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.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| LAS 101 - Design Your First Year Experience | 1 |
| CS 100 - Computer Science Orientation | 1 |
| CS 124 - Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| MATH 220 - Calculus or MATH 221 - Calculus I | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CS 128 - Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 173 - Discrete Structures | 3 |
| MATH 231 - Calculus II | 3 |
| General Education Course or Composition I | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (4th level) | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CS 222 - Software Design Lab | 1 |
| CS 225 - Data Structures | 4 |
| MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory or MATH 257 - Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 13 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CS 233 - Computer Architecture or CS 340 - Introduction to Computer Systems | 4 |
| STAT 200 - Statistical Analysis, STAT 212 - Biostatistics, or CS 361 - Probability & Statistics for Computer Science | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 13 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CS 341 - System Programming (or CS 4xx if CS 340 was chosen) | 4 |
| GGIS 371 - Spatial Analysis | 4 |
| GGIS 379 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| CS 374 - Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation | 4 |
| Human and/or Physical Geography Course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Human and/or Physical Geography Course | 4 |
| CS 421 - Programming Languages & Compilers | 3 |
| GIS Course Elective | 3 |
| GGIS 380 - Geographic Information Systems II | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | 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 |
| Semester 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.