GIS
Program
The Department of Geography at the University of Illinois offers a graduate program leading to both the MA and PhD degrees with specialization in Geographic Information Science (GIScience). The program emphasizes how digital geographic information is created, analyzed and used in examining economic, ecological, physical and social phenomena at a variety of spatial scales. Students can specialize in: (1) GIScience methods and theory in areas such as: geographic information systems, dynamic modeling, remote sensing, interregional modeling and spatial analysis; or (2) the application of GIScience methods in economic or environmental geography. For application information, contact:
Department of Geography
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
607 S. Mathews Ave.
220 Davenport Hall
Urbana, Illinois 61801
www.geog.uiuc.edu
Statement
Revolutionary changes are taking place in how we process, analyze and model geographic information. The Geographic Information Science program examines the nature of digital geographic information, the tools and methods for analyzing and modeling such information, and the value of geographic information for understanding economic, environmental and social transformations at the local, regional, national and global scales. We emphasize methodological training in GIScience as the foundation for using geographic information to understand these changes and for developing innovative new tools to analyze and explore geographic information in the decades to come. Students also gain a critical awareness of the roles of geographic information and GIScience in society and the strengths and limitations of GIScience tools and technologies.
Program Emphases
GIScience methods and development
a. dynamic systems modeling
b. input-output analysis
c. spatial interaction modeling
d. computational geometry
e. spatial data analysis
Economic geography and regional science
a. economic impact analysis
b. regional economic development
c. transportation modeling
d. health and health care
e. access to services and employment
Environmental applications
a. dynamic modeling of ecological systems
b. dynamics of watersheds and fluvial
systems
c. remote sensing analysis of land cover
disturbance and change
Facilities
The Department of Geography has two state-of-the-art laboratories for teaching and research in GIScience. The teaching laboratory consists of 30- networked HP workstations equipped with a wide variety of software for GIS, image processing, air photo interpretation, and spatial/statistical analysis. The second computer laboratory is devoted to student and faculty research projects and course projects. This lab contains 14-networked computers connected to the main departmental computer network and equipped with a common suite of GIScience software. In addition to the two laboratories, students have access to an array of input/output devices, including a large-format, color plotter. Campus-wide facilities include the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, a world-class facility for supercomputing.
Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) is a state-of-the-art facility for urban and regional systems analysis. Formed as a joint venture between the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the University of Illinois, the laboratory has developed complex urban and regional analytical models to provide policy-makers with the capability of making informed decisions. A longstanding focus is the development of regional econometric input-output models. Such models have been completed for several Midwestern states and metropolitan areas and for regional economies across the globe, including regions in Indonesia, Austria, Japan, and Brazil. Many graduate students are funded to work on these projects and acquire hands-on experience with urban and regional models and applications. Web site: www.uiuc.edu/unit/real/.
Program Prerequisites
Applicants to the GIScience program are expected to have completed: 1) a course in GIS or cartography; 2) an introductory statistics course.
M.A. Program
Students must meet all Department of Geography requirements for the M.A. degree including GEOG 371 (Introduction to Geographic Thought), GEOG 370 (Introduction to Quantitative Methods), and GEOG 391 (Research in Geography). In addition, students must take GEOG 379 (Principles of Geographic Information Systems) and at least three additional courses from the GIScience core. With permission of the faculty advisor, students may substitute GIScience-related courses offered in other departments. GIScience students are strongly encouraged to pursue the Thesis option for the M.A.
Ph.D. Program
For admission to the doctoral program in GIScience, a completed M.A. or M.S. degree with thesis is required. Students must meet all Departmental requirements for the Ph.D. degree including GEOG 371 (Introduction to Geographic Thought), GEOG 370 (Introduction to Quantitative Methods), and GEOG 391 (Research in Geography), or their equivalents. The GIScience program also requires GEOG 379 (Principles of Geographic Information Systems) and additional graduate coursework in one or more specialized areas of GIScience, including at least one 400-level course such as GEOG 456 or GEOG 470. Students are encouraged to take GIScience-related courses in fields such as computer science, gricultural economics, econometrics and atmospheric sciences.
Core Courses
- GEOG 341. Regional Environmental Management Simulation
- GEOG 360. Analysis and Interpretation of Aerial Photography
- GEOG 367. Dynamic Simulation of Natural Resource Problems
- GEOG 368. Biological Modeling
- GEOG 369. Spatial Ecosystem Modeling
- GEOG 370. Introduction to Quantitative Methods
- GEOG 373. Cartography
- GEOG 377. Introduction to Remote Sensing
- GEOG 378. Techniques of Remote Sensing Image Analysis
- GEOG 379. Principles of Geographic Information Systems
- GEOG 381. Modeling Earth and Environmental Systems
- GEOG 406. Urban and Regional Analysis
- GEOG 456. Regional Science Methods
- GEOG 470. Advanced Spatial Analysis
- GEOG 495. Programming in GIS
- GEOG 495. Spatial Data Analysis
- GEOG 495. Spatial Econometrics
For More Information
For information on admission to the department, including financial aid opportunities, write to the Department of Geography, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 607 S. Mathews Ave., 220 Davenport Hall, Urbana, Illinois 61801. For further information on the Environmental Studies in Physical Geography Program contact a participating faculty member. Information about the department in general, as well as the professional activities of individual faculty members, may be obtained on the web at: www.geog.uiuc.edu