Geographic Information Science, B.S.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 121

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 40


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.25

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.25

Program Code: B452

Major Requirements

  • Courses required for the major may also fulfill University-Wide General Education Requirements.
Core
GIS 2023Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping3
GEOG 3773Geography of the United States3
GIS 4013Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems3
GIS 4253GIS Applications3
GIS 4453Advanced GIS and Spatial Analysis3
GIS 4653Spatial Programming and GIS3
GEOG 4893Research Methods and Professional Development3
GEOG 4953Capstone3
Remote Sensing
Choose 6 hours (2 courses) from the following:6
Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
Digital Image Processing
Special Topics/Seminar (Remote Sensing)
Statistics
GEOG 3924Quantitative Methods4
GIS 4923Spatial Statistics3
Computer Related
Choose 3 hours from the following:3
Programming for Non-Majors with Python
Programming for Non-Majors with C
Introduction to Programming for Meteorology
Computer-Based Information Systems
Introduction to Programming
Total Credit Hours40

Major Support Requirements

  • Courses required for major support may not also fulfill University-Wide General Education Requirements.
Cognate
Choose four courses in the same area, to be chosen from the following: economics, geography, geology, journalism, meteorology, political science, psychology, regional & city planning, sociology, or another advisor-approved area12
Upper-Division Science Electives
Choose a minimum of 15 hours of 3000-4000- level courses in botany, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, management information systems, meteorology, microbiology or physics15
Total Credit Hours27

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and college requirements must be from the approved General Education course list 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 in the same language) 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 (minimum 3 hours)
MATH 1743Calculus I for Business, Life and Social Sciences 1, 23
or MATH 1823 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
Core Area II: Natural Science (minimum 7 hours)
CHEM 1315General Chemistry (Science with Lab) 15
PHYS 2414General Physics for Life Science Oriented Majors 14
or PHYS 2514 General Physics for Engineering and Science Majors
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 (6 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 & HIST 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 Hours39-49
1

College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences requirements.

2

MATH 1914 will also fulfill the College's calculus requirement.

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS

PHYS 2424General Physics for Life Science Oriented Majors4
or PHYS 2524 General Physics for Engineering and Science Majors
Total Credit Hours4

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to 121 including 40 upper-division hours.

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 2.25 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 Geoinformatics Program academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy university, College of Atmospheric & Geographic Sciences, and Geographic Information Science major requirements.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
CHEM 1315 General Chemistry (Core II) 5
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
MATH 1823
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
or Calculus I for Business, Life and Social Sciences
3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 1
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
First Year Experience (Core V) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 4
 Credit Hours16
Sophomore
First Semester
PHYS 2414
General Physics for Life Science Oriented Majors
or General Physics for Engineering and Science Majors
4
GIS 2023 Introduction to Spatial Thinking and Computer Mapping 3
Social Science (Core III) 1 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 1 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
PHYS 2424
General Physics for Life Science Oriented Majors
or General Physics for Engineering and Science Majors
4
GEOG 3773 Geography of the United States 3
Cognate Course 2 3
Computer Related Course 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 1 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior
First Semester
GEOG 3924 Quantitative Methods 4
GIS 4013 Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems 3
Remote-Sensing Course Requirement 3
Cognate Course 2 3
Upper Division Science Elective 3 3
 Credit Hours16
Second Semester
GIS 4253 GIS Applications 3
Remote-Sensing Course Requirement 3
Cognate Course 2 3
Upper Division Science Elective 3 3
World Culture (Core IV) 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Senior
First Semester
GIS 4653 Spatial Programming and GIS 3
GIS 4923 Spatial Statistics 3
GEOG 4893 Research Methods and Professional Development 3
Cognate Course 2 3
Upper Division Science Elective 3 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
GEOG 4953 Capstone 3
GIS 4453 Advanced GIS and Spatial Analysis 3
Upper Division Science Elective 3 3
Upper Division Science Elective 3 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours121
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

Choose four courses in the same area, to be chosen from the following: economics, geography, geology, journalism, meteorology, political science, psychology, regional & city planning, sociology, or another advisor-approved area.

3

Choose a minimum of 15 hours of 3000-4000- level courses in botany, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, management information systems, meteorology, microbiology or physics.