Geospatial Data Science Major, B.S.
The bachelor of science in Geospatial Data Science prepares students to to work in the field of Geospatial Data Science, which has emerged as a distinct and important subfield in Data Science, leveraging data tied to geographic locations on the Earth's surface. Students who complete this degree will gain knowledge, skills, and training the technical aspects of geographic inquiry, which span data science, geographic information science (GISc), and geography. The degree pairs traditional training in GISc (geovisualization, geographic information systems, and remote sensing) with cutting edge applications in big data analysis, cloud computing, Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), machine learning, data mining, and data engineering for automation. The curriculum aims to provide students with a strong foundation in the concepts and theories underlying modern spatial data analytics, critical thinking and reasoning skills, and applied, hands-on training in modern methods and techniques.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the geospatial data science program, students should be able to:
- Understand physical and human geographical phenomena and their interactions (Foundations of Geography).
- Apply sound techniques and methods in GIS, remote sensing, geovisualization, and spatial data science to prepare, process, and analyze geospatial data using GeoAI and machine learning tools on both personal computers and cloud computing platforms with geo-bigdata.
- Apply sound practices in data management, problem-solving, automation, and algorithm development in the context of computer programming and geospatial data.
- Apply sound practices when using mathematical and statistical methods to analyze and interpret geospatial data.
Requirements
In addition to the program requirements, students must
- earn a minimum final cumulative GPA of 2.000
- complete a minimum of 45 academic credit hours earned from UNC–Chapel Hill courses
- take at least half of their major core requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC–Chapel Hill
- earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major core requirements. Some programs may require higher standards for major or specific courses.
For more information, please consult the degree requirements section of the catalog.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| GEOG 110 |  The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth's Environmental Systems H | 3 |
| or GEOG 111 | Weather and Climate | |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Geographies of Globalization | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Development and Inequality: Global Perspectives F | ||
| Geography for Future Leaders | ||
| GEOG 215 | Introduction to Spatial Data Science | 3 |
| GEOG 370 | Geographic Information Science | 3 |
| GEOG 391 | Quantitative Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 392 | Research Methods in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 455 | Cartography and Geovisualization | 3 |
| GEOG 477 | Introduction to Remote Sensing of the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG 491 | Principles of Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| GEOG 515 | Applied Spatial Data Science | 3 |
| Select two courses from the following options: | 6 | |
| Field Methods in Physical Geography | ||
| Geovisualizing Change | ||
| GIS in Public Health | ||
| Geographic Information Systems for Impact Evaluation and Health Studies | ||
| Cartography of the Global South | ||
| Geospatial Data Analysis with Google Earth Engine | ||
| Geographic Information Analysis | ||
| Advanced Remote Sensing | ||
| Scaling Up Geospatial Analysis | ||
| Applied Issues in Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information Science Programming | ||
| Global Positioning Systems and Applications | ||
| Ecological Modeling | ||
| Freshwater Greenhouse Gases | ||
| Select three elective courses from the list below | 9 | |
| Select one of the following capstone or senior thesis options: | 3-6 | |
| Capstone Seminar in Geographic Research | ||
| Honors and Honors | ||
| Additional Requirements | ||
| MATH 231 | Calculus of Functions of One Variable I H, F | 4 |
| or MATH 210 | Mathematical Tools for Data Science | |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Data Science H | ||
| Foundations of Statistics and Data Science H, F | ||
| Introduction to Data Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Data Models and Inference H, F | ||
| Total Hours | 55-59 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Requirement | ||
| Select one course from the following options: | 3 | |
| Ethics of AI and Societal Decision Making H | ||
| Critical Data Literacy | ||
| Communication for Data Scientists | ||
| Geospatial Technologies, Maps, and Society | ||
| Communicating Important Ideas | ||
| Information Visualization | ||
| Select two courses from the following options: | 6 | |
GEOG--- | Any GEOG 300, 400, or 500 course (at least three credits) | |
| Agent-Based Modeling of Social-Ecological Systems | ||
| Anthropological Application of GIS | ||
| Data Structures and Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Programming | ||
| Introduction to Data Structures and Management | ||
| Data Analysis for Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences | ||
| Environmental Systems Modeling | ||
