GIS/Planning Option
The GIS (Geographic Information Science)/Planning Option in the Department of Earth Sciences is designed to offer students a mix of technical skills and academic training that prepares them for careers in local, state, and federal planning as well as opportunities in private consulting firms that are involved in the planning process. The GIS/Planning Option recognizes the growing importance of Geographic Information Systems and Science in our society and how these analytic tools are applied in a wide variety of settings. The GIS/Planning Option takes advantage of excellent GIS facilities, lab space, expertise, and software available on campus and allows students to learn in an active hands-on environment. Students are prepared as map makers (cartographers) spatial analysts, and planners. The Department of Earth Sciences has connections with various local, state, and federal planning agencies within Montana and throughout the West. As part of their training, students may also be able to take advantage of internship opportunities as a way to further prepare for a wide variety of professional careers within the fields of planning and resource management. The optimal degree for employment and advancement in the in GIS/Planning area is the Master's Degree, and this undergraduate option is an excellent preparatory degree for graduate study. Some students interested in college teaching or advanced research may require a Ph.D. degree.
At the Freshman and Sophomore level, students take introductory courses in physical and human geography, GIS and cartography, statistics, intermediate technical writing, and computer aided design (CAD). In addition, courses in economics and political science lay the foundation for understanding the broader context of the planning process. As juniors and seniors, students complete an advanced 2-course sequence in GIS/Spatial Analysis (GPHY 384/GPHY 484R) and take skills-related coursework in Remote Sensing and in GPS technologies. Focused electives include courses in geographical planning, urban and economic geography, tourism and recreational planning, and in the politics of development. Students also complete basic coursework in soils, geomorphology and weather and climate because these variables are critical in the planning process. Additional electives are available in advanced classes in geography, earth science, ecology, natural resources, water resources, and statistics allow students to specialize in areas of particular interest and develop their own emphases in subjects related to the geospatial sciences and the planning process. All students take the GIS Capstone course (GPHY 484R) which emphasizes independent study in the geospatial sciences through a semester project.
| Freshman Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | |
| ECNS 101IS - Economic Way of Thinking (Fall or Spring ) | 3 | |
| ERTH 101IN - Earth System Sciences (Fall or Spring ) | 4 | |
| GPHY 121D - Human Geography (Fall or Spring) | 3 | |
| M 151Q - Precalculus (Fall or Spring ) | 4 | |
| GPHY 141D - Geography of World Regions (Fall or Spring ) | 3 | |
| MART 145RA - Web Design | 3 | |
| WRIT 101W - College Writing I | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives Fall or Spring | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 14 | 15 |
| Sophomore Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ENSC 245IN - Soils | 3 | |
| GPHY 284 - Intro to GIS Science & Cartog | 3 | |
| PSCI 210IS - Introduction to American Government | 3 | |
| WRIT 201 - College Writing II or WRIT 221 - Intermediate Tech Writing | 3 | |
| STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics or STAT 332 - Statistics for Scientists and Engineers | 3 | |
| CSCI 127 - Joy and Beauty of Data (Fall or Spring ) | 4 | |
| STAT 337 - Intermediate Statistics with Introduction to Statistical Computing | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives: Consider DDSN 114 or SRVY 230Fall or Spring | 9 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 16 |
| Junior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| ERTH 303 - Weather and Climate | 3 | |
| ERTH 307 - Principles of Geomorphology | 4 | |
| GPHY 384 - Adv GIS and Spatial Analysis (Fall or Spring ) | 3 | |
| University Core and Electives Fall and Spring | 5 | |
| GPHY 357 - GPS Fund/App in MappingFall or Spring | 3 | |
| GPHY 365 - Geographical Planning | 3 | |
| GPHY 426 - Remote Sensing or GPHY 429R - Applied Remote Sensing | 3 | |
| GIS Electives: See List Below | 6 | |
| Year Total: | 15 | 15 |
| Senior Year | Credits | |
| Fall | Spring | |
| University Core and Electives | 9 | |
| GPHY 484R - Applied GIS & Spatial Analysis | 3 | |
| Upper Division Electives: See UD Course List BelowFall and Spring | 18 | |
| Year Total: | 9 | 21 |
| Total Program Credits: | 120 | |
GIS Electives
| Choose 2 courses from the following: | ||
| GPHY 322 | Economic Geography | 3 |
| GPHY 325 | Cultural Geography | 3 |
| GPHY 326 | Geography of Energy Resources | 3 |
| GPHY 329 | Environment and Society | 3 |
| GPHY 445 | Adv. Regional Geography | 3 |
| PSCI 423 | Politics of Development | 3 |
Upper Division Electives
| Choose 18 credits from the following: | ||
| BIOE 370 | General Ecology | 3 |
| BIOE 375 | Ecological Responses to Climate Change | 3 |
| BIOE 416 | Alpine Ecology | 3 |
| CSCI 440 | Database Systems | 3 |
| ERTH 432R | Surface Water Resources | 3 |
| GPHY 401 | Environmental Planning and Management Toolkit | 3 |
| GPHY 402 | Water and Society | 3 |
| GPHY 411 | Biogeography | 3 |
| GPHY 425 | Geographic Thought | 3 |
| GPHY 441R | Mountain Geography | 4 |
| GPHY 492 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| GPHY 498 | Internship | 2-12 |
| NRSM 430 | Natural Resource Law | 3 |
| NRSM 453 | Habitat Inventory and Analysis | 3 |
| NRSM 455 | Riparian Ecology & Management | 3 |
| SRVY 375 | Analytic Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| STAT 411 | Methods for Data Analysis I | 3 |
| STAT 412 | Methods for Data Analysis II | 3 |
| STAT 436 | Introduction to Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| STAT 446 | Sampling | 3 |
Note: A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation; 42 of these credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above. Students should maintain an average of 30 credits per academic year.