Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science, BSLAS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major 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 Major in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Please see the computer science advisor as well as the geography advisor.
General education: Students must complete the Campus General Education requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
Minimum required major and supporting course work: Normally equates to 66 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours.
| 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 |
| Mathematics (may also fulfill the General Education QR I and II requirements) | ||
| 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 Coursework - Minimum of 24 hours | ||
| Spatial Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geographic Information Systems II | ||
| Two (2) additional GIS courses from the following list: | 6 | |
| Business Location Decisions | ||
| Environmental Data Science | ||
| Intro to Social Statistics | ||
| Foundations of CyberGIS & Geospatial Data Science | ||
| Geospatial Technologies & Society | ||
| Earth Systems Modeling | ||
| Health Applications of GIS | ||
| Business Applications of GIS | ||
| Aerial Photo Analysis | ||
| Biological Modeling | ||
| 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 | |
| Cities of the World | ||
| Social & Environmental Issues | ||
| Geographies of Global Conflict | ||
| Big Rivers of the World | ||
| Environment and Society | ||
| Sustainability and the City | ||
| Sustainable Development in South Asia | ||
| Water Planet, Water Crisis | ||
| Population Geography | ||
| Watershed Hydrology | ||
| Geography Field Course | ||
| Fluvial Geomorphology | ||
| Humans and River Systems | ||
| Green Development | ||
| Biogeography | ||
| Geography of Health Care | ||
| Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Sustainable Planning Seminar | ||
| Transportation &Sustainability | ||
| Environmental Policy | ||
| Modern Geographic Thought | ||
| Challenges of Sustainability | ||
| Urban Geography | ||
| Cities, Crime, and Space | ||
| Climate & Social Vulnerability | ||
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences Major 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 | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 100 | 1 | CS 128 | 3 |
| CS 124 | 3 | CS 173 | 3 |
| Free elective course | 1 | MATH 220 (or MATH 221) | 5 |
| Geographic Information Science course | 3 | General Education course or Composition I | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | ||
| 12 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 222 | 1 | CS 233 (or CS 340) | 4 |
| CS 225 | 4 | STAT 200 (or STAT 212 or CS 361) | 3 |
| MATH 225 (or MATH 257) | 2 | MATH 231 | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 341 (or CS 400-level course) | 4 | CS 374 | 4 |
| Human and/or Physical Geography course | 3 | CS 400-level course or Free elective course | 3 |
| GGIS 371 | 4 | Human and/or Physical Geography course | 3 |
| GGIS 379 | 4 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| 18 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| CS 421 | 3 | Geographic Information Science course | 3 |
| GGIS 380 | 4 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 |
| General Education Course | 3 | Free elective course | 3 |
| Free elective course | 2 | Free elective course | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
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 Major in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science
Computer Science Degree information: CS + X Degrees
Geography & Geographic Information Science information: CS + GGIS
Department of Geography & GIS homepage
Geography & GIS email: ggis-advisor@illinois.edu
Computer Science email: undergrad@cs.illinois.edu
Overview of college admissions & requirements: Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of LAS homepage
The Grainger College of Engineering homepage
Please consult with advisors in both Computer Science and Geography & GIS.