School of Public Policy 585 - Introduction to GIS

Fall
2025
01
4.00
Forrest Bowlick

TH 11:30AM 12:45PM

UMass Amherst
66749
Integ. Learning Center S140
fbowlick@umass.edu
63219,65771,69684
This class serves as an introduction to Geographic Information Science (GIS). GIS is the science of spatial relationships, linking data to locations to explore relations between objects. Based in geographic thought and emerging from initial applications in natural resource management, GIS has evolved to be a universally applicable way of thinking and set of knowledge, skills, and practices. The goals of this course are to teach you basic GIS concepts through practice and theory, to enable you to make useful and meaningful contributions to various disciplines through spatial analysis. Throughout this course, you will be challenged to not only think spatially, but apply spatial analysis techniques within GIS.

Open to Masters Public Policy & Admin (MPPA), Public Affairs (MPA) and Public Policy (MPP) students only. Meets with NRC585 and Geograph593.

Multiple required components--lab and/or discussion section. To register, submit requests for all components simultaneously.
Permission is required for interchange registration during the add/drop period only.