| GIS and Remote Sensing for Earth and Ocean Sciences | ||
| Data Analysis for Earth and Marine Sciences | ||
| Data Analysis and Visualization of Social and Environmental Interactions | ||
| Environmental Applications of Drones | ||
| Temporal GIS and Space/Time Geostatistics for the Environment and Public Health | ||
| Landscape Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Database Concepts and Applications | ||
| Text Mining | ||
| Database Systems II: Intermediate Databases | ||
| Visual Analytics | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| Mathematics for Data Science | ||
| Linear Algebra for Applications F | ||
| Foundations of Decision Sciences | ||
| Methods of Data Analysis H | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| F | FY-Launch class sections may be available. A FY-Launch section fulfills the same requirements as a standard section of that course, but also fulfills the FY-SEMINAR/FY-LAUNCH First-Year Foundations requirement. Students can search for FY-Launch sections in ConnectCarolina using the FY-LAUNCH attribute. |
Special Opportunities in Geography and Environment
Honors in Geography
Qualifying students are encouraged to pursue an honors degree. To gain admission to the honors program students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher and a grade point average of 3.4 or higher in geography courses. Honors students take GEOG 691H and GEOG 692H (honors readings and research and theses hours) with their honors thesis chair in their senior year. Honors study involves the completion of a substantial piece of original research and the formal presentation of the results in an honors thesis and oral defense. Those who successfully complete the program are awarded their B.A. degree with either honors or highest honors in geography.
Departmental Involvement
All students are welcomed and encouraged to attend the department's seminar, held on most Friday afternoons at 3:30 p.m. in Carolina Hall 220. The department sponsors the Carolina Geography and Environment Club, which provides an avenue for student involvement with the department outside of course work (see the club’s Facebook page). Students can also interact with the department through service on the faculty undergraduate committee and through independent research with faculty.
Experiential Education
The department offers several experiential education courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEOG 53 | First-Year Seminar: Battle Park: Carolina's Urban Forest | 3 |
| GEOG 419 | Field Methods in Physical Geography | 3 |
| GEOG 429 | Urban Political Geography: Durham, NC | 3 |
| GEOG 452 | Mobile Geographies: The Political Economy of Migration | 3 |
| GEOG 493 | Internship | 3 |
| GEOG 650 | Technology and Democracy Research | 3 |
| GEOG 691H | Honors | 3 |
| GEOG 692H | Honors | 3 |
Internship
Students can gain course credit by interning with an organization, agency, or business that will augment their classroom learning. The department has an internship coordinator available to assist students in finding internships and to manage participation in the organization’s activities. Internship can be taken with a geography and environment faculty member for academic credit through GEOG 493.
Independent Study
Independent study with a geography and environment faculty member can be taken for academic credit through GEOG 296. Students are responsible for arranging their independent study with a faculty member who will sponsor them for this activity. Students must fill out a learning contract and syllabus in collaboration with the sponsoring faculty member, and then be enrolled by Ms. Nell Phillips, the Student Services Manager, in the department's main office. For more information, contact the individual faculty member or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Professor Shorna Allred.
Undergraduate Research
Research with a geography and environment faculty member can be taken for academic credit through GEOG 295. Students are responsible for arranging their research activities and responsibilities with a faculty member who will sponsor them for this activity. Students must fill out a learning contract with the sponsoring faculty member and then be enrolled by Ms. Nell Phillips, the Student Services Manager, in the department's main office.
Study Abroad
Experiences with other cultures and environments are important to a well-rounded background in geography, and the department thus encourages a study abroad experience. Many of our students study abroad in the Galapagos Islands at the Galapagos Science Center. The department also participates in a junior-year exchange program with King's College London. Many other study abroad programs combine well with a major in geography.
Undergraduate Awards
The Andrew McNally Award is given each spring to an outstanding graduating geography major, as chosen by a committee of the faculty. The department also administers the Melinda Meade Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Geographic Research, the John D. Eyre Service in Geography Award, as well as the John D. Eyre Travel Award, and the Burgess McSwain Travel America Fund, which are open to all geography undergraduates at UNC–Chapel Hill.
Department Programs
Major
Minor
- Climate Change Minor
- Environmental Justice Minor
- Geography Minor
- Geographic Information Sciences Minor
Graduate Programs
Courses
Department of Geography and Environment
205 Carolina Hall, CB# 3220
(919) 962-8901
