Community-Engaged Course Name: GEOG350 – GIS for the Social Sciences

 

Community Partner: Peninsula SPCA; Help, Inc.; Newport News Fire Department; Virginia Organizing

 

Course Description: This community-engaged GIS course is designed as a first step into students’ exploration of GIS and how it can be used to empower the community. Students obtain a conceptual understanding of what is and how to use GIS, and valuable software skills using the ESRI ArcGIS suite, while at the same time reflecting on the role GIS can play in the community and on their role as a GIS analyst. The course is organized around four distinct community projects. Students are organized into small groups and each group works on their project with the community partner: searching for a suitable location for a homeless shelter in Hampton, searching for a suitable location for a homeless shelter in Newport News, searching for a suitable new location for the Peninsula SPCA, and searching for a suitable location of new fire stations. Thus, rather than completing a series of assignments, this course has a project-based approach, with the goal of collectively accomplishing certain tasks.