GEO 2800:
Intermediate Geographic Information Science

Spring 2025 Syllabus   Professor: Tad Spencer Email: tad.spencer@Snow.edu Office: Home Office Office hours: By appointment Virtual and During the last hour of lab.

Lectures             Weekly: Video Labs        Held weekly on the Ephraim Campus in the Science building. Room: GrSC 142 Tuesday, 5:30 – 8:30pm Note: For those who cannot make it to the Ephraim campus, you will need to join the lab live using Blue Blue Button

Course description

Geographic Information Systems (or GIS) is the technology used to capture, manage, analyze, and map geographic information. Geographic information is simply information about where something is and what is there: it is information with a location. GIS is used in many different fields, including environmental science, urban planning, wildlife science, epidemiology, climate science, forestry, aquatic science, geology, political science, human geography, environmental engineering, homeland security, transportation planning, among others.

Geographic Information Science (or GIScience) is the science behind the technology of Geographic Information Systems. GIScience studies the underlying theory and building blocks of GIS. GIScientists work to improve knowledge about GIS, its applications, and to address fundamental questions that GIS raises for society.

This course will introduce the fundamental concepts of both geographic information systems and science, including geographic data, mapping, geospatial analysis, and geospatial technologies. The course involves both lectures and hands-on lab activities using ESRI ArcGIS Pro in conjunction with ArcGIS Online.

While you will gain a working knowledge of ArcGIS, the focus of the course is on analytical concepts that are fundamental in any GIS environment. After the successful completion of the course, students should:

1. Understand basic concepts and terminology of geographic data, spatial analysis, geospatial technologies, and cartography
2. Develop skills in the operation of GIS software
3. Be able to formulate a research question and implement analytical steps to answer the question using GIS
4. Know how to find and use resources, including sources of geospatial data, to answer questions and solve problems

Prerequisites and expectations

There are no prerequisites for this course, but you should be familiar with the Windows operating system and be able to perform basic tasks such as copying files and folders, editing documents and spreadsheets, navigating websites, and using search engines and online mapping tools (such as Google Maps). As with any college-level course, an understanding of basic mathematics and statistics is required. You will be expected to write professionally with proper spelling and grammar.

Course materials

Required text

Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems. Eider Press. (Book available at the Snow College campus store or online https://SnowBookStore.com) Sixth edition (2019).

USB Drive

You will need a high-speed USB drive to store data and documents in the computer labs. The lab computers do not save data or files between sessions; Therefore, you must save your maps and data to a personal USB drive if you wish to retain these files. Save and back up your data often!

Canvas

We will use Canvas (snow.instructure.com) throughout the course for announcements, submitting assignments, online discussions, and grade reporting. It is your responsibility to use the Canvas system. Questions about Canvas can be directed to the support team (ttc@snow.edu, 435-283-7341).

Computer Hardware and Software

A personal computer is not required for this course, but one can be useful. Lab assignments will be based on ArcGIS Pro version 3.1.

An ArcGIS Pro student license is available for students who wish to use ArcGIS on their own computers. Please see Canvas for instructions. Note that ArcGIS is only compatible with the Windows operating system. If you have a Mac, you will need to install Boot Camp or a virtual Windows machine such as Parallels, Vmware, or Virtual Box.

 

Course structure

Lectures (On ZOOM)

The class will consist of a recorded lecture each week. The lectures will include a presentation on the topic for that week, and a demonstration of GIS principles related to the topic. The lecture is intended to informative of the real life application of GIS principles, as such, attention to the lectures is essential to your learning in this course.

Readings

Readings will be assigned for each week of lecture sessions. It is your responsibility to complete the readings listed on the course schedule before completing any of the assignments.

Quizzes (15%)

There will be 10-15 quizzes during the semester. Quizzes will cover material from the weekly reading assignments.

The lowest two quiz grades (including missed quizzes) will be dropped from your final grade.

Labs/Projects (60%)

Lab assignments are a core requirement of this course as such, they are going to be directly attached to and part of the Final Project and therefore critical for your final grade. See section “Labs” below for more details.

Final project (25%)

In the final lab project you will have the opportunity to showcase the skills and concepts you have learned during the semester. Unlike the lab assignments for which detailed instructions are provided, the final project will be mostly self-directed.

