Major Advising Page: Cartography and GIS

Course considerations

Are there courses that cannot be taken abroad? 

GEOG 565, the senior capstone, must be taken on campus. (Honors-in-the-major students do not have to take 565, though.) The course is only offered in the spring semester, so students typically take it in the spring of their senior year. If going abroad during this time makes the most sense, though, arrangements should be made to take 565 prior to senior year, if possible. Courses that meet the major’s depth requirement — two advanced-level cartography/GIS electives — must be taken on campus, too.

Are there courses that should ideally be taken on campus? 

The Department of Geography is a global leader in cartography/GIS — we offer a major dedicated to these technologies, which is unique, and we believe the level of depth and overall quality of the cartography/GIS courses are unparalleled. As a result, receiving equivalent credit for the four core major requirements — GEOG 370, GEOG 377, GEOG 378, GEOG 379 — is unlikely, though not impossible, and so it is strongly advised to take most, if not all, of these courses on campus.

Which kinds of courses should I take? 

When selecting courses, aim for those you find appealing, of course, but that also meet degree — general education and Letters and Science (L&S) breadth requirements — and/or cartography/GIS major requirements. Please see the bottom of this page to learn about which courses are offered through specific study abroad programs and how they transfer. Geography and IAP advisors can also help identify programs that offer the equivalent of cartography/GIS and general education and L&S breadth courses, as well as address questions about course equivalencies.

Most cartography/GIS students will take a combination of classes that fulfill the cartography/GIS major breadth, general education, and L&S breadth requirements.

Can honors work be done abroad? 

Students doing honors in the major must write a thesis, which is typically done during the fall and spring semesters of senior year. Honors students who plan to study abroad part or all of their senior year should consult with their faculty thesis advisor about the feasibility of doing thesis work while abroad. Study abroad experiences could potentially offer students fruitful research opportunities that might serve as the basis of an honors project.

Can I do research abroad? 

The department encourages research while abroad, as conducting research in different places is a hallmark of geographic inquiry. Research credit can be earned under GEOG 175 or GEOG 475, depending on the level of rigor of the research. The department does not, however, offer GEOG 699 credit for research done abroad