DATA 3530: GIS and Mapping Global Issues

Geographic information systems (GIS) involve creating, storing, retrieving, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data. This 3-credit hour course examines the global impact on social, political, economic, and environmental dynamics when using geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and other geospatial technologies in daily life. Readings and discussions will focus on global affairs, such as critical cartography, GIS integration with social theories, implications for crime, urban planning, scientific research, health, environmental justice, feminist perspectives, and teh intersection of economic development with environmental shifts. This course will also introduce students to foundational concepts and skills in working with spatial data, including finding and creating data, spatial analysis, and GIS-based map production. Specific global affairs topics will be analyzed using ESRIs ArcGIS. Students will gather GIS data, analyze global affairs topics using GIS, and produce their own data projects.

Course Goals

  • Read and discuss key works by scholars of gender, race, sexuality, other inclusion topics pertaining to GIS and global issues.
  • Identify markers of authority recognized by disciplines, professions, and other communities of knowledge and practice.
  • Utilize GIS software to analyze and produce maps that investigate global issues.

This 3 credit hour course satisfies both the "Global Perspectives" and "Social & Behavioral Sciences" Core Curriculum Requirements, has no prerequisites, and is open to all students. Section(s) are taught by CAIDS Professor of Practice, Jacquelyne Thoni Howard.

Prerequisites

This course has no prerequisites.

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