UC Santa Barbara Geography / Undergraduates / BA with GIS Emphasis

Undergraduates Program Description Get Involved Mentorships BA in Geography BA with GIS Emphasis BS in Physical Geography

UC Santa Barbara Geography / Undergraduates / BA with GIS Emphasis

The BA in Geography with an Emphasis in Geographic Information Science is intended to build upon the Geography BA with a deeper study of the science behind spatial information technologies. Geographic Information Science includes geographic information technologies (such as geographic information systems, computer cartography, remote sensing, global positioning systems, and visualization) as well as the bodies of theory that relate the tools to problem solving in geography. Students will choose one or more tracks in GIScience specializations. They may combine tracks for breadth and depth, as well as pursue interests in particular technologies, methods, or approaches. Graduates with the GIS Emphasis will find themselves well prepared to start a career in any of the geographic information technology fields or to continue their education in graduate school.

To prepare for this option, students must complete specific courses in geography, plus one course from either a physical science or a social science (the GIS emphasis requires both). Additionally, students must take one statistics course. A course in computer programming and a course in calculus with applications is recommended (the GIS emphasis requires a course in computer programming). Students should complete these major-preparatory classes in their freshman and sophomore years. The major requires completion of upper-division (junior and senior level) course work distributed between the areas of systematics, techniques, regional geography, and areas of the student’s own choosing. Systematics courses include those in meteorology, hydrology, and soil formation. Techniques courses include those in spatial analysis, computational concepts, remote sensing, photo interpretation, and cartography. Regional courses include those in the geography of arid lands, jungles, and the geography of nations.

Requirements

Preparation for the major - 28 lower division units required

Strongly Recommended: Math 3A
Required courses
- Geog 3A - Oceans and Atmosphere
- Geog 3B - Land, Water and Life
- Geog 5 - People, Place and Environment
- Geog 12 - Maps and Mapping
Plus one course from Area A or B
- A: Natural Science
- Chem 1A/AL - General Chemistry
- EEMB 2 - Introductory Biology II: Ecology and Evolution
- EEMB 20 - Concepts of Biology
- EEMB 21 - General Botany
- MCDB 20 - Concepts of Biology
- ES 2 - Introduction to Environmental Science
- Geol 2 - Principles of Physical Geology
- Geol 4 - Introduction to Oceanography
- Phys 10 - Concepts of Physics
- B: Social Science
- Anth 2 - Introductory Cultural Anthropology
- Anth 5 - Introductory Physical Anthropology
- Comm 1 - Introduction to Communication
- Econ 1 - Principles of Economics: Micro
- Econ 2 - Principles of Economics: Macro
- ES 3 - Introduction to the Social and Cultural Environment
- Ling 20 - Language and Linguistics
- Pol S - 7 Introduction to International Relations
- Psych 1 - Introduction to Psychology
- Soc 1 - Introduction to Sociology
Plus one Computer programming course
- CS 5AA-ZZ - Introduction to Computer Programming
Plus one statistics course
- Comm 87 - Statistical Analysis for Communication
- PSTAT 5A - Statistics
- PSTAT 5E - Statistics with Economics and Business Applications
- EEMB 30 - Concepts in Statistics
- Psych 5 - Introductory Statistics

Upper division major - 40-47 upper division units required

Area A: 24-29 Units from Geographic Information Science Courses - Students may choose one of two options:
1. Three courses and associated labs (noted by slash marks) in each of two of the concentrations below
2. Three courses from one of the concentrations plus at least one course of the remaining three concentrations
- Air Photos and Remote Sensing
- Geog 102 - Introduction to Environmental Optics in Physical Geography
- Geog 115A - Geographic Photo Interpretation
- Geog 115B - Geographic Remote Sensing Techniques
- Geog 115C - Intermediate Geographic Remote Sensing Techniques
- Cartography
- Geog 118 - Cartographic Design
- Geog 128 - Analytical and Computer Cartography
- Geog 184A - Introduction to Cartographic Programming
- Geog 184C - Geographic Visualization
- Geographic Information Systems
- Geog 176A - Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
- Geog 176B/BL - Technical Issues in Geographic Information Systems
- Geog 176C - GIS Design and Applications
- Quantitative Techniques and Theoretical Methods
- Geog 117 - Research Methods in Geography
- Geog 172 - Intermediate Geographical Data Analysis
- Geog 190 - Location Theory in Geography
- Geog 191/L - Intro to Optimization Models for Geographic Problems
- Geog 194 - Field Studies in Geography
Area B: One course from Physical Geography courses
- Geog 104 - Physical Geography of the World’s Oceans
- Geog 110 - Introduction to Meteorology
- Geog 112 - Environmental Hydrology
- Geog 114A - Soil Science
- Geog 114B - Soil Genesis and Classification
- Geog 116 - Groundwater Hydrology
- Geog 133 - Tropical Meteorology
- Geog 134 - Earth System Science
- Geog 144 - Forms, Process, and Human Use of Rivers
- Geog 162A - Environmental Water Quality
- Geog 163 - Ocean Circulation
- Geog 165 - Waves and Tides in the Ocean
- Geog 166 - Physical Climatology
- Geog 167 - Biogeography: The Study of Plant and Animal Distributions
- Geog 170 - Introductory to Vegetation Analysis
- Geog 175 - Environmental Data Analysis
Area C: One course from Human Geography courses
- Geog 108 - Urban Geography
- Geog 109 - Introduction to Economic Geography
- Geog 111A - Transportation Planning and Modeling
- Geog 111B - Transportation Modeling and Simulation
- Geog 141A - Population Geography
- Geog 141C - California Population Analysis and Policy
- Geog 145 - Environmental Hazards
- Geog 146 - Introduction to Transportation Systems Planning
- Geog 153A - Behavioral Geography
- Geog 153B - Introduction to Spatial Decision Making and Behavior
- Geog 153C - Environmental Perception and Cognition
- Geog 153D - Spatial Decisions in Retailing
- Geog 153E - Geography of Everyday Life
- Geog 180 - Geography of the Information Society
- Geog 185A - Geography Planning and Policy Making
- Geog 185B - Environmental Issues and Location Decision Making
- Geog 185C - Urban and Regional Modeling and Planning
- Geog 185D- Urban and Environmental Systems Analysis
- Geog 190 - Location Theory in Geography (If not used in area A)
Area D: 4 Additional Units from either Area B or Area C
Area E: One course from Integrative and Regional Geography courses
- Geog 135 - Mock Environmental Summit
- Geog 135S - Mock Environmental Summit (Summer)
- Geog 140 - Environmental Issues in Human History
- Geog 141B - Population and Development
- Geog 148 - California
- Geog 149 - The California Channel Islands
- Geog 150 - Geography of the U.S.
- Geog 155 - Geography of Latin America
- Geog 158 - Geography of the California Current
- Geog 159 - Geography of Europe
- Geog 182 - Global Cities in the Information Age

Note: A maximum of eight upper division units from related fields may be included for Geography credit, selected without petition from a list of approved alternatives in the department office or from other related courses by petition.