Syllabus

Revised 5/28/2025

Geog 291: Geospatial Analysis with Desktop GIS
Fall Semester 2025: Module 1: 8/20/2025 to 10/7/2025
Meetings: Arranged

Instructor: Dr. John Krygier
Office: Schimmel-Conrades Science Center 206
Office Hours: Make an appointment here or email for other times.
jbkrygier@owu.edu | http://krygier.owu.edu

GEOG 291 Geospatial Analysis with Desktop GIS familiarizes students with software for performing geospatial analysis, focusing on desktop (PC) software, ArcGIS Pro. An overview of software functions and capabilities and hands-on work with the software are provided. Progress is assessed with a series of applied exercises. This is a semi-independent course, with progress posted to this blog, arranged meetings with the instructor, and assistance as needed from the instructor.

Learning Objectives

  • Understanding key concepts, functions, and operation of desktop GIS software
  • Ability to perform different analytical tasks given a selection of different kinds of real-world data 
  • Understand how desktop GIS could be used in applications specific to students’ academic interests

Readings

Getting Work Done on Time

The week’s work is due at the end of the day, Friday of each week.

If you don’t get the work done, please schedule 3 hours in the lab (207 SCSC) during the subsequent week and email me the hours before the start of the week. Failure to do this will adversely affect your grade.

You are graded on doing the work (50%) and completing it on time (50%). Thus, continually late work with no excuse will result in a poor grade.

Getting behind in this class is a nightmare. The class ends halfway through the semester, right when much else is due in other courses. Donut get behind.

GIS Lab: 207 SCSC

Most of you are familiar with the GIS Lab (207 SCSC). For the ArcGIS Pro tutorial part of the course, you will need to use one of the computers in the GIS lab. ArcGIS Pro is available on all of these computers. You can’t save work on the computers (for security purposes). Please use an external hard drive (not a thumb drive). If you don’t have enough guap (scrilla? cheese?), you can borrow one for the semester from Krygier.

I’ll email you a secret code to get in the room after hours (it’s open 7 am-7 pm M-F) and also get your OWU ID card access to the Science Center.

ArcGIS Software

ArcGIS Pro requires a Windows computer. All the computers in SCSC 207 have it installed. If you have a suitable computer, you can install ArcGIS Pro on it: it should be a newer Windows computer with plenty of memory and storage. Log into your ArcOnline account here and follow the steps here: Download ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Online works on any newer browser and computer. I’ll provide you with an OWU ArcGIS Online account. Make sure you log into the OWU ArcGIS account (not the free, low-function account).