graduate assistantship, the applicants must be officially admitted to the graduate program.

  • All assistantship applicants must have the following on file: an application, a personal statement, and at least one letter of recommendation.

  • The personal statement and letter of recommendation must be emailed to: eagis@wiu.edu.

 Degree Requirements

A minimum of 32 semester hours of credit is required for the Master of Science degree; up to nine hours may be transfer credit. It is possible for students, through internship experiences and/or specific course combinations, to enhance their career opportunities in areas such as regional and rural planning, environmental assessment, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and climatology.

The Master of Science degree in GIScience and Geoenvironment may be earned by one of three plans of study.

I. Core Courses: 15 s.h.

GIS 405G Advanced GIS Spatial Analysis (3)
GEOG 505 Research Methods (3)
GIS 509 Fundamentals of GIS Analysis (3)
GIS 511 Examination of GIS Data

Choose one graduate seminar from the following courses:
GEOG 610 Seminars in Theory and Methodology (3)
or
GEOG 630 Seminars in Physical Geography (3)
or
GEOG 650 Seminars in Cultural Geography (3)

II. Select one of the following exit options: 17-21 s.h.

A. Thesis*

GEOG 698 Thesis (3)
Directed Electives (14)

B.  Applied Project*

GEOG 697 Applied Project (3)
Directed Electives (14)

C. Professional Plan*

Internship (GEOG 596 or 597) (3)
Directed Electives (18)

TOTAL PROGRAM: 32-36 s.h.

*Theses and applied projects must be defended before a committee of three faculty members selected by the student and approved by the chair of the Departmental Graduate Committee. Theses and Applied Projects must be proposed by the student and approved by their committee before enrolling in GEOG 697 or 698. Candidates for the Professional Plan must have a committee of two faculty members to evaluate the internship.

Students may take a minimum of six semester hours in GEOG 598, Directed Study—Research. Students may enroll in GEOG 598 only if one of the following conditions has been met: (1) the student has an approved thesis or project proposal; (2) the student is conducting work with a member of the department’s graduate committee and the department chairperson has been informed of the nature of the work.

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

The department offers post-baccalaureate certificates in Community Development and Planning and GIS Analysis.  For program details, go to the post-baccalaureate certificates page.

 Course Descriptions

Geographic Information Science (GIS)

402G Advanced Cartography and Visualization. (3) Advanced map compilation; theory and practice of cartographic design emphasizing thematic mapping, geovisualization, and map communication using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs.lab. Prerequisites: GIS 309 or permission of the instructor.

403G Advanced Remote Sensing. (3) Digital image processing techniques for thematic information extraction from remotely-sensed data for environmental applications. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisites: GIS 309, or permission of the instructor.

404G (formerly 406G) Advanced Quantitative Methods and Applications in GIS. (3) Students will learn, examine, and review how advanced GIS quantitative methods are used to measure spatial distribution patterns of geographical features, and analyze relationships between geographical phenomena. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisites: GEOG 301 and GIS 309; or permission of the instructor.

405G (formerly 409G) Advanced GIS Spatial Analysis. (3) Thorough and systematic examination of GIS analytical/modeling methods. Students will be trained to translate real-world problems into GIS data, tools, maps, new findings, and reports. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisites: GIS 309 or permission of the instructor.

407G Social Applications of GIS. (3) Examination of GIS concepts and skills in studying the geospatial characteristics of social phenomena, such as population geography, geographic segregation of neighborhoods, and spatial patterns of crimes. Practice of GIS applications in sociodemographic issues through lab exercises and course project. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisite: GIS 309 or permission of the instructor.

408G Environmental Applications of GIS. (3) GIS modeling of the biophysical environment, including water flow simulation, mapping of soils and climates, habitat delineation, and soil erosion modeling. Review of GIS methods, literature, and practice of environmental analysis in labs and project. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisites: GEOG 301 or STAT 171 or equivalent and GIS 405; or permission of the instructor.

410G Applied GIScience. (3) Examination of real-world applications of GIS, remote sensing, and GPS, including issues in the associated literature and principles. Fostering ideas and practicing skills of designing and completing GIScience projects scientifically. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisites: GIS 309 and 405 or permission of the instructor.

509 Fundamentals of GIS Analysis. (3) An introduction to geographic information system (GIS) analysis tools. Students will learn theory and techniques that will be applied to project(s) associated to their discipline. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.

