There are a number of ways to get started mapping at Vassar for those with every level of GIS experience, including none!
Join Hudson Valley Mappers
Hudson Valley Mappers (HV Mappers) is Vassar’s chapter of YouthMappers, a global consortium of student-led mapping groups. Through a collaboration between the Office of Community Engaged Learning (OCEL) and the Geography Department, HV Mappers is driven by an interest in creating and expanding the capacity to lead projects in community geography.
Contact Community Geographers Dina Onish or Ari Henry if you are interested in getting involved with HV Mappers, discuss collaboration opportunities or events, or if you have any other questions.
Explore CEL placements
Community-engaged learning (CEL) is an experiential learning opportunity where students are able to combine work in a non-profit organization, a government agency, or a business with academic work under the guidance of a faculty sponsor. Several CEL placements present opportunities to develop geospatial mapping skills. The specific skills and level of knowledge of GIS tools varies by placement, so it is important to contact OCEL and/or the organization contacts listed with each placement. Those specific opportunities that involve geospatial mapping and GIS work will be listed here with other ongoing or potential projects.
Find other projects
Several Vassar staff and faculty are engaged with ongoing projects or are looking for students with interest and some experience using GIS to get other projects off the ground. A list of these project opportunities is kept here along with GIS-related CEL placements.
Start exploring on your own
Several students with little or no experience using geospatial mapping tools have worked to create maps for their theses or other class projects. To get access and support using these tools, request a GIS consultation with Academic Computing Consultant, Neil Curri. You can also explore What is GIS?, the introduction to geospatial mapping on this site, and/or the tutorials in the resources section.
Register for courses
Geospatial mapping tools and GIS are used across multiple departments at Vassar, from Geography and Earth Science to Biology to Anthropology and even History and English. Courses that teach core and advanced GIS skills include:
- GEOG/ESCI 220 – Cartography: Making Maps with GIS
- GEOG/ESCI 224 – GIS: Spatial Analysis
- GEOG 228 – Web Mapping: Advanced Approaches to Publishing
Other courses that have incorporated geospatial mapping tools in one or more lessons, projects, or labs include:
- ANTH 100 – Archaeology
- ANTH 170 – Topics in Anthropology
- ANTH 231 – Topics in Archaeology
- BIOL 352 – Conservation Biology
- ENGL 284 – New York Stories
- ENST 124 – Essentials of Environmental Science
- ESCI 151 – Earth, Environment, and Humanity
- GEOG 102 – Global Geography: People, Places, and Regions
- GEOG 256 – Geographies of Food and Farming
- GEOG/ESCI 260 – Conservation of Natural Resources
- GEOG/URBS 356 – Environment and Land Use Planning
- GEOG/ESCI 340 – Arctic Environmental Change
- PHIL 106 – Philosophy and Contemporary Issues
