# 2026-2027 Course Catalog
**Source**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/eng_las/computer-science-geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/
**Parent**: https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/
*for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science*
---
Everything happens *somewhere*, and Illinois is the national leader in CyberGIS — the use of high-performance, large-scale computing to answer geospatial questions. Students in CS + Geography & Geographic Information Science will develop advanced programming skills to deal with geospatial data and create new methods and tools to analyze that data.
The CS + GGIS, a blended bachelor's degree, is a partnership between the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering and the Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. As part of the computing community at Illinois, you will benefit from being part of a top-five-ranked Computer Science program with world-class faculty and research.
*for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science*
---
Please see the computer science advisor as well as the geography advisor.
#### **General education:** Students must complete the [Campus General Education](https://courses.illinois.edu/) requirements including the campus general education language requirement.
#### **Minimum required major and supporting course work:** Normally equates to 66 hours. Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level in the major must be taken on this campus.
#### **Minimum hours required for graduation:** 120 hours.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Required Computer Science Courses: | | |
| [CS 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20100 "CS 100") | Computer Science Orientation (recommended; [CS 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20100 "CS 100") is an orientation course aimed at first-year students, so students who declare the major after the freshman year are not required to complete it.) | 1 |
| [CS 124](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20124 "CS 124") | Introduction to Computer Science I | 3 |
| [CS 128](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20128 "CS 128") | Introduction to Computer Science II | 3 |
| [CS 173](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20173 "CS 173") | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| [CS 225](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20225 "CS 225") | Data Structures | 4 |
| [CS 222](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20222 "CS 222") | Software Design Lab | 1 |
| Choose one of the following combinations | | 8-11 |
| [CS 233](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20233 "CS 233") & [CS 341](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20341 "CS 341") | Computer Architecture and System Programming | |
| OR | | |
| [CS 340](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20340 "CS 340") | Introduction to Computer Systems | |
| & two CS courses at the 400 level above [CS 403](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20403 "CS 403"), excluding [CS 421](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20421 "CS 421") and [CS 491](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20491 "CS 491") | | |
| Choose one of the following: | | 3 |
| [STAT 200](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=STAT%20200 "STAT 200") | Statistical Analysis | |
| [STAT 212](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=STAT%20212 "STAT 212") | Biostatistics | |
| [CS 361](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20361 "CS 361") | Probability & Statistics for Computer Science (recommended) | |
| [CS 374](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20374 "CS 374") | Introduction to Algorithms & Models of Computation | 4 |
| [CS 421](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20421 "CS 421") | Programming Languages & Compilers | 3 or 4 |
| Mathematics (may also fulfill the General Education QR I and II requirements) | | |
| [MATH 220](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20220 "MATH 220") | Calculus | 5 |
| or [MATH 221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20221 "MATH 221") | Calculus I | |
| [MATH 225](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20225 "MATH 225") | Introductory Matrix Theory | 2 or 3 |
| or [MATH 257](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20257 "MATH 257") | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | |
| [MATH 231](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20231 "MATH 231") | Calculus II | 3 |
| Required Geographic Information Science Coursework - Minimum of 24 hours | | |
| [GGIS 371](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20371 "GGIS 371") | Spatial Analysis | |
| [GGIS 379](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20379 "GGIS 379") | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| [GGIS 380](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20380 "GGIS 380") | Geographic Information Systems II | |
| Two (2) additional GIS courses from the following list: | | 6 |
| [GGIS 205](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20205 "GGIS 205") | Business Location Decisions | |
| [GGIS 224](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20224 "GGIS 224") | Environmental Data Science | |
| [GGIS/SOC 280](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20280 "GGIS/SOC 280") | Intro to Social Statistics | |
| [GGIS 407](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20407 "GGIS 407") | CyberGIS & Geospatial Data Science | |
| [GGIS 412](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20412 "GGIS 412") | Geospatial Technologies & Society | |
| [GGIS/ATMS 421](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20421 "GGIS/ATMS 421") | Earth Systems Modeling | |
| [GGIS/PATH 439](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20439 "GGIS/PATH 439") | Health Applications of GIS | |
| [GGIS 460](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20460 "GGIS 460") | Aerial Photo Analysis | |
| GGIS 468 | | |
| [GGIS 473](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20473 "GGIS 473") | Digital Cartography & Map Design | |
| [GGIS 476](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20476 "GGIS 476") | Environmental Remote Sensing | |
| [GGIS 477](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20477 "GGIS 477") | Introduction to Remote Sensing | |
| [GGIS 478](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20478 "GGIS 478") | Techniques of Remote Sensing | |
| [GGIS 479](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20479 "GGIS 479") | Advanced Topics in GIS | |
| [GGIS 480](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20480 "GGIS 480") | Principles of Geographic Information Science | |
| [GGIS 489](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20489 "GGIS 489") | Programming for GIS | |
| Two (2) human and/or physical geography courses: | | 6 |
| [GGIS 204](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20204 "GGIS 204") | Cities of the World | |
| [GGIS 210](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20210 "GGIS 210") | Social & Environmental Issues | |
| [GGIS 221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20221 "GGIS 221") | Geographies of Global Conflict | |
| [GGIS 222](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20222 "GGIS 222") | Big Rivers of the World | |
| [GGIS/NRES 287](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20287 "GGIS/NRES 287") | Environment and Society | |
| [GGIS/ESE 350](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20350 "GGIS/ESE 350") | Sustainability and the City | |
| [GGIS 370/ESE 320](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20370 "GGIS 370/ESE 320") | Water Planet, Water Crisis | |
| [GGIS 384](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20384 "GGIS 384") | Population Geography | |
| [GGIS/NRES 401](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20401 "GGIS/NRES 401") | Watershed Hydrology | |
