College of Science and Mathematics > School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability > Minors

Minors

Students in all baccalaureate programs who wish to do so may add a minor to their program of study. The courses that make up a minor should be planned with the major advisor and must be approved by the time the student applies for graduation.

Within the fifteen hours (not including pre-requisites) of course work presented for the minor, the student must have a minimum adjusted grade point average of “C,” with no more than three hours of “D” work. A minimum of nine of the fifteen hours must be earned at Georgia Southern University. A maximum of three hours may be taken under the S/U grading system.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Minor (16 hours)

Required Courses:

GEOG 3440 – Introduction to GIS and Cartography (4)
GEOG 4542 – Intermediate GIS (4)
GEOG 5540 – Advanced GIS: Spatial Analysis and Modeling (4)

Also, select one of the following:

GEOG 5441 – Remote Sensing (4)
GEOG 5091 – Applied GIS (4)

Secondary Discipline Concentration

STAT 2232 – Introduction to Statistics II (3)
GEOG 3440 – Introduction to GIS and Cartography (4)
GEOG 5441 – Remote Sensing (4)
GEOG 4542 – Intermediate GIS (4)
GEOG 5540 – Advanced GIS: Spatial Analysis and Modeling (4)

Courses Flow Chart

Begin in the Fall semester:

Fall, Year 1- GEOG 3440 and GEOG 5441
Spring, Year 2- GEOG 4542
Fall, Year 2 – GEOG 5540
Spring, Year 3 – GEOG 5091

Begin in the Spring semester:

Spring, Year 1- GEOG 3440
Fall, Year 1 – GEOG 4542 and GEOG 5441
Spring, Year 2 –
Fall, Year 2 – GEOG 5540
Spring, Year 3 – GEOG 5091

*Other options to finishing the GIS sequence may also be available, please contact our GIS instructors for advice.

GIS Course Descriptions

GEOG 3440 – Intro to GIS and Cartography

4 Credit Hours
2 Lecture hours
4 Lab hours

Prerequisites: None

Course Description: An introduction to the basic concepts, theories, techniques, and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cartography. Students will learn and apply GIS and cartographic concepts to gain extensive hands-on experience in thematic mapping and manipulation of geo-referenced spatial information using GIS software.

Semester(s) Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer (depending on the enrollment)

GEOG 3741 – Remote Sensing

4 Credit Hours
2 Lecture hours
4 Lab hours

Prerequisites: None

Course Description: Introduction to the concepts, theory, collection, analysis and applications of remotely sensed spatial information.

Semester(s) Offered: Fall Semester, odd years only (2011, 2013…)

GEOG 4542 – Intermediate GIS

4 Credit Hours
2 Lecture hours
4 Lab hours

Prerequisites: GEOG 3440 (Minimum Grade of D )

Course Description: An introduction to advanced data models and spatial data analysis functions of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, with an emphasis on the conversion among various GIS data formats and geodatabase construction and management.

Semester(s) Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer (depending on the enrollment)

GEOG 4543 – Advanced GIS

4 Credit Hours
2 Lecture hours
4 Lab hours

Prerequisites: GEOG 4542 (Minimum Grade of D )

Course Description: This course covers the advanced spatial analysis and modeling functions of GIS and offers both fundamental theoretical background and extensive hands-on experience in spatial analysis and modeling. Major topics include network analysis, surface modeling, spatial patterns analysis, spatial data visualization, and basics of spatial statistics.

Semester(s) Offered: Fall, Summer (depending on the enrollment)

GEOG 5091 – Applied GIS

4 Credit Hours
2 Lecture hours
4 Lab hours

Prerequisites: GEOG 4543 (Minimum Grade of D )

Course Description: Applications of advanced GIS design and modeling to a specific topical and/or geographic area. Topics and studies will be varied over time.

Semster(s) Offered: Spring

Visit the following links for more information on Geographic Information Systems (GIS):

Geology Minor

Geology (15 hours)

Prerequisite:

GEOL 1121 – Introduction to the Earth (4)

Minor Program:

Select 8 hours from the following Upper Division (3000 level and above) courses:

GEOL 3541 – Mineralogy (4) and GEOL 3542 – Petrology (4)
GEOL 5141 – Paleontology (4) and GEOL 5142 – Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (4)
GEOL – Any combination of upper level courses (excluding GEOL 5230 and GEOL 5231) that will total at least 7 hours (7)

Additional Minor requirements/Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to take one of the two basic course tracks, either the “hard rock” sequence or the “soft rock” sequence in order to develop strength in at least one area of science.

For individuals seeking teacher certification through MAT, the following list of courses is recommended:

GEOL 3541 – Mineralogy (4)
GEOL 3542 – Petrology and Petrography (4)
GEOL 5142 – Stratigraphy and Sedimentation (4)
GEOL 5440 – Structural Geology (4)

Learn more about the Geography Program at Georgia Southern University.

Geography Minor

Geography (15 hours)

Prerequisites (3-4 hours) Select one of the following:

GEOG 1101 – Introduction to Human Geography (3)
GEOG 1111 – Climate and Landscape (3), and GEOG 1110 – Climate and the Landscape Lab (1)
GEOG 1130 – World Regional Geography (3)

Minor Program:

GEOG – Upper Division Courses (15 hours) (3000 level and above)

For individuals seeking teacher certification through MAT, the following list of courses is recommended:

GEOG 3330 – Weather and Climate (3)
GEOG 3530 – Cultural Geography (3)

Recommended: 9 hours from the following:

GEOG 3130 – Conservation (3)
GEOG 3230 – Economic Geography (3)
GEOG 4130 – Biogeography (3)
GEOG 4232 – Geography of Latin America (3)
GEOG 4233 – Geography of Asia (3)
GEOG 4430 – Geography of Europe (3)
GEOG 5230 – Urban Geography (3)
GEOG 5330 – Population Geography (3)
GEOG 5430 – Political Geography (3)
GEOG 5590 – Field Studies in Geography (6-8)

Environmental Sustainability Interdisciplinary Minor

A total of 15 credit hours are required for the minor.

Minor Requirements

Courses Available

Sustainability Practicum

What is the Sustainability Practicum (SUST 4730)?

This capstone course is required for the completion of the Environmental Sustainability Interdisciplinary Minor. Students will work with a faculty mentor or internship agency to develop and implement sustainability projects in their field of expertise on campus or in the community. Each project will be developed individually with each student and will require 100 hours for completion of the practicum. Projects will be presented in a public forum at the end of the semester. The course is offered through the Institute for Coastal Plain Science at Georgia Southern.

How do I register for it?

You must contact Dr. Daniel Gleason, Director of SEES and the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Sciences to receive the Sustainability Practicum Enrollment (SUST 4730) Form. The form must be completed by Dr. Daniel Gleason and signed by your advisor. Turn the form in to Jessica Keeley in the SEES Main Office (Herty 1110) to be registered for the course. You cannot register without completing the form.

Be sure to contact the Director of SEES and the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Sciences (Dr. Daniel Gleason) to coordinate your practicum project AT LEAST one semester before you plan to take it.

Last updated: 1/5/2024