EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
TYPE OF REVISION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.)
Course Number/Subject Code
x
Course Title
REQUEST FOR COURSE REVISIONS
Credit Hours
x
Course Description
Prerequisite/Corequisite
Restriction
DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL: GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY______________________COLLEGE: ARTS AND SCIENCES
CONTACT PERSON: HUGH SEMPLE________________________________________________________________________________
CONTACT PHONE: 487-8169
CONTACT EMAIL: HSEMPLE@EMICH.EDU
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM - FALL__________YEAR - 2012__________
DIRECTIONS: COMPLETE SECTION A AND SECTIONS B1a, B2a, B3a B4a, B11, B12 AND B13. COMPLETE ONLY THE REMAINING PARTS OF
SECTION B THAT CONCERN THE REVISIONS CHECKED ABOVE. FOR ASSISTANCE CONTACT THE COURSE AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE.
A. Rationale for Revision:
GEOG 480, Geographic Information Systems Project, is being renamed “GIS Customization and Programming” and
will be restructured. Formerly, this course provided students in the GIS Minor with the opportunity to develop an
independent research in a major area of GIS. However, the GIS Minor does not have any course in GIS customization
and programming, areas that continue to have the highest demand for GIS graduates. Due to the high demand for
students with skills in GIS programming and customization, it is felt that a course that provides education and skills in
these areas have higher priority in terms of meeting student needs than a GIS independent research course.
Opportunities for independent research in GIS applications will be included in GEOG 376, GEOG 476, and GEOG
480. The emphasis of the course is on concepts and techniques for constructing tools to solve geographic problems not
easily solved using out-of-the-box GIS functionalities. Students will be exposed to details of both visual programming
as well as the object model of the GIS software.
B. Course Information
1. a) Current Subject Code and Course Number: GEOG 480
b) (If new) Proposed Subject Code and Course Number:
2. a) Current Course Title:
Geographic Information Systems Projects
b) (If new) Proposed Course Title:
3. a) Current Credit Hours: 3
b) (If new) Proposed Credit Hours:
c) (If new)
Miller, Course Revision,
Sept. 09
GIS Customization and Programming
4. a) Current Catalog Description:
A study of different ways in which GIS is being used to resolve problems in the public and private sectors and in
academia. Emphasis is on how GIS technology is being used in areas such as facility management, natural resource
management, urban planning, environmental modeling, historical preservation, geology, health planning, etc. By
working on a number of small, but realistic, projects students learn how to conceptualize GIS solutions to problems and
how to professionally implement GIS projects.
b) (If new) Proposed Catalog Description (Limit to approximately 50 words):
This course is designed for students who are familiar with GIS software at a technical level, but who are new to
programming the software. Emphasis is on learning basic programming structures, studying the object model of the
GIS software, reading and writing usable code for typical GIS tasks, and adding new, simple functionalities to out-ofthe-box GIS software. Prerequisite: GEOG 276 or departmental permission.
5. Method of Delivery (Check all that apply.)
Current
Proposed
a. Standard (lecture/lab) x
a. Standard (lecture/lab) x
On Campus x
Off Campus
On Campus x
b. Fully Online
b. Fully Online
c. Hybrid
c. Hybrid
Off Campus
6. Grading Mode
Current
Normal (A-E)
Proposed
x
Credit/No Credit
Normal (A-E)
x
Credit/No Credit
7. (Complete only if prerequisites are to be changed.) List Current and Proposed Prerequisite Courses by subject code, number and title.
Students must complete prerequisites before they can take this course.
Current:
Proposed:
____________________________________________
8. (Complete only if corequisites are to be changed) List Current and Proposed Corequisite Courses by subject code, number and title.
Students must take corequisite courses at the same time as they are taking this course.
Current:
Proposed:
9. (Complete only if concurrent prerequisites are to be changed.) List Current and Proposed Concurrent Prerequisite Courses by subject
code, number and title. Students must take concurrent prerequisites either before or at the same time as they are taking this course.
Current:
Miller, Course Revision
Sept, ‘09
Proposed:
Page 2 of 4
10. (Complete only if course restrictions are to be changed. Complete only those sections that pertain to the restrictions that are to be
changed.) List Current and Proposed Course Restrictions. Course Restrictions limit the type of students who will be allowed to take the
course.
a. Restriction by College: Check if course is restricted to those admitted to specific college.
Current
Proposed
College of Business:
College of Business:
College of Education:
College of Education:
b. Restriction by Majors/Programs: Check if course is restricted to those in specific majors/programs.
Current
Proposed
Yes
Yes
No
No
If “Yes”, list the majors/programs
c. Restriction by Academic/Class Level: Check all those who will be allowed to take the course as part of their academic program.
Undergraduate
Current
All Undergraduates
Freshperson
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Second Bachelor
Post. Bac. Tchr. Cert.
Graduate
Current
All Graduates
Certificate
Master’s
Specialist
Doctoral
UG Degree Pending
Low GPA Admit
x
Proposed
All Undergraduates
Freshperson
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Second Bachelor
Post. Bac. Tchr. Cert.
x
Proposed
All Graduates
Certificate
Master’s
Specialist
Doctoral
UG Degree Pending
Low GPA Admit
Note: If this is a 400-level course to be offered for graduate credit, attach Approval Form for 400-level Course for Graduate
Credit. Only “Approved for Graduate Credit” undergraduate courses may be included on graduate programs of study.
Note: Only 500-level graduate courses can be taken by undergraduate students. Undergraduate students may not register for
600-level courses
Miller, Course Revision
Sept, ‘09
Page 3 of 4
d. Departmental Permission: (Note: Department permission requires the department to enter authorization for every student
registering.)
Current
Yes
No
Proposed
Yes
No
x
x
11. List all departmental programs in which this course is Required or a Restricted Elective.
Program Geographic Information Systems Minor
Required ___x
Restricted Elective ___ ___
Program ______
Required
Restricted Elective ___ ___
Required
Restricted Elective ___ ___
Program
______________________________
12. Is this course required by programs in other departments?
Yes
No
x
13. If “Yes”, do the affected departments support this change?
Yes
No
If “Yes”, attach letters of support. If “No”, attach letters from the affected department explaining the lack of support, if available.
14. Will the proposed revision increase/decrease credit hours in any program? Yes
No
x
If “Yes”, list the programs and provide an explanation for the increase/decrease, along with a copy of the revised program that includes the new
credit hour total.
C. Action of the Department/School and College
1. Department/School
Vote of faculty:
For
14
Against 0
Abstentions 0
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
Rick Sambrook’s signature
Department Head/School Director Signature
Date 5-31-2011
2. College
College Dean Signature
Date
3. Graduate School (if Graduate Course)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
D. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
Miller, Course Revision
Sept, ‘09
Date
Page 4 of 4