Grading scale

Grade	A	A–	B+	B	B–	C+	C	C–	D+	D	F
%	94-100	90-93	87-89	84-86	80-84	77-79	74-76	70-73	67-69	60-66	< 60

Rubric

Students will be responsible for the following work:

	Percent of grade
Lab\Projects	60%
Quizzes	15%
Final Project	25%
	100%

Labs

Each student must be enrolled in a lab session. The lab is intended to provide time for hands-on experience working with GIS software to complete the lab assignments. I will be available during the lab to answer questions. For most lab assignments, students will also need to work outside of lab period to complete the assignment.

Lab attendance

The lab portion of this course is critical. You cannot learn GIS by only attending the lecture. If you need some extra help completing an assignment, please ask for help. Feel free to use the chat portion of Canvas to collaborate with fellow students and ask questions. Working in the GIS field is about collaborating with fellow professionals. 

Lab assignments

Lab exercises have been created to introduce you to the fundamental tools of ArcGIS, teaching you to think and problem solve spatially, and to be resourceful when troubleshooting problems. Assignment types will vary depending on the week and subject matter being covered; however, assignments will generally require some research, time in the lab, and information portrayed in your own words. Lab assignments will be introduced each week in the video lectures. Written instructions and data files are posted on Canvas. As a general rule each assignment will be due by Monday at midnight the following week.

Lab exercises will not always be finished within the lab period. Late assignments will be penalized according to the late work policy for the course (below). However, it is better to turn labs in late rather than not turn them in at all. Each lab exercise builds on knowledge and skills acquired in previous assignments. Assignments get progressively more complex and instructions become less detailed throughout the semester. You cannot afford to get behind.

You will submit lab exercises on Canvas. Individual feedback will be provided on Canvas; individual comments will be provided on the grading rubric associated with each exercise. The feedback provided is designed in part to help the student improve their cartography and presentation style, which is a critical component of effectively presenting GIS results.

Lab assignments will be graded not only on providing the “correct” answers, but also on your ability to clearly and professionally express information through text and graphics.

Lab Grading

Grading rubrics for each lab can be found under the individual assignment page on Canvas. Specific grading criteria are listed with the associated points each criteria is worth.

Lab Help

Schedule a time to meet with me to go over any needs or questions that you may have with the lab, weekly assignment, or the final project.

Computer labs with ArcGIS Pro

Outside of lab time the following locations are available to work on a campus computer:

It is your responsibility to have a personal computer with ArcGIS Pro installed or to find out which Snow College campus computer have ArcGIS Pro installed.

Course policies

Attendance and participation

Attending each lecture and lab session is necessary to achieve a satisfactory grade in this course. If you miss class, do not e-mail the instructor to ask what you missed. It is your responsibility to obtain materials or notes from other students and Canvas.

Late work

It is your responsibility to turn in all work on time. I will post due dates on each individual assignment, but there will not be any deductions for late work. I want you to pace yourself and keep up with the work. Use the deadlines to keep that pace. The final deadline for all the work is going to be the last day of class.

If you have unforeseen circumstances (such as a medical or family emergency) that affect your participation in the course please communicate as soon as possible with the instructor to arrange an alternate plan for completing your course work.

Academic Honesty

Students are expected to produce original work. Plagiarism or falsification of any kind will be subject to disciplinary action. Offences will be referred to Snow College Admissions office. The Snow College policy for academic honesty can be found at: https://snow.edu/catalog/academic_policies.html. Please review this document to understand the Snow College policy on academic honesty. If you have questions or concerns about the policy, please contact your instructor or academic advisor.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes knowingly “representing, by paraphrase or direct quotation, the published or unpublished work of another person as one's own in any academic exercise or activity without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged used of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.” The penalties for plagiarism are severe. They include warning or reprimand, grade adjustment, probation, suspension, expulsion, withholding of transcripts, and denial or revocation of degrees.

Students with Disabilities

The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) is designed to provide all individuals with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), appropriate academic adjustments, reasonable accommodations, and/or auxiliary aids where necessary to allow equal opportunity to participate and enjoy the benefit of services, programs and activities conducted by Snow College. To apply for services, the student must contact the ADA Coordinator to set up an in-person appointment by calling 435-283-7321 or visiting the coordinator’s office in the Student Success Office of the Greenwood Student Center (GSC) Room 247.  See the links below
Process for setting up accommodations: (all 3 links must be completed)

• Request Accommodations Form 

• Link for Documentation form

• Schedule An Appointment