The Geographic Information Science (GIS) minor is available to students who want to learn GIS without majoring in geography. GIS refers to working with spatial data, which is useful in many fields, including urban planning, environmental analysis, cartography, retail and real estate, health, and military intelligence.

Demand for professionals skilled in GIS is high and expected to grow over the next decade. GIS specialists provide geographic data management, spatial analysis, and GIS system management support areas such as city and regional planning, civil and environmental engineering, criminal justice, health services, marketing, commercial real estate, and transportation.  

Program Type

Minor

Program Format

On Campus

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What pairs well with a GIS minor?

GIS skills are valuable to any business or organization where analysis of spatial data is critical. Any type of business wants data-driven answers to questions such as:

  • Where is the most optimal location for expansion?
  • What traffic grid pattern is most efficient?
  • How and where is a disease outbreak likely to spread?
  • How might the migration pattern of an invasive pest effect local fauna?

The GIS minor goes great with majors such as:

  • Conservation & Environmental Science
  • Public Health
  • Urban Planning
  • Urban Studies
  • Business
  • Marketing
  • Architecture
  • Criminal Justice
person thinking at laptop

Requirements

The GIS minor requires the completion of a minimum of 15 credits, at least 9 of them at the 300 level or above taken in residence at UWM. The College of Letters & Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the minor attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all minor credits attempted, including any transfer work. The following are required:

GEOG 215Introduction to Geographic Information Science3
GEOG 525Geographic Information Science4
Select two of the following:8
Data Science and Environmental Applications
Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis
Cartography
Spatial Analysis
Intermediate Geographic Information Science
Total Credits15

Letters & Science Minor Advising

Advising for the minor takes place within the department by a faculty member or staff member. Follow the steps using the "Declare a Minor" button on the department’s website which may include instructions on how to select a faculty advisor if there is more than one to choose from.

Students who already have an L&S college advisor because their degree plan is in L&S can discuss the minor with them as well since they will be familiar with any minor in L&S. Students who are working on a degree from a UWM college other than the College of Letters & Science will not need an L&S college advisor for just a minor and one will not be assigned. These students should work with the faculty or staff advisor they receive as part of the minor declaration process or contact the department directly for assistance.

Applicants who have not started classes at UWM yet who wish to declare a minor should wait until they are registered for their first UWM classes and then can declare the minor using the “Declare a Minor” button on the program’s website. If you have questions about the minor before then, contact let-sci@uwm.edu.

Contact

Prospective Students (not yet enrolled at UWM)

Prospective students, contact our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu or 414-229-7711.

Current Students

General questions such as how to declare, how to change a major, general education requirements, etc. should be directed to the college advising office at ls-advising@uwm.edu or 414-229-4654.

Specific questions about Geography, such as research opportunities, internship opportunities, major requirements, etc., should be directed to Zengwang Xu.

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