Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
The primary goal of this course is to provide students, with and without programming experience, with the theoretical and methodological knowledge to use programming techniques to read, filter, and manipulate spatial data. Students furthermore learn to perform batch processing of geo-information. The first part of the course focuses on the introduction to basic programming and geoprocessing concepts making use of the Python programming language. Python is an easy-to-use language with an extensive standard library, which makes it a perfect programming language for beginners. The course then moves on to the application of these concepts in ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro (a tool to view, edit, create, and analyze geospatial data) and the use of third-party Python packages.
Course Prerequisites
GIS 5013 - Fundamentals of GIS
Course Materials
Following textbooks are required for this course:
- Amos, D., Bader, D., Jablonski, J., Heisler, F. (2021) Python Basics: A Practical Introduction to Python 3. 4th Edition. Real Python (realpython.com).
- Tateosian, L. (2015). Python for ArcGIS. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. An electronic version of this textbook is freely available through OU’s library under this link: https://link-springer-com.ezproxy.lib.ou.edu/book/10.1007%2F978-3-319-18398-5.
All other materials for the course will be made available by the instructor in a digital format as required.
Software
We will use ArcGIS Pro and IDLE in this course. The installation of ArcGIS Pro automatically installs Python and the installation of Python automatically installs IDLE. If you work with your own device, please be aware that we will need ArcGIS Pro installed on that device. ArcGIS Pro only runs on Windows operating systems.
If you don't have access to a device running the Windows OS, or for any follow-up technical questions, refer to the RESOURCES: Course Materials page.
Grades
Breakdown
The final grade is calculated based on the following weights:
| Activity | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Discussions | 7 Discussions (10 points each); 2 posts per student to prepare live sessions. | 10% |
| Quizzes | 4 Quizzes (10 points each); revisit terminology and concepts. | 20% |
| Exercises | 8 Exercises (10 points each); deepen comprehension of concepts covered in lectures and readings. | 20% |
| Term Project | 1 Project Proposal (20 points) and 1 Project Report (80 points); transfer of spatial programming concepts. | 25% |
| Exams | 1 Mid-term Exam (50 points) and 1 Final Exam (50 points); delivered as open-book exams (1.5 days to complete each exams) | 25% |
| Total | 100% | |
Scale
The final letter grading for the course will be as follows: A: >= 90%, B: 89% - 80%, C: 79% - 70%, D: 69 % - 60%, F: <= 59 %. The instructor will round all averages to two significant figures (69.5 will round to 70 and 69.4 will round to 69) to determine the student’s letter grade in the course (70 --> C, 69 --> D). There is no curve in this course. The instructor reserves the right to make linear adjustments to assessment grades in cases where a question was found to be in error or unreasonably demanding.
Course Components
Lectures
Lectures are provided as videos on Canvas, which allows students to work through the lecture materials at their own pace. Students should carefully review the lectures and, where appropriate, practice the application of the introduced content.
Readings
Each week, readings will be assigned. Students should carefully work through the readings and, where appropriate, practice the application of the introduced content.
Discussions
Students should be prepared to participate actively in discussions. Participation will be dependent upon regular participation in and contribution to class discussions.
Quizzes
There will be four quizzes. The quizzes are geared towards revisiting important terminology and key concepts.
Exercises
Exercises will be associated with new content. Students should complete the assigned readings and work through the lectures prior to completing the exercises.
Term Project
The term project will consist of finding datasets and implementing a geoprocessing workflow in Python. The term project starts halfway through the semester and is due in the second to last week of the semester.
Exams
There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam. The final online Zoom class will be devoted to reviewing for the final exam; students should come prepared with questions to address during the discussion. The exams will follow an open-book format; the exams will be available starting at noon (Central Time) on a Thursday and will be due the following Friday at 11:59 PM (Central Time).
Course Policies
The instructor has the right to institute new policies during the semester to ensure safety and a positive learning environment for the students.
Communication
The main mode of communication for this course is the learning management system Canvas. To contact the instructor, send an email to jakoch@ou.edu. The instructor will not respond to messages sent via the Canvas messaging functionality. Announcements will be posted via the Canvas announcement functionality. It is the students’ responsibility to check the messages and announcements on Canvas regularly. The instructor will respond to messages within 24 hours during the week and within 48 hours on the weekends.
Late Policy
Late submissions are accepted but are subject to an automatic grade reduction of 20%. No credits will be given for submissions more than seven days late unless an extension was granted.
Changes in the Syllabus
As the course develops, it might be desirable/necessary to make appropriate changes in aspects of this syllabus. The instructor reserves the right to make changes if desirable or necessary.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog .
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries .
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity .
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center .
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office .
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|