MINOR

What You’ll Study

In this minor in the Global Studies program, you’ll learn to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to solve real-world problems. Geospatial technologies connect data sets to landscapes and communities, which allows government and nonprofit agencies to gain new insight about environmental and social problems. Geospatial technology refers to GIS, GPS, spatial data management, and related developer tools and end user applications.

Open-Source Teaching & Research

Open source software means that the source code used to create the program is freely available for the public to view, edit, and redistribute. This code is written by a worldwide community rather than a single software company. Some do this as part of their “day jobs,” while others volunteer.

Free and open source geospatial technologies are critical for both developed and developing countries as they lower the access cost to geospatial software for education, government, and industry applications. They enhance research and teaching in geospatial science and technology and increase research and development of spatial data infrastructures. Most importantly, they enable more transparency, accessibility, and long term sustainability in our communities.

Open-Source Software

QGISis a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo).

GRASS(地理资源分析支持系统)是一套用于地理空间数据管理和分析的软件;制图及地图制作;和空间建模。GRASS GIS目前在世界各地的学术和商业环境以及许多政府机构和环境咨询公司中使用。

OS GEOprovides bootable ISOs and Virtual Machines to allow users to try out fully-operational versions of popular free Geospatial Software without the need to install a thing. Users are able to make their own custom distributions, for example in their own language and loaded with their local map data.

Explore Classes in This Program

GBL 225

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

This course provides you with an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the natural and social sciences. You’ll apply techniques of geographic information science to view, manipulate, analyze, and publish geographic data. Topics covered include vector and raster data models, database query, geoprocessing, geocoding, and cartographic techniques. You’ll conduct an in-depth individual research project that uses GIS techniques to address a particular question or problem.

GBL 325

Advanced Geographic Information Systems

Are you interested in furthering your understanding of geographic information science? Then this course is for you. Topics build on the foundation of the intro course and include spatial analysis procedures on raster and vector data, database management, topology, model design, 3D modeling, open source GIS, web mapping, and project management. You’ll design and conduct significant, real-world research projects, often for outside agencies or organizations.

Still curious? See the Curriculum
Meet Our Faculty

Warren Wilson students crave a challenge. I am continually amazed at the enthusiasm with which our students throw themselves into an endeavor, whether it be a physically exhausting service trip or an intellectually stimulating research question. Wilson students tend to say “bring it.”

David Abernathy, Ph.D.
Meet David Abernathy See all Social Sciences Faculty
David Abernathy
David Abernathy, Ph.D.

Hands-on, All-in

Warren Wilson integrates your academics with work and community engagement. Engaging all your passions and interests results in an education with meaning and real professional experience.
south asheville cemetary
Maps that Matter
GIS students mapped the oldest African American cemetery in Western NC on Google Earth.
Device - Library Crew
Technology at Work
In our makerspace, you can experiment with emerging technologies (3D manufacturing and microcomputing), electronics, software, computing equipment, and other high-tech tools.
Tools You Need
Geographic Information Systems Lab
Buncombe County map
Fieldwork Profile

Mapping Change

Students and faculty at Warren Wilson contributed a major project for Buncombe County called ‘Mapping Change.’ It used maps to analyze change over a 10-year period of rapid growth in Western North Carolina. The project culminated in an 80-page book, which analyzed the effects of change in terms of land use, demography, water quality, and housing. The data united many different social and ecological problems, illustrating how they connect to one another.

保罗·巴特尔斯教授在介绍中使用了书中的地图，为县专员概述了这些发现。在许多其他观察中，巴特尔斯将建在陡峭山坡上的房屋的影响与泥沙侵蚀、河流污染和鳟鱼种群联系起来。通过Bartels向县议员的介绍，Warren Wilson学生在GIS和数据科学方面的工作影响了当地政府。

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Global Studies Sociology / Anthropology Environmental Studies Environmental Policy & Justice Data Science Social Work Archaeology