Geospatial Information Science (Discontinued to new students as of fall 2022)

Why study Geospatial Information Science?

The geospatial information science track introduces students to computer-based analysis of geographic data and the theory and practice of aerial and satellite imagery, GIS, and spatial analysis, applied to natural resource assessment and monitoring human impacts on the environment. Student internships are encouraged and we can assist with locating an appropriate internship program.  Graduates will be well equipped for land and resource management positions in industry, non-profit and government agencies, and for advanced studies in geography, ecology, environmental sciences and management.

Preparatory Subject Matter Requirements
Course IDs Course Title Quarters Offered Units Notes
Written and Oral Expression
UWP 101 or any course from the UWP 102 or 104 series Upper Division Writing I, II, III, IV 4 May test out of requirement
CMN 1, 3V, 3Y, or DRA 10 Communication I, II, III, IV 4  
Biological Sciences
BIS 2A Essentials of Life on Earth I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2B Principles of Ecology and Evolution   I, II, III, IV 5  
BIS 2C Biodiversity and the Tree of Life I, II, III, IV 5  
Geology
choose one of the following
GEL 1 The Earth I, II, III 4  
GEL 50 Physical Geology I, II, III 3 (recommended)
Chemistry
CHE 2A or 2AH General Chemistry I, II, IV 5  
CHE 2B or 2BH General Chemistry II, III, IV 5  
CHE 2C or 2CH General Chemistry I, III, IV 5 (recommended, not required)
Physics
Complete either 1AB or 7ABC
Physics 1A General Physics I, II, IV 3  
Physics 1B General Physics II, III 3  
Physics 7A General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7B General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Physics 7C General Physics I, II, III, IV 4  
Economics
ECN 1A, 1AV, or 1AY Principles of Microeconomics I, II, III, IV 4  
Mathematics
MAT 16A and 16B Short Calculus I, II, III, IV 3, 3 Being phased out as of 23-24
MAT 17A and 17B Calculus for Biology & Medicine I, II, III, IV 4, 4 MAT 17AB recommended
MAT 19A and 19B and 19C Calculus for Data-Driven Applications I, II, III, IV 4, 4, 4 Mast take A, B, and C
MAT 21A and 21B Calculus I, II, III, IV 4, 4  
Environmental Science and Policy
ESP 1 Environmental Analysis I, IV 4  

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session

Depth Subject Matter Requirements
NOTE: Students graduating with this major are required to attain at least a C average (2.0 GPA) in all courses taken at the university in Depth Subject Matter and pass all coursework. See requirements of the College of Agriculture & Environmental Science in the UC Davis General Catalog.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Offered Units
Global Environment
ESM 120 Global Environmental Interactions One college-level chemistry and biology course II 4
Ecology
(Choose one of the following)
ESP 100 General Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; STA 13 recommended I, II, IV 4
EVE 101 Introduction to Ecology BIS 2A-C; MAT 16A-B or 17A-B or 21A-B; or equivalent I, II, III, IV 4
Policy
ESP 162 Environmental Policy ECN 1A II 4
Statistics
(Choose one of the following - Statistics 100 recommended)
STA 13 Elementary Statistics Two years of high school algebra or equivalent in college I, II, III, IV 4
STA 100 Applied Statistics for Biological Sciences MAT 16B or 17B or 21B I, II, III, IV 4
Environmental Monitoring
(Choose one of the following)
ATM 124 Meteorological Instruments & Observations ATM 60 I 3
ESM 108 Environmental Monitoring ESP 100 or EVE 101 or SSC 100 or WFC 100 or the equivalent III 3
ESP 151L Limnology Laboratory ESP 151 (may be concurrent) III 3
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or the equivalent II, IV 4
Environmental Data Science
(Choose one of the following)
ABT/LDA 150 Introduction to GIS None I, II, III 4
ESP 106 Environmental Data Science STA 13 or 100 recommended II 4
Internship
ESM/ESP 92 or 192 Internship Upper division standing, permission of instructor

Variable unit – must take at least 3 units of internship
May complete internship in a different area with prior approval
(e.g.: PLS, SSC, ATM)