511 Examination of GIS Data. (3) A thorough examination of GIS data processes: from spatial concepts, to conceptual models, to data models, to physical GIS data and common GIS datasets, and to data manipulation and use. Students are trained to become data experts. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisite: GIS 509.

609 GIS Research and Application Methods. (3) How to use GIS concepts, tools, and methods correctly in research activities of various disciplinary and application backgrounds. Examine existing GIS applications in your own field and conduct “hands-on” exercises by designing and completing a GIS project individually. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisite: GIS 509.

Geography (GEOG)
Theory and Methodology

423G River Water Resources. (3) An examination of river water resources at the global scale. Case studies of river basins from different countries will be used to understand past and present issues related to their management, ecological problems, and restoration initiatives. Prerequisites: Lower division natural science course with a lab or permission of the instructor.

450G Geography Workshop. (1–3) General workshop on a variety of geographic topics. Discussions and creative activities are emphasized in a supportive environment. Graded S/U.

459G (cross-listed with BIOL 459G) Biogeography. (3) Study of the geographical distributions of organisms, the evolutionary and ecological processes underlying the patterns of distribution, and the role of biogeography in biological conservation. Prerequisites: BOT 200 (C grade or better) and ZOOL 200 (C grade or better), or permission of the instructor.

501 Quantitative Data Analysis. (3) Quantitative and statistical techniques in current geographic problems; the literate and methods of applying techniques to old and new problems; handling and analyzing data. 2 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab. Prerequisite: GEOG 301, or MATH 171, or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

504 Philosophy and Literature. (3) The purpose is to acquaint the student with the various types and sources of geographic literature, its nature, content and value, and the history and philosophy of the discipline.

505 Research Methods. (3) Introduction to geographical research methods, emphasizing the scope and applications of geographical literature in research and the construction of geographical problems appropriate for writing a thesis or applied project.

510 Environmental Impact Analysis. (3) An examination and application of methodologies and techniques in assessing physical, economic, and social effects of development.Prerequisite: GEOG 405 or permission of the instructor.

610 Seminars in Theory and Methodology. (1–3, repeatable to 9) Seminars are available under the following titles: cartography, field methods, quantitative methods, and remote sensing.

Systematic—Physical

426G (cross-listed with BIOL 426G) Conservation and Management of Natural Resources. (3) Problems in the conservation and management of natural resources, including soil, water, rangeland, forest, wildlife, air, and energy resources. Special attention to resource problems of the United States. Prerequisites: Two courses in geography or permission of the instructor.

630 Seminars in Physical Geography. (1–3, repeatable to 9) Seminars are available under the following titles: climatology, conservation, geography of soils, paleography, physiography, water resources planning, environmental assessment.

Systematic—Cultural

440G Connections: A Geography of Transportation. (3) Introduction to transport systems at various geographic scales in society, and the concepts, methods and application areas of Transport Geography. Prerequisites: GIS 202 and GEOG 301 or permission of the instructor.

448G Introduction to Urban and Regional Planning. (3) An examination of the contemporary planning process. Emphasis is placed upon utopian planning antecedents, the framework for planning and the mechanisms for carrying out the planning process, and comprehensive planning and its implementation. Prerequisite: GEOG 445 or POLS 370, or their equivalents, or permission of the instructor.

548 Urban Planning. (3) The spatial aspects of the contemporary urban unit, its structural evolution over time, and the challenge it presents to a rational procedure of planned development. Particular emphasis is placed upon the social, political, and economic forces which are shaping the land use arrangements of the American city; and the way in which planning can utilize these forces to develop an urban system that both recognizes and benefits all segments of its present and future citizenry. Prerequisite: GEOG 445 or its equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

549 Nonmetropolitan Planning. (3) An advanced course on the process of nonmetropolitan planning. Particular emphasis is placed upon planning for smaller communities, and the restrictions that geographic space places on the planning process, especially in the delivery of public services.

557 Planning Implementation. (3) An examination and application of the various instruments that may be used to implement comprehensive or development plans. Topics included are land use regulations, ownership, taxation, and public investment. Particular emphasis is placed upon the preparation of an implementation program for a unit of government within the western Illinois region. Prerequisite: GEOG 448 or its equivalent, or GEOG 549, or permission of the instructor.

650 Seminars in Cultural Geography. (1–3, repeatable to 9) Seminars are available under the following titles: agricultural geography, economic geography, historical geography, land use policy, manufacturing geography, political geography, population and resources, regional planning, rural development, settlement geography, transportation geography.

