University Bulletin
Undergraduate Degree Programs
GEOG 160
(GS)
Mapping Our Changing World (3) Fundamental concepts of GIS, cartography, remote sensing, and GPS in the context of environmental and social problems.
GEOG 160
GEOG 160 Mapping Our Changing World (3)
(GS)
(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
Mapping involves producing and using geographic data. Geographic data specify the locations and characteristics of people, the objects people create, and the various phenomena of the natural environment with which people interact. Geographic data are produced by several methods, including land surveying, aerial photography and photogrammetry, satellite remote sensing and positioning systems, and social surveys such as those conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Geographic information systems (GIS) and related technologies are used to turn data into maps, tables, and other kinds of information people need to make informed decisions. In a rapidly changing world, detailed, up-to-date geographic data are indispensable for governance, for commerce, and for research intended to improve our understanding of social and environmental systems. GEOG 160 helps students begin to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that constitute geographic information literacy - the ability to "recognize when information is needed and ... to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information" (ALA 1989). Geographic information science (GIScience) is a research enterprise concerned with the design, development, and use of geographic information technologies to help institutions and individuals not only respond to, but ideally to predict, environmental and social change. GEOG 160 is an introduction to GIScience that provides students with the technical and contextual knowledge they need to become knowledgeable consumers of geographic data and information produced by government agencies, industry, and popular media. The course is intended to be of value not only to future specialists in the geographic information enterprise, but also to every student who is concerned with social and environmental research and policy-making. The course consists of two 50-minute weekly meetings of the entire class (typically 120-160 students per semester at University Park) and one 50-minute weekly meeting of laboratory sections composed of not more than 24 students each. Meetings of the entire class include instructor presentations, discussions, and hands-on activities. Laboratory sessions include workshops in which student leadership teams (under the supervision of graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate teaching interns) guide peers through the mastery of skills and concepts targeted in six project assignments. Most project assignments culminate in reports that students "publish" in personalized e-portfolios. Like other information technologies, GIS is evolving rapidly. People who work with GIS understand that learning is a way of life, not just a prelude to a career. With this in mind, GEOG 160 aims not only to help students learn about geography and GIS, but also to develop the disposition to become effective lifelong learners. The course text is a six-module online course called "Understanding Geographic Data" that was authored by the lead faculty member, and is published on the Virtual Campus of the world's leading GIS software vendor, ESRI Inc. (http://campus.esri.com). The course consists of text, graphics, animations and interactive models, "site visits" to relevant Web-based mapping services and organizations, and automated self-tests. The author has waived royalties so that Penn State students can access the text free of charge.
Note : Class size, frequency of offering, and evaluation methods will vary by location and instructor. For these details check the specific course syllabus.