UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: FOR 225
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College:
CEFNS
4. Academic Unit:
2
Forestry
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)
Upon the successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
1. A general knowledge of geographic and spatial analysis techniques commonly used in
forest management.
2. Understanding of the relationship between types of spatial data commonly encountered in
forest-related applications.
3. A depth and breadth of understanding of geographic and spatial analysis techniques
relevant to forest management.
4. An awareness of the software and hardware resources available to support geographic and
spatial analysis.
5. The ability to develop a work plan to incorporate geographic and spatial analysis into a
forestry management application demonstrated in class.
6. An awareness of basic spatial statistics and temporal modeling approaches.
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
The intent of this course is to enhance the student learning of computer, GIS applications, and
temporal modeling approaches relevant to forestry and natural resource management.
Hands-on training in ArcGIS Explorer and ArcGIS using forestry and natural resource
management data, specific analysis techniques, and model building exercises that support
the School of Forestry's upper division forest management courses currently do not exist.
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
8. Long course title: GIS TOOLS IN FORESTRY
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title:
Effective Fall 2012
GIS TOOLS IN FORESTRY
Fall 2013
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
This course will train students in basic tools and skills involved with geographic information
systems (GIS) and the ArcGIS system. By the end of the course, the student will have an
understanding of how GIS maps are made, edited, and analyzed. The student will be
introduced to a few spatial problem solving techniques and basic spatial modeling tools. 1hr.
lecture, 3 hrs. lab.
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
No
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
This course will duplicate some material in FOR 425 (Forest Management Applications in GIS),
but no more than 20%. FOR 225 is designed to introduce students to how to use GIS software
and how it can be used in forestry applications. It will be a required course in the B.S.F.
curriculum. FOR 425 will continue to be an optional course and will serve our B.S.F. students
with a particularly strong interest in enhancing their GIS skills by engaging in more in-depth
applications. The overlap between FOR 225 and FOR 425 will be primarily due to “refresher”
content that is likely to be needed in FOR 425. FOR 425 will also continue to serve students in
our 401 outreach program, through which we provide an opportunity for federal agency
employees to further their education by taking courses here at NAU.
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
If yes, include a letter of response from each impacted academic unit.
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Yes
Pass/Fail
No
Both
15. Co-convened with:
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
16a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
16b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
18. Prerequisites:
Effective Fall 2012
NONE
Yes
No
Yes
No
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
19. Co requisites:
NONE
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
No
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
Dr. Stephen M. Dewhurst, Dr.
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course: Andi Thode
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
22. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
No
23. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
No
Scott Galland
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
11/29/2012
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/ Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC/ECCC Approval
Effective Fall 2012
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
GIS TOOLS IN FORESTRY
FOR 225
General Information:
College and Department: College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences; School of
Forestry
Course prefix, number, and title: FOR 225, GIS Tools in Forestry
Semester in which course will be offered: Spring Semester (even and odd years)
Credit hours: 2 semester hours
Clock hours/meeting times: One 50 minute lecture and one 3 hr computer lab per week
Instructor name(s):
Dr. Stephen M. Dewhurst, School of Forestry
237 SWFSC
Phone: 523-9647
Email: Steve.Dewhurst@nau.edu
Office hours: by appointment
Additional instructors (lecturers, graduate teaching assistants) may teach lab sections depending on
enrollment.
Course Prerequisites:
None
Course Description :
This course will train students in basic tools and skills involved with geographic information systems
(GIS). We will use lectures and hands-on labs to train the student in the ArcGIS system starting with
a survey of technologies and applications such as ArcGIS Explorer and Google Maps. By the end of
the course, the student will have an understanding of how GIS maps are made, edited, and analyzed.
The student will be introduced to a few spatial problem solving techniques and basic spatial modeling
tools. 1hr. lecture, 3 hrs. lab.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes :
Upon the successful completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
1. A general knowledge of geographic and spatial analysis techniques commonly used in forest
management.
2. Understanding of the relationship between types of spatial data commonly encountered in forestrelated applications.
3. A depth and breadth of understanding of geographic and spatial analysis techniques relevant to
forest management.
Effective Fall 2012
4. An awareness of the software and hardware resources available to support geographic and spatial
analysis.
5. The ability to develop a work plan to incorporate geographic and spatial analysis into a forestry
management application demonstrated in class.
6. An awareness of basic spatial statistics and temporal modeling approaches.
Course Structure/Approach:
This course will use a combination of lectures and computer labs to enhance student learning of basic
GIS tools and applications in forestry. Each week students will attend: 1) one classroom lecture that
includes all students that will focus on geographic information system (GIS) principles ; 2) one
computer lab that will focus on hands-on computer training of ArcGIS.
Textbook and Required Materials:
Using ArcMap: ArcGIS 9. ESRI Press. ISBN 1589480988.
Course Outline (tentative):
Week 1: Basic GIS Concepts – Map Basics, ArcGIS Explorer and Google Maps
Week 2: Basic GIS Concepts - Map Basics, ArcGIS Explorer and Google Maps
Week 3: Basic GIS Concepts – Data Structures
Week 4: Basic GIS Concepts – Data Structures
Week 5: Basic GIS Concepts – Basics of ArcGIS
Week 6: GIS Data Sources – mini project one due
Week 7: GIS Data Sources
Week 8: GIS Analysis Techniques in Forestry (Mid-Term Exam; lecture and lab material)
Week 9: GIS Analysis Techniques in Forestry
Week 10: GIS Analysis Techniques in Forestry (including model building)
Week 11: GIS Analysis Techniques in Forestry – mini project two due
Week 12: GIS Applications in Forestry
Week 13: GIS Applications in Forestry
Week 14: GIS Applications in Forestry – mini project three due
Week 15: Introduction to basic spatial statistics
Week 16: Final Exam (lecture and lab material)
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will earn letter grades in the course based on the following graded activities:
1. Computer lab exercise and/or mini-projects – 60% of total grade
2. Midterm exam GIS lectures and lab material – 20% of total grade
3. Final exam GIS lectures and lab material – 20% of total grade
Grading System:
Letter grades will be assigned based on traditional guidelines:
A= 90-100 %;
B=80-89%;
C=70-79%;
D=60-69%;
F= below 60%.
Effective Fall 2012
Course Policy:
Retests/makeup tests: Requests for makeup exams or lab exercises must be made with the instructor
in advance of the exam and well justified by severe illness or essential family or cultural activities.
Attendance: Attendance is essential. It will be impossible to perform well if you are not present at all
class meetings.
Statement on plagiarism and cheating: Obvious occurrences of plagiarism and cheating by students
in this course will be handled by assigning a grade of zero on the assignment to the offending
student. Reoccurrence will result in assignment of a grade of F to the student for the entire course.
University policies:
Attach the Safe Working and Learning Environment, Students with Disabilities, Institutional Review
Board, and Academic Integrity policies or reference them on the syllabus. See the following
document for policy statements: http://www4.nau.edu/avpaa/UCCPolicy/plcystmt.html.
Effective Fall 2012