Geospatial Analysis

Degree: B.S., Geography
Department of Geography

The Geography Department hosts two majors and a certificate in Geographic Information Science. The major in Geography leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree and the major in Geospatial Analysis leads to the Bachelor of Science degree.

Geography is the study of the interaction between people and their environments, both natural and human. Geographers examine the places and regions resulting from such interaction and analyze the spatial characteristics of all manner of cultural, economic, political, and physical processes and relationships. 

Students in the Geospatial Analysis major take foundational thematic geography courses, and specialize in geospatial technologies. Geospatial Analysis majors may study geographic information systems, spatial analysis, remote sensing, the global navigation satellite positioning system, web-GIS and GIS programming. Students will tailor their interests in geospatial technologies to one or more areas in geography, such as planning, economic development, or environmental studies. Majors are also encouraged to engage in internships, study abroad programs, and undergraduate research. 

Facilities for geographic studies at Mary Washington include well-equipped laboratories for the study and practice of physical geography, GIS, cartography, and remote sensing. The department hosts a chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the International Geography Honorary Society. 

During the senior year qualified students may pursue Honors in Geospatial Analysis by completing an independent research project and writing and defending a thesis.  

The knowledge and skills gained by majoring in Geospatial Analysis position graduates for careers as geospatial specialists in a variety of fields, including government agencies and private businesses, research institutions and health organizations, planning agencies and non-profit institutions. 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will understand the key concepts within the integrated discipline of geography.

2. Students will read, interpret, and critique a map.

3. Students will identify, understand, and critique spatial data or evidence, whether qualitative, quantitative, or cartographic.

4. Students will apply a suitable geographical approach, technique, or method within a research project.

5. Students will understand the purpose, meaning, and use of statistics in geographical research and how to apply statistical techniques to real geographical problems.

6. Students will demonstrate intermediate to advanced GIS and cartographic technical skills, including understanding of geodatabases, raster data formats, workflow models, and basic quantitative analysis of spatial data.

7. Students will communicate effectively about concepts of object-oriented programming, demonstrate the ability to automate GIS workflows with ArcPy, ArcGIS API for Python, and other Python libraries, and apply their coding skills to solving real-world GIS problems.

Major Requirements

A minimum of 45-47 credits in Geography, Geographic Information Science, and related fields.

Go to Certificate in Geographic Information Science for information about the Geographic Information Science Certificate. 

General Education Requirements

The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Fine Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.F.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.

Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of B.L.S general education requirements.

Electives

Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.F.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the B.L.S. degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.F.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.

Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits

Plan of Study

This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester.

Geography Faculty

Melina A. Patterson, Chair
Dawn S. Bowen, Career Advisor

Professors

Dawn S. Bowen
Caitlin C. Finlayson
Stephen P. Hanna
Farhang Rouhani

Associate Professors

Jacqueline Gallagher
Marco Millones Mayer
Joseph W. Nicholas
Melina A. Patterson
Ping Yin