A central goal of the Geography Department is to provide all students with skills in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. Despite some success in achieving this goal, students receive little training in geographic information systems (GIS). This concern is shared with the Geology and Biology Departments, who also recognize the growing importance of GIS in their disciplines. Our objective is to provide a wide cross-section of undergraduate students with interdisciplinary exposure to GIS such that they can use this technology after leaving the university and can engage in independent research that involves GIS. The plan to meet this objective has three components and involves efforts by the Geography, Geology, and Biology Departments. First, a cross-listed course is being developed specifically addressing the theoretical and applied issues of GIS. This course forms the core of GIS education. Second, independent student research that uses GIS is being encouraged. Such projects include community-based outreach work with the Madison County, NY, Planning Agency and environmental studies at the university. Third, existing courses are being modified to include lectures and exercises involving GIS.
