Geographic Information Science, B.A./M.R.C.P.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 149

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 40


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 3.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 3.00

Program Code: A450/F817 Q272

Undergraduate Requirements

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Core
GIS 2023Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping3
GEOG 1113The Language of Maps3
GEOG 1123Introduction to Geohumanities3
GEOG 3773Geography of the United States3
GIS 5013Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems 13
GIS 4253GIS Applications3
GEOG 4893Research Methods and Professional Development3
GEOG 4953Capstone3
Remote Sensing
Choose two of the following:6
Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
Digital Image Processing
Special Topics/Seminar (Remote Sensing)
Advisor-approved elective
Statistics
GEOG 3924Quantitative Methods4
GEOG 4313Interpreting Society and Environment: Qualitative Research Methods3
Computer-Related
Choose one of the following:3
Programming for Non-Majors with C
Introduction to Programming for Meteorology
Computer-Based Information Systems
Introduction to Programming
Applied GIS
Choose one of the following:3
Geographic Information Systems for Land Use Planning
Other advisor-approved course
Total Credit Hours43
1

GIS 5013 counts towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

MAJOR SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS

  • Courses required for major support may not also fulfill University-Wide General Education Requirements.
Advisor-Approved Electives
Choose two advisor-approved courses relevant to the student’s field(s) of study6
Total Credit Hours6

Shared Hours

RCPL 5013History and Theory of Urban Planning 13
RCPL 5063Planning with Diverse Communities 13
RCPL 5203Urban Land Use Controls 13
RCPL 5173Urban and Regional Analysis 13
Total Credit Hours12
1

These 12 hours of Graduate Credit, and GIS 5013 in the major core, count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

MRCP Component

RCPL 5113Urban Planning Research Methods3
Choose one of the following:5
Comprehensive Regional And City Planning Project
Comprehensive RCPL Project: Reporting and Implementation
and Comprehensive RCPL Project: Research and Plan Making
Program Electives21
Total Credit Hours29

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and college requirements must be from the approved General Education course lists at http://www.ou.edu/content/gened/courses.htmlCourses graded P/NP will not apply. 

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

At least three hours of Upper-Division General Education coursework must be completed outside the major.

Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition (6 hours)
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language (0-10 hours)
(0-10 hours) Students who have not completed two years of the same language in high school are required to take two college courses in the same language
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Mathematics (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Mathematics list3
Core Area II: Natural Science (7 hours, 2 courses)
Choose two courses including one laboratory component7
Core Area III: Social Science (6 hours)
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course from the General Education Social Science list3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education Artistic Forms list3
Western Culture (3 hours)
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course from the General Education Western Culture list (excluding HIST 1483 & 1493)3
World Culture (3 hours)
Choose one course from the General Education World Culture list3
Core Area V: First Year Experience (3 hours)
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours37-47

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE B.A. REQUIREMENTS

Humanities and Social Science Electives (3 hours must be Upper-Division)
Choose one course from Arts & Humanities Gen Ed lists3
Choose one course from the Social Science Gen Ed list3
Natural Science Elective
Choose one Gen Ed-approved course with or without a laboratory component3-4
Language
Choose one course at the intermediate level 23
Total Credit Hours12-13
1

If the student successfully places beyond the second intermediate course, the 13 hours of required language will become free electives. 

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees

Total Hours: A minimum of 120 semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed.
Upper-Division Hours: A minimum of 40 upper- division semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed. OU courses numbered 3000 or above are upper- division. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division credit depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • A minimum of two semesters must be spent in residence in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences.
  • At least 36 of the last 48 hours must be completed in residence at OU.

Individual Studies: No more than six hours of independent study or directed readings may be applied toward degree requirements.
Grade Point Averages: Students must earn a minimum overall 3.00 for each of the following: Combined Retention GPA (all college grades), OU Retention GPA, GPA for all major courses, and GPA for all major courses taken at OU.

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and/or Department of Geography academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy university, College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
General Education Mathematics course (Core I) 1 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
GEOG 1113 The Language of Maps 3
GEOG 1123 Introduction to Geohumanities 3
 Credit Hours14
Sophomore
First Semester
GIS 2023 Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping 3
Intermediate Language 3
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
General Education Natural Science with Laboratory (Core II) 1 4
General Education Arts & Humanities elective 1 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
General Education Social Science elective 1 3
General Education Natural Science (Core II) 1 3
General Education Western Culture (Core IV) 1 3
General Education Artistic Forms (Core IV) 1 3
Social Science (Core III) 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
GEOG 3924 Quantitative Methods 4
GIS 5013 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems 2 3
Computer-related course 3
Remote Sensing course 3
General Education World Culture (Core IV) 1 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
GEOG 3773 Geography of the United States 3
GIS 4253 GIS Applications 3
RCPL 5203 Urban Land Use Controls 2 3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Remote Sensing course 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
GEOG 4313 Interpreting Society and Environment: Qualitative Research Methods 3
GEOG 4893 Research Methods and Professional Development 3
RCPL 4463 Geographic Information Systems for Land Use Planning 3
RCPL 5013 History and Theory of Urban Planning 2 3
RCPL 5113 Urban Planning Research Methods 3
Natural Science Elective 1 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
GEOG 4953 Capstone 3
RCPL 5173 Urban and Regional Analysis 2 3
Graduate Elective 3
College Elective 3 3
College Elective 3 3
 Credit Hours15
Fifth Year
First Semester
Choose one of the following: 3-5
Comprehensive Regional And City Planning Project
Comprehensive RCPL Project: Research and Plan Making 4
Graduate Elective 3
Graduate Elective 3
Graduate Elective 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
RCPL 5063 Planning with Diverse Communities 3
Graduate Elective 3
Graduate Elective 3
Graduate Elective 3
Choose the following if RCPL 5523 taken in Fall: 0-2
Comprehensive RCPL Project: Reporting and Implementation
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours149
1

To be chosen from the University-Wide General Education Approved Course List. Three hours of general education must be upper-division outside the major.

2

These courses are shared between the undergraduate and graduate degrees. 

3

Six hours of advisor-approved coursework relevant to the student’s field(s) of study.

4

In addition to taking RCPL 5522 in the Spring.