Course Form
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
Anthropology
Course Title
GIS in Archaeology
Prefix and Course #
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
GIS in Archaeology
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New Course
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Requestor:
John Douglas
Phone/ email :
X 4246
Program Chair/Director:
John Douglas
Other affected programs
ANTY 452
Date
Dean:
Are other departments/programs affected by this
Please obtain signature(s) from the
modification because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial):
YES
NO

Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if
course is interdisciplinary. (http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp)
If YES: Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with existing course(s)? Please indicate
equivalent course/campus. 
If NO: Course may be unique, but is subject to common course review. Be sure to include learning outcomes
on syllabus or paste below. The course number may be changed at the system level.
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and techniques by archaeologists and
anthropologists. Course topics will include data acquisition, management, and analysis as well as
cartography and graphical display of analytical results. Integration of real world examples will complement
lectures and exercises.
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
UG 452 GIS in Archaeology 3 cr. Prereq., ANTY 250S. Anthropological and archaeological data
acquistion, management, and analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and
techniques.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
As a department that seeks to provide students with the practical tools needed for future employment and
research, providing targeted training in Geographic Information Systems GIS is needed for contemporary
students. Archaeology is inherently spatial, and GIS is a basic tool for interpreting spatial data, both for
research and resource management. A Google search of “Archaeology+GIS” came up with over 3 million
hits.
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No.
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
Graduate students will be given a data set from an archaeological site and will be required to conduct a spatial
analysis. The results of this spatial analysis will be presented in a 5 to 7 page paper. The goal of this
assignment is to familiarize graduate students with an additional set of tools that they will likely use during
their career.
Complete for Co-convented courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20 http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by
Administration and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific
conditions according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf .
Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
Co-convened
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
YES
NO

From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary
program initiates
form)
Is there a fee associated with the
course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/default.aspx.
5. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether this change will eliminate the course’s common course
status.
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/
grad_council/procedures/default.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
YES NO
Have you reviewed the graduate
increment guidelines? Please check (X)
space provided.
7. Other programs affected by the change
8. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information (must include learning outcomes)
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Revised 8-23-11
Anthropology 452
Geospatial Technologies in Archaeology
Wintersession 2012
Instructor: Todd M. Ahlman
Email: todd.ahlman@umontana.edu or tahlman@hrassoc.com
Meeting Time: 9:10-12:00
Location: SSH258
Course objective: The purpose of this course is to expose students to the variety of Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) tools and techniques available to archaeologists and anthropologists. Course topics will include data
acquisition, management, and analysis as well as cartography and graphical display of analytical results. Integration
of real world examples will complement lectures and exercises.
Optional textbook:
Ormsby, Tim, Eileen Napoleon, Robert Burke, Carolyn Groessl, and Laura Bowden
2010
Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop, Second Edition, Updated for ArcGIS 10. ESRI Press.
http://esripress.esri.com/display/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&websiteID=177&moduleID=0
Includes 180-day trial of ArcGIS software
Reading materials (available online):
Wheatley, David, and Mark Gillings.
2002
Spatial Technology and Archaeology: the Archaeological Applications of GIS. Taylor & Francis, London and New
York.
Wescott, Konnie L. and R. Joe Brandon
1999
Practical Applications of GIS for Archaeologists: A Predictive Model Toolkit. CRC Press, New York.
ESRI, Inc.
2009 GIS Best Practices: GIS in Archaeology. http://www.esri.com/library/bestpractices/archaeology.pdf.
Plus articles and electronic documents to be assigned.
Assignments and Grading: For Undergraduates, your class grade will be based on class participation, 6 short
assignments, 2 mid-sized assignments, and one final project that will involve an in-class presentation. For graduates,
your class grade will include all the work that undergraduates are required to complete as well as conduct a spatial
analysis and present the results in a written paper.
Class Participation (2 points per class for a total of 26 points): I expect you to attend class, but class attendance is
not mandatory, and to be involved in classroom discussion. In addition, I will give you time during the class period
to finish the assignments and you will be expected to be in class during this time (or until you finish the assignment).
Short assignments (10 points each for a total of 60 points): These will involve short skill-based assignments that we
discuss in class and can likely be completed during the class period free time.
Mid-sized assignments (25 points each for a total of 50 points): These assignments will involve using multiple skills
learned in the short assignments as well as expanding your GIS knowledge.
Final project and presentation (110 points): This project will be a culmination of class and should involve several
aspects of the different research topics and GIS skills we discussed during the class. A 5-10 minute in class
presentation of this research will also be required.
Graduate assignment (50 points): Graduate students will be given a data set from an archaeological site and will be
required to conduct a spatial analysis. The results of this spatial analysis will be presented in a 5 to 7 page paper. The
goal of this assignment is to familiarize graduate students with an additional set of tools that they will likely use
during their career.
Scoring Scale: 90-100 percent = A
80-90 percent = B
70-80 percent = C
60-70 percent = D
Less than 59.9 percent = F
Course topics and schedule:
January 3:
Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS)
GIS data types and sources
Archaeology and GIS
ESRI 2009
January 4:
Anthropological questions and GIS
Basics of ArcGIS I
Wheatley and Gillings Chapter 1
University of Arkansas Sections 1 and 2
January 5:
Basics of ArcGIS II
GIS data acquisition
Wheatley and Gillings Chapters 2 and 3
January 6:
Making Maps
Doing historical research with maps and GIS
University of Arkansas Section 6
January 9:
2D and 3D data and mapping
Wheatley and Gillings Chapter5
January 10: Identifying patterns
Spatial queries
University of Arkansas Sections 3, 4, and 5
Wheatley and Gillings Chapter 4, 6, and 11
Kintigh 1990 Intrasite spatial analysis: a commentary on major methods
January 11: Point data and interpolation
Wheatley and Gillings Chapter 9
January 12: GIS project development
January 13: Landscape Modeling
Spatial Modeling
Wheatley and Gillings Chapters 4 and 5
Moyes 2002 The use of GIS in the spatial analysisof an archaeological cave site.
(http://www.caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/V64/v64n1-Moyes.pdf)
Whitley and Hicks 2001Using a geographic information system approach to extract potential prehistoric
and historic travel corridors in north Georgia (http://www.brockington.org/research/papers/SEAC2001WhitleyandHicks.pdf)
January 16: No Class-MLK Day
January 17: Predictive modeling I
Wescott and Brandon Chapters 1-5
Minnesota DOT model: http://www.mnmodel.dot.state.mn.us/
January 18: Predictive modeling II
Wescott and Brandon Chapters 6-9
Viewshed analysis
Wheatley and Gillings Chapter 10
Van Leusen, P. M. (2002). Methodological Investigations into the Formation and Interpretation of Spatial
Patterns in Archaeological Landscapes, Ch. 6.
(http://dissertations.ub.rug.nl/FILES/faculties/arts/2002/p.m.van.leusen/ch6.pdf)
January 19: Open lab for presentations and assignments
January 21: Presentations