Spring 2026. Subject to refinement/updating.
EAS33000/ EASB95035/SUS8300B – Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Lectures & Labs: Mondays 2-4:30pm, Marshak Science Building Room 829
Prerequisites: None, Credits: 3
Instructor: Kimberly Huppert (
khuppert@ccny.cuny.edu
), Marshak Science Building Room 718 Office hours: By appointment
The digital age has led to an explosion of data, including spatial data. With the advent of satellite imagery and GPS technology, we now have access to vast amounts of location-based data. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the means to organize, analyze, and make sense of this data. Many contemporary challenges, including climate change, urbanization, and public health crises, have complex spatial components. GIS is a vital tool in addressing these challenges because it enables us to understand spatial patterns and trends, thereby facilitating better decision-making, resource management, and problem-solving across a wide range of disciplines and applications. This course uses hands- on laboratory assignments to help students develop tools and skills to find and access geospatial data, manipulate it, and perform geospatial calculations. Laboratory assignments focus on environmental applications, including earthquake patterns, volcanic and mass wasting risk analysis, aerosol dispersal, global climate trends, vegetation changes over time, topographic analyses, and hydrologic flow routing. Instruction is also provided in concepts of graphic design and communicating scientific research results.
In this course, we will use Quantum GIS (QGIS), an open-source software package (= can be downloaded and installed for free on your computer). QGIS runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. You can use QGIS on the lab computers or see below for instructions on how to install QGIS on your own machine or a borrowed laptop.
A final project will account for the remainder of your grade. For the final project, you will propose and carry out an independent research project of your choosing using geospatial data and
calculations. Everyone will present a brief project proposal mid-semester and a final presentation during the last two meetings of the class. Details of the final project proposal, presentation, and report will be outlined and distributed later in the course.
Expectations
Coursework, labs, and lectures for undergraduate and graduate students will be the same. However, expectations will differ for graduate students versus undergraduates.
EAS 330 Syllabus – Updated 1/15/26 Page 1 of 2
Due dates & late policy
Lab assignments are due by 11:59pm on the due date, unless otherwise specified. Please upload your finished work to Brightspace. Every student is granted two no request necessary one-week extensions, allowing them to turn in two assignments up to one week late without penalty. If you need additional extensions, you must request an extension at least 24 hours before the deadline. You do not need to provide a reason for the extension, but we must reach a mutual agreement on a new deadline before the assignment due date. Without extension, late work will incur a 2.5% penalty per day (including weekends and holidays and down to a minimum of 50% if the work is turned in before the assignment is graded) until assignments are graded. Late assignments will not be accepted after grades have been issued.
Collaboration & academic integrity
Working together on lab assignments is encouraged, but every student must hand in their own work that does not replicate any other student’s work exactly. Obvious copying or use of generative AI without prior permission will result in an automatic zero for everyone involved. CCNY’s academic integrity policy can be found at: http://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/legal-affairs/policies…
Accommodations
Students with disability accommodation needs should speak with me during the first two weeks of classes to arrange any necessary accommodations. Please also visit CUNY Accommodate (https://cuny-accommodate.symplicity.com/) to request accommodations. This system integrates students, their accommodations and course schedules, faculty, and the Offices of Disability Services (ODS) into one cohesive platform, promoting an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.
The AccessAbility Center/Student Disability Services ensures equal access and full participation to all of City College's programs, services, and activities by coordinating and implementing appropriate accommodations. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations and services, please visit the office in NAC 1/218, or contact AAC/SDS via email ( disabilityservices@ccny.cuny.edu ), or phone (212-650-5913 or TTY/TTD 212-650-8441).
Borrowing a laptop
If you do not have a laptop you can use for this course but would like to borrow one for the semester, the CCNY iMEDIA Reservation Desk provides students laptops with whatever software they need for their courses. Fill out a reservation request form at: https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/it/imedia
Computer lab open hours
Our classroom computer lab, Marshak 829, will be open for independent student use weekly at days and times to be announced.
Downloading QGIS
You can download QGIS at: https://qgis.org/download/
↳ It is generally good practice to work with the most recent version of QGIS available or the most recent long-term release,
which is maintained with bug fixes for the next three release cycles. Long term releases might not have the newest features found in the most recent version, but the stable release may contain fewer bugs. Instructions in the lab assignments are constantly updated to correspond to the lastest release (which may change over the course of the semester), so I recommend keeping your QGIS version up to date (i.e., downloading and installing the latest version when you see a green banner and download button on start-up)
Mac users: Before you run the installer, you need to make sure you can add new software to your Mac. Go to your “System Preferences” (under the Apple menu) and click on “Security & Privacy.” Click the lock icon on the bottom left to make changes. For the section titled “Allow apps downloaded from:” check the “Anywhere” radio button. Now you are ready to install.
If you receive an error message about Finder’s inability to scan QGIS for malware when first trying to open QGIS, go to the Applications folder, right click on QGIS, and select “Open”. Click “Open” again if a window pops up. If you do not have the option to open, go to “System Preferences” > “Security & Privacy.” Under the “General” tab, you should see a message about QGIS being blocked. Click the “Open Anyway” button. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click “Open” to run QGIS. You should be able to open QGIS as you would any other application after this intial set-up.
QGIS resources
• A Gentle Introduction to QGIS: https://docs.qgis.org/3.34/en/docs/gentle_gis_introduction/index.html&n…;• QGIS Training Manual: https://docs.qgis.org/3.34/en/docs/training_manual/index.html
EAS 330 Syllabus – Updated 1/15/26 Page 2 of 2
Last Updated: 06/30/2026 16:05