Regional

466G World Regions. (3, repeatable to 9 with different regional subtitles) Analysis of the physical and cultural geography of a major world region chosen from the following: Latin America, U.S.S.R., Monsoon Asia, Europe, Africa (cross-listed with AAS 466G), Middle America, South America, and Asia. Prerequisites: Two courses in geography or permission of the instructor.

680 Seminars in Regional Geography. (1-3, repeatable to 9)

Individual Study and Research

580 Skills in Community Development. (3) This course emphasizes the practical skills required to be an effective community developer, including conflict resolution, leadership, communication, and community capacity-building. The focus is on skill-building, as students are provided opportunities to practice new techniques. Topics will be modified as new technologies and other external factors impact the practice of community development. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

596 Internship in Applied Geography. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Assignment as an assistant in public, private, or university agencies engaged in meteorology, cartography, etc. Repeatable, but no more than three semester hours of credit may be applied to the minimum credit hour requirement of the program. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.

597 Internship in Planning. (1–6) Assignment as a student assistant in governmental and other public agencies that are engaged in urban, rural, or regional planning and development. Repeatable, but no more than three semester hours of credit may be applied to the minimum credit hour requirement of the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.

598 Directed Study—Research. (3–6) A research course designed to allow students to investigate geographic phenomena not covered in their previous graduate‑level courses. Repeatable, but no more than six semester hours of credit may be applied to the minimum credit hour requirement of the program. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.

697 Applied Project. (3) Prerequisite: Approved project proposal and permission of the Department Chairperson.

698 Thesis. (3) Prerequisite: Approved thesis proposal and permission of the Department Chairperson.

699 Geography Papers. (0) Students in the two-paper degree option will write and defend two papers on topics approved by a committee of three faculty members selected by the student and approved by the chair of the Departmental Graduate Committee. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chairperson.

Geology (GEOL)

420G Geomorphology. (3) Advanced study of the landscape involving processes, geologic structure, and time. Map and air photo interpretation. Laboratory and field trips. Two hours lecture, two hours lab. Prerequisite: GEOL 110 or GEOG 121.

481G (cross-listed with BIOL/CHEM/METR/PHYS 481G) Scientific Techniques and Issues. (3) An interdisciplinary course wherein preservice middle and high school science teachers develop techniques and resources appropriate for their instructional program, deepen understanding of scientific concepts, and examine lab safety. Requires involvement in several professional development activities outside of class time. Not open to students with credit in BIOL/CHEM/METR/PHYS 481G. Prerequisites: EDUC 439 and ENG 280 or equivalent. Corequisite: BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/METR/PHYS 482G.

482G (cross-listed with BIOL/CHEM/METR/PHYS 482G) Science in Context. (3) Interdisciplinary course for science majors in which students explore science through inquiry, the unifying principles of science, and the role of social contexts and ethics in science. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Not open to students with credit in BIOL/CHEM/METR/PHYS 482G. Prerequisites: Senior standing in one of the following science majors – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, or Meteorology; ENG 280; or permission of the instructor.

Meteorology (METR)

425G Satellite and Radar Meteorology. (3) The theoretical principles and application of satellites and radar in synoptic meteorology and climatology. Applications of satellite and radar imageries include clouds, wind, atmospheric water vapor precipitation and storm prediction. The course includes operational procedures fundamental to weather radar. Prerequisite: METR 422 or permission of the instructor.

481G (cross-listed with BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS 481G) Scientific Techniques and Issues. (3) An interdisciplinary course wherein preservice middle and high school science teachers develop techniques and resources appropriate for their instructional program, deepen understanding of scientific concepts, and examine lab safety. Requires involvement in several professional development activities outside of class time. Not open to students with credit in BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS 481G. Prerequisites: EDUC 439 and ENG 280 or equivalent. Corequisite: BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/METR/PHYS 482G.

482G (cross-listed with BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS 482G) Science in Context. (3) Interdisciplinary course for science majors in which students explore science through inquiry, the unifying principles of science, and the role of social contexts and ethics in science. Writing Instruction in the Discipline (WID) course. Not open to students with credit in BIOL/CHEM/GEOL/PHYS 482G. Prerequisites: Senior standing in one of the following science majors – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, or Meteorology; ENG 280; or permission of the instructor.