Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Everything happens somewhere, and Illinois is the national leader in CyberGIS — the use of high-performance, large-scale computing to answer geospatial questions. Students in CS + Geography & Geographic Information Science will develop advanced programming skills to deal with geospatial data and create new methods and tools to analyze that data. The CS + GGIS, a blended bachelor's degree, is a partnership between the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering and the Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. As part of the computing community at Illinois, you will benefit from being part of a top-five-ranked Computer Science program with world-class faculty and research.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Please see the computer science advisor as well as the geography advisor.
Graduation Requirements
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 67 hours. Twelve (12) hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300 and 400 level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree, including courses outside of GGIS. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement. The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a language other than English, or completion of the third semester in two different languages other than English is required) | 0-20 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation & Professional Development | ||
| Design Your First Year Experience | ||
| or | ||
| Success in LAS for International Students and Design Your First Year Experience | ||
| or | ||
| Transfer Advantage | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Computer Science Courses: | ||
| CS 100 | Computer Science Orientation (recommended; CS 100 is an orientation course aimed at first-year students, so students who declare the major after the freshman year are not required to complete it.) | 1 |
| CS 124 | Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| CS 128 | Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 173 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CS 225 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 222 | Software Design Lab | 1 |
| Choose one of the following combinations | 8-11 | |
| Computer Architecture and System Programming | ||
| OR | ||
| Introduction to Computer Systems | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Statistical Analysis | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Probability & Statistics for Computer Science (recommended) | ||
| CS 374 | Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation | 4 |
| CS 421 | Programming Languages & Compilers | 3 or 4 |
| Required Mathematics Courses: | ||
| MATH 220 | Calculus | 5 |
| or MATH 221 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 225 | Introductory Matrix Theory | 2 or 3 |
| or MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| Required Geographic Information Science Courses: | 24-28 | |
| GGIS 371 | Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GGIS 379 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| GGIS 380 | Geographic Information Systems II | 4 |
| Two (2) additional GIS courses from the following list: | 6-8 | |
| Business Location Decisions | ||
| Intro to Social Statistics | ||
| Enterprise GIS | ||
| Geographic Information Science and Systems | ||
| CyberGIS & Geospatial Data Science | ||
| Geospatial Technologies & Society | ||
| Earth Systems Modeling | ||
| Health Applications of GIS | ||
| Aerial Photo Analysis | ||
| Digital Cartography & Map Design | ||
| Environmental Remote Sensing | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing | ||
| Techniques of Remote Sensing | ||
| Advanced Topics in GIS | ||
| Principles of Geographic Information Science | ||
| Programming for GIS | ||
| Two (2) human and/or physical geography courses: | 6-8 | |
| Cities of the World | ||
| Social & Environmental Issues | ||
| Landscapes, Ecosystems and Environmental Change | ||
| Geographies of Global Conflict | ||
| Big Rivers of the World | ||
| Geopolitics & Technology | ||
| Environmental Data Science | ||
| People, Places, and Environments of the US | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Sustainability and the City | ||
| Water Planet, Water Crisis | ||
| Population Geography | ||
| Watershed Hydrology | ||
| Geography Field Course | ||
| Fluvial Geomorphology | ||
| Humans and River Systems | ||
| Green Development | ||
| Urban Geographies of Migration | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Geography of Health Care | ||
| Sustainable Planning Seminar | ||
| Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Ecohydraulics | ||
| Transportation &Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Modern Geographic Thought | ||
| Challenges of Sustainability | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Advanced Topics in Geography | ||
| Climate & Social Vulnerability | ||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Sample Sequence
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| LAS 101 | 1 |
| CS 100 | 1 |
| CS 124 | 3 |
| MATH 220 or 221 | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 | |
| First Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 128 | 3 |
| CS 173 | 3 |
| MATH 231 | 3 |
| General Education Course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| CS 222 | 1 |
| CS 225 | 4 |
| MATH 225 or 257 | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 | |
| Second Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 233 or 340 | 4 |
| STAT 200, 212, or CS 361 | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| CS 341 (or CS 4xx if CS 340 was chosen) | 4 |
| GGIS 371 | 4 |
| GGIS 379 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | |
| Total Hours 15 | |
| Third Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 374 | 4 |
| Human and/or Physical Geography Course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 16 | |
| Total Hours 16 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours |
| Human and/or Physical Geography Course | 4 |
| CS 421 | 3 |
| GIS Course Elective | 3 |
| GGIS 380 | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| 17 | |
| Total Hours 17 | |
| Fourth Year | |
|---|---|
| Second Semester | Hours |
| GIS Course Elective | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course (or CS 4xx if CS 340 was chosen) | 4 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| 13 | |
| Total Hours 13 | |
Total Hours: 120
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Learning Outcomes
- Geographic Understanding
- GGIS students will understand the interconnectedness of places and scales in human-environmental systems, including the sustainability of those systems.
- Spatial Patterns and Processes
- GGIS students will be able to analyze spatial patterns, distributions, processes, and connections within and among different human-environmental systems, using qualitative, quantitative, computational, and/or spatial methods of research appropriate to their level of training and their field of geographic inquiry.
- Problem-Solving and Communication
- GGIS students will be able to formulate and conduct geographic analyses and communicate the results in verbal, written, and visual form.
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Geography & Geographic Information Science
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Major in Computer Science & Geography & GIS, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science Concentration, BSLAS
- Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography Concentration, BSLAS
For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science
Geography & Geographic Information Science information: CS + GGIS
Geography & GIS email: ggis-advisor@illinois.edu
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences
The Grainger College of Engineering
Computer Science Degree information: CS + X Degrees
Computer Science email: undergrad@cs.illinois.edu
Please consult with advisors in both Computer Science and Geography & GIS.