| [GGIS 405](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20405 "GGIS 405") | Geography Field Course | |
| [GGIS 406](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20406 "GGIS 406") | Fluvial Geomorphology | |
| [GGIS 408](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20408 "GGIS 408") | Humans and River Systems | |
| [GGIS 410](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20410 "GGIS 410") | Green Development | |
| [GGIS 436/IB 439](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20436 "GGIS 436/IB 439") | Biogeography | |
| [GGIS 438](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20438 "GGIS 438") | Geography of Health Care | |
| [GGIS 455](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20455 "GGIS 455") | Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa | |
| [GGIS/LA 446](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20446 "GGIS/LA 446") | Sustainable Planning Seminar | |
| [GGIS 465](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20465 "GGIS 465") | Transportation &Sustainability | |
| [GGIS 466](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20466 "GGIS 466") | Environmental Policy | |
| [GGIS 471](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20471 "GGIS 471") | Modern Geographic Thought | |
| [GGIS 482](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20482 "GGIS 482") | Challenges of Sustainability | |
| [GGIS 483](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20483 "GGIS 483") | Urban Geography | |
| [GGIS 496](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20496 "GGIS 496") | Climate & Social Vulnerability | |
*for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science*
---
## **Sample Sequence**
*This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.*
*Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a fourth level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the [Degree and General Education Requirements page](https://catalog.illinois.edu/general-information/degree-general-education-requirements/)**.*
| First Year | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| [CS 100](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20100 "CS 100") | 1 | [CS 128](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20128 "CS 128") | 3 |
| [CS 124](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20124 "CS 124") | 3 | [CS 173](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20173 "CS 173") | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 1 | [MATH 220](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20220 "MATH 220") or [221](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20221 "MATH 221") | 5 |
| Geographic Information Science course | 3 | Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 | | |
| | 12 | | 15 |
| Total Hours 27 | | | |
| Second Year | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| [CS 222](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20222 "CS 222") | 1 | [CS 233](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20233 "CS 233") or [340](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20340 "CS 340") | 4 |
| [CS 225](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20225 "CS 225") | 4 | [STAT 200](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=STAT%20200 "STAT 200"), [212](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=STAT%20212 "STAT 212"), or [CS 361](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20361 "CS 361") | 3 |
| [MATH 225](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20225 "MATH 225") or [257](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20257 "MATH 257") | 2 | [MATH 231](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=MATH%20231 "MATH 231") | 3 |
| Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Language Other than English (4th level) | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| | 14 | | 17 |
| Total Hours 31 | | | |
| Third Year | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| [CS 341](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20341 "CS 341") (or CS 400-level course) | 4 | [CS 374](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20374 "CS 374") | 4 |
| Human and/or Physical Geography course | 3 | CS 400-level course or Free Elective course | 3 |
| [GGIS 371](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20371 "GGIS 371") | 4 | Human and/or Physical Geography course | 3 |
| [GGIS 379](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20379 "GGIS 379") | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| | 18 | | 16 |
| Total Hours 34 | | | |
| Fourth Year | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| [CS 421](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=CS%20421 "CS 421") | 3 | Geographic Information Science course | 3 |
| [GGIS 380](https://catalog.illinois.edu/search/?P=GGIS%20380 "GGIS 380") | 4 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | Free Elective course | 1 |
| | 15 | | 13 |
| Total Hours 28 | | | |
**Total Hours: 120**
*for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science*
---
## Learning Outcomes
1. **Geographic Understanding**
1. GGIS students will understand the interconnectedness of places and scales in human-environmental systems, including the sustainability of those systems.
2. **Spatial Patterns and Processes**
1. GGIS students will be able to analyze spatial patterns, distributions, processes, and connections within and among different human-environmental systems, using qualitative, quantitative, computational, and/or spatial methods of research appropriate to their level of training and their field of geographic inquiry.
3. **Problem-Solving and Communication**
1. GGIS students will be able to formulate and conduct geographic analyses and communicate the results in verbal, written, and visual form.
Undergraduate Degree Programs in Geography & Geographic Information Science
---
## **For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences**
- [Major in Computer Science & Geography & GIS, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/eng_las/computer-science-geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Geographic Information Science Concentration, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/geographic-information-science/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Physical Geography Concentration, BSLAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-bslas/physical-geography/)
## **For the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences**
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, General Geography Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/general-geography/)
- [Major in Geography & Geographic Information Science, Human Geography Concentration, BALAS](https://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/las/geography-geographic-information-science-balas/human-geography/)
*for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts & Sciences in Computer Science + Geography & Geographic Information Science*
---
## [Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science](https://www.ggis.illinois.edu/)
Geography & Geographic Information Science information: [CS + GGIS](https://cs.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/degree-program-options/cs-x-degree-programs/computer-science-geography)\
Geography & GIS email: [ggis-advisor@illinois.edu](mailto:ggis-advisor@illinois.edu)
## [College of Liberal Arts and Sciences](https://las.illinois.edu/)
Overview of college admissions & requirements: [Liberal Arts & Sciences](https://catalog.illinois.edu/schools/las/academic-units/)
## [The Grainger College of Engineering](https://grainger.illinois.edu/)
Computer Science Degree information: [CS + X Degrees](https://cs.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/degree-program-options/cs-x-degree-programs#requirements)\
Computer Science email: [undergrad@cs.illinois.edu](mailto:undergrad@cs.illinois.edu)
Please consult with advisors in both Computer Science *and* Geography & GIS.