Apply geographic concepts across human and environmental systems
Degree Program
Geography & Spatial Studies
Geography & Spatial StudiesDegree Program · Human & Social Systems
Geography, Geospatial Intelligence & Spatial Systems
Combines human and physical geography with GIS, remote sensing, LiDAR, cartography, spatial data, and field interpretation.
Program purpose
Bachelor of Science
Students learn to reason spatially, design geospatial analyses, work with earth-observation and location data, and connect spatial patterns to human, environmental, archaeological, and infrastructural processes.
Learning outcomes
What graduates are prepared to do
Program outcomes connect disciplinary knowledge to methods, judgment, communication, and independently evaluated work.
Build, validate, and communicate GIS and remote-sensing analyses
Evaluate spatial data quality, scale, projection, uncertainty, and ethics
Produce geospatial products for research, public, and professional use
Curriculum architecture
How the pathway is organized
Coursework progresses from foundations to methods, integration, and a culminating demonstration of capability.
Foundations
Build the knowledge, skills, and mindset for inquiry.
Application
Apply methods and tools to real-world questions.
Integration
Synthesize across disciplines and perspectives.
Demonstration
Produce and present work that creates impact.
- 01
Geographic and earth-system foundations
- 02
Cartography, GIS, statistics, and programming
- 03
Remote sensing, LiDAR, field methods, and spatial databases
- 04
Applied concentrations in archaeology, environment, infrastructure, or human systems
- 05
Spatial systems capstone
Course sequence
Selected curriculum
GEO-210
Cartography & Spatial Reasoning
Builds foundational spatial thinking and cartographic communication across human, environmental, archaeological, and technical questions.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Spatial Analysis & LiDAR
Uses GIS, terrain models, point clouds, and LiDAR derivatives to investigate landscapes, built environments, archaeology, ecology, and infrastructure.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Earth Materials & Landscape Processes
Studies minerals, rocks, sediments, soils, geomorphic processes, and the material histories recorded in landscapes.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Data Management & Reproducible Research
Develops durable data structures, metadata, versioning, cleaning, provenance, documentation, and reproducible analysis workflows.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Research Computing & Visualization
Uses computational notebooks, scripting, visualization, statistical workflows, and research software practices to analyze and communicate complex evidence.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Climate Systems & Human Adaptation
Connects atmospheric and oceanic processes, climate records, modeling, risk, adaptation, and cultural responses to environmental change.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 3.0
Integrated Human Systems Capstone
Guides a substantial interdisciplinary project that connects human systems, evidence, method, ethics, and a public or professional output.
- Requirement
- Core
- Credits
- 4.0
Learning environments
Field, laboratory & studio work
- GIS and remote-sensing laboratory
- Field mapping and data collection
- LiDAR and point-cloud processing
- Research computing and visualization
Professional directions
Where the capability can lead
- GIS analyst
- Remote-sensing specialist
- Geospatial intelligence and planning
- Environmental and archaeological spatial analysis
- Graduate study in geography and spatial science
Culminating work
Capstone, thesis, dissertation, or professional demonstration
A spatial systems capstone delivers a documented geospatial analysis, operational map product, field study, or decision-support environment.
Admissions preparation
Materials and background
Admissions review considers preparation, purpose, prior work, and the fit between the applicant’s goals and the program.
Secondary-school completion or recognized equivalent
Academic records demonstrating preparation for college-level work
Statement connecting the applicant’s interests to the program
Writing or project sample when relevant to the pathway
Next step
Connect this pathway to your academic goals.
Request information for a focused conversation or begin an application through the Stella Nova Student Information System.