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Geographic Information Systems for Health and the Environment


Course Description

Students with basic Geographic Information Systems (GIS) skills will advance their knowledge and techniques to better conduct GIS research on health and the environment. Course modules include advanced GIS analysis and modeling, GIS methods and application for health and environmental data, literature discussion, and class project.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be assigned additional reading and discussion activities, more complex analytical and writing assignments, and additional questions on tests.


Athena Title

GIS for Health and Environment


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in GEOG 4571E or GEOG 6571E


Undergraduate Prerequisite

Basic GIS knowledge and skills


Graduate Prerequisite

Basic GIS knowledge and skills


Undergraduate Pre or Corequisite

GEOG 4370/6370-4370L/6370L or GEOG 4370E/6370E


Semester Course Offered

Offered spring


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

The expected learning outcomes are to provide students with advanced hands-on GIS analysis skills to tackle problems in health and the environment and to stimulate students’ critical spatial thinking on the general topic of Geographic Information Science (GIScience) and health.


Topical Outline

1)GIS developments in health and the environment from a spatial analysis perspective. 2)Data and other resources in health and environmental research. 3)GIS analysis and modeling for problems in health and the environment. 4)Social and health disparities. 5)Advanced GIS skills including, but not limited to: spatial clustering, geostatistical analysis, network analysis, tracking analysis, and computational geometry. 6)Using social media and online tools for research in GIS and health. 7)GIS scholar paper discussion and critique.