BS Computer Science and Geography & Geographic Information Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Program Overview

Offered jointly by the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science and the Department of Geography & Geographic Information Science, this interdisciplinary degree merges core computer science training with advanced geographic information science (GIS). The program prepares students to develop tools and algorithms to analyze spatial data and solve real-world problems related to urban planning, environmental monitoring, geospatial technology, and spatial computing.

Illinois is a recognized national leader in CyberGIS, a cutting-edge field that integrates high-performance computing with geographic information systems to address complex spatial problems.

Course overview by year:

  • Year 1: CS Orientation, Intro to CS I & II, Calculus I, Composition I, Gen Eds, Intro Geography

  • Year 2: CS Core, Probability & Stats, Calculus II & Linear Algebra, Language Gen Ed

  • Year 3: Algorithms, Advanced CS, GIS Core, Human/Physical Geography, Gen Eds, Electives

  • Year 4: Programming Languages, GIS II, Advanced GIS electives, General Eds, Free electives

Students must complete at least 12 upper-division hours in major courses on the Urbana-Champaign campus and meet a minimum 120 total credit hour requirement.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

  • CyberGIS research and labs integrating HPC and spatial computing

  • Hands-on projects using GIS tools and spatial data

  • Advanced coursework in geographic visualization and modeling

  • Departmental advising and access to Siebel Center for Computer Science and GGIS research centers

Progression & Future Opportunities

  • Insufficient post-graduation data currently available (new program)

  • First-year retention rate: 92%

  • Four-year graduation rate: 72%

  • Six-year graduation rate: 85%

  • Graduates expected to enter growing fields in urban technology, GIS software development, and environmental modeling

Program Key Stats

$44,688
$ 75
Aug Intake : 5th Jan


60 %
No
Yes

Eligibility Criteria

AAA - A*A*A
3.5 - 4.0
38 - 42
90 - 95

1340 - 1530
28 - 34
6.5
79

Additional Information & Requirements

Career Options

  • Cartographer
  • GIS analyst
  • Data analyst
  • Environmental planner
  • Surveyor
  • Mapping technician
  • Landscape architect
  • Remote sensing specialist

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