University Bulletin
Undergraduate Degree Programs
GEOG 361
Cartography--Maps and Map Construction (3) The art and science of creating small-scale maps as a medium for communication and research.
GEOG 361
GEOG 361 Cartography - Maps and Map Construction (3)
(BA) This course meets the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements.
Mapping is crucial to exploring and understanding distributions of geographic phenomena. It is also an important phase of many database-intensive analyses because a map is often the best way to visualize results and show them to others. Emphases in this course will be on designing and producing both thematic and reference maps that use symbols and visual hierarchies which allow the content of the maps to be readily understood. In addition to principles of graphic design, students learn about map projections, generalization, and data classification, with the objective of becoming proficient mapmakers. Hands-on computer work for lab sections will involve working with varied digital data sources using GIS software. Maps are often built from existing data created by government mapping agencies, stored as geographic information systems (GIS) databases, and based on remotely-sensing imagery. The prerequisite for GEOG 361 is the 100-level mapping course covering basic principles of these technologies and data sources. The course is typically offered once a year. Evaluation is based on written exams and mapping projects that students produce to map location information and represent social and environmental data.
Note : Class size, frequency of offering, and evaluation methods will vary by location and instructor. For these details check the specific course syllabus.