 I, II, III, IV 3
Capstone
ESM 195 Integrating Env Science & Management Senior standing in ESM III 2
Honors Thesis (Optional)
ESM 194H Senior Honors Thesis Senior standing, Overall GPA of 3.50 or higher

Consent of the lead faculty advisor

   2-6

 

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session

Track Courses
NOTE: Courses taken for the depth subject matter or track cannot be used to fulfill more than one major requirement.
Course IDs Course Title Prerequisites Quarters Units
Select two GIS courses
ABT 181N* Concepts & Methods in GIS LDA 150 or consent of instructor II 4
ABT/HYD 182** Environmental Analysis with GIS ABT 150 or equiv GIS experience, biology and/or ecology courses rec. II 4
ESM 185 Aerial Photo Interp. & Remote Sensing Upper division standing I 4
ESM 186 Environmental Remote Sensing MAT 16B; PHY 7C or 9B; upper division standing; ABT 150 rec. II 5
Select two environmental policy courses
ESP/ECI 163** Energy & Env Aspects of Transportation ECN 1A or ENG 106 I 4
ESP 165 Climate Policy ECN 1A, ESP 1, or consent of instructor I 3
ESP 166 Ocean & Coastal Policy ESP 1 or consent of instructor I 3
ESP 169** Water Policy & Politics ECN 1A or POL 1 recommended III 3
ESP 171 Urban & Regional Planning ESP 1 or ESP 161 or ESP 179 recommended III, IV 4
ESP 172 Public Lands Management ECN 1A and POL 1 recommended I 4
ESP 174 Environmental Justice Policy & Practice ESP 1 or equivalent recommended III 4
ESP 179 Environmental Impact Assessment ESP 1 or the equivalent II, IV 4
SOC 160 Sociology of the Environment SOC 1 or 2 or 3 recommended I 4
Select two quantitative analysis courses
ESP 106 Environmental Data Science STA 13 or 100 recommended II 4
ESP 121 Population Ecology BIS 2B-C; MAT 16B or 17B or 21B or 21BH II 4
STA 104 Nonparametric Statistics STA 13 or 32 or 100 with a C- or better II, III 4
STA 106 Analysis of Variance STA 13 or 32 or 100 with a C- or better I, II, III, IV 4
STA 108 Regression Analysis STA 13 or 32 or 100 with a C- or better I, II, III, IV 4
STA 130A Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course MAT 16C or 17C or 21C; STA 13 or 32 or 100; all with a C- or better I 4
STA 130B Mathematical Statistics: Brief Course STA 130A or 131A or MAT 135A with a C- or better II 4
STA 137 Applied Time Series Analysis STA 108 with a C- or better I, II 4
Select three environmental science courses, must select at least one from section A and one from section B
A – Physical
ATM 110* Weather Observation & Analysis ATM 60 II 4
ATM 116 Modern Climate Change None I 4
ATM 133 Biometeorology MAT 16B; one course in a biological discipline or consent of instructor II 4
SSC 100 Principles of Soil Science College-level course in each of CHE, PHY, BIS, and GEL recommended I 5
B - Biomes
ESP 124 Marine and Coastal Field Ecology Offered at the Bodega Marine Lab I, IV 3
ESP/GEL 150C Biological Oceanography Offered at the Bodega Marine Lab IV 4
ESP 151 Limnology BIS 2A and 2B; BIS 2C and ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended III 4
ESP 152 Coastal Oceanography Offered at the Bodega Marine Lab IV 3
ESP 155 Wetland Ecology BIS 2A or equivalent; ESP 100 or EVE 101 recommended   4
GEL 136 Ecogeomorphology of Rivers & Streams Enrollment by application only, not offered every year III 5
PLS 101 Agriculture & the Environment PLS 2 or consent of instructor II 3
PLB/EVE 117 Plant Ecology BIS 2A-C; PLB 111 recommended I 4

I = fall quarter, II = winter quarter, III = spring quarter, IV = summer session
*Course is offered in odd years only (2023, 2025, etc.)
**Course is offered in even years only (2024, 2026, etc.)

Attachments
GIS track requirements