Undergraduate and Graduate Learning Pathways

A variety of targeted location intelligence-related educational opportunities are available in courses offered through UNT Geography and the Environment.
Key Location Intelligence Courses
The coursework summary below is intended to provide a menu from which students can choose any of many pathways to learning in the location intelligence field. The field itself is broad, so we want the options available to be many and flexible as well.

​Note, however, that there are three major areas that comprise our location intelligence course selections: (1) business, (2) health, and (3) analytics. Each course below is marked as belonging to one of these three areas.

Additionally, students should be aware that completion of coursework in the location intelligence area can contribute to progress toward two distinctive certificates: (1) the economic geography certificate, and (2) the health GIS certificate. Both are valuable in terms of rigorous career preparation, especially in combination with a cross-section of location intelligence courses as suggested here.

Undergraduate-Only Courses
​
  • GEOG 3100: US & Canada - Cities, Economies, and Sustainability
    • BUSINESS area
    • ​Analysis of the economic and urban environments that have developed in the United States and Canada. Examination of the cross-border relationships that tie the two countries, with a focus on the resource and population issues that relate to sustainable development.
  • GEOG 3500: Introduction to GIS
    • ANALYTICS area
    • ​Introduces the concepts and applications of computer-based spatial data handling, known as geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Illustrates the essential methods of GIS and its applications in fields including geography, business, administration, planning and environmental science. Students gain application skills via a series of practical exercises illustrating problem-solving strategies using up-to-date GIS software packages.​

Split Graduate/Undergraduate Courses*

  • GEOG 4195/5195: Geospatial Data Analysis and Visualization
    • ANALYTICS area
    • ​Survey of the software technologies and methodologies available to analyze and visualize large and complex datasets.
  • GEOG 4220/5220: Applied Retail Geography
    • BUSINESS area
    • ​Survey of the geographic principles and techniques used in the analysis of retail markets and locations. Examines the key characteristics of modern urban markets and commercial economies, and how geography makes a contribution to effective planning for retail firms.
  • GEOG 4230/5230: Location Intelligence - Business GIS Concepts and Applications
    • BUSINESS area
    • ​Survey of the geographic concepts and applications that support business decision-making. Examines the context for application of geographic methodologies and explores the analytical techniques that relate to the needs of businesses operating across the global economy.
  • GEOG 4550/5550: Advanced Geographic Information Systems
    • ANALYTICS area
    • Advanced spatial analysis through the use of specialized software and the design and development of spatial databases and applications. The course includes GIS data models, project planning, raster-based data manipulation and analysis, three-dimensional (3D) analysis, network analysis, and other advanced topics in spatial analysis. Students gain advanced application skills through practical exercises and implementation of a GIS project in an area pertinent to the student’s interests.
  • GEOG 4560/5560: Introduction to Python Programming
    • ANALYTICS area
    • Survey of advanced labeling and field calculation capabilities with Python, Python tools, toolboxes, add-ins, and raster processing in moving windows (neighborhoods). Develop skills to improve GIS productivity, implement customized GIS applications, and create new GIS tools using the Python programming language.
  • GEOG 4570/5570:Special Topics in GIS: Enterprise
    • ANALYTICS area
    • Survey of advanced cloud GIS software, leading to advanced GIS skills and capabilities
  • GEOG 4580/5580: GIS in Health
    • HEALTH area
    • Spatial analysis, geographic information system (GIS) and computational methods for public health applications including disease mapping, disease clustering and exposure modeling. Location-allocation methods for measuring access to health care services also are discussed.
  • CSCE 4820/5820: Computational Epidemiology**
    • HEALTH area
    • Application of computational methods to problems in the fields of public health. Design and implementation of disease outbreak models..


* Split graduate/undergraduate level courses can be taken at either the graduate or the undergraduate level.
​** Can be taken as GEOG 4960/5960.

Note that undergraduate research and graduate thesis research experiences are available for students meeting our program and registration criteria. See the section below for more insight into these possibilities.

Student Research Topics

Research can be a useful part of a degree plan for both graduate and undergraduate students.
  • For students pursuing a graduate-level education, one of the best ways to gain location intelligence research and analytical capabilities is to complete a thesis as part of our MS in Applied Geography program.
  • We are also happy to talk with undergraduates who would be interested in completing a more limited research paper to complete a special topics class, such as to complete the capstone requirements for our UNT Geography BS/BA degree programs.
Below are a few representative research topics that UNT location intelligence students have completed.

​Ethan Portillo, 2019, Thesis Topic: The Geography of Retail Clinics Post Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

Where Can These Learning Experiences Take Me?

Sample UNT Geography Alumni Positions*

Manager of Market Analytics
AXIOMetrics, Dallas TX
Director of Spatial Analytics
Buxton Co., Fort Worth TX
Commercial Real Estate Strategy Portfolio Manager, Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto CA
Lecturer: Geospatial Information Technology
Northeastern University, Boston MA
Research Analyst
Catalyst Commercial, Dallas TX
Associate Manager, Market Planning
​KFC/Yum Brands, Louisville KY
Manager - Market Strategy
Advance Auto Parts, Roanoke VA
Market Analyst
Invesco Real Estate, Dallas TX
Strategic Portfolio Planning
US Bank, Minneapolis MN
GIS Manager
CBRE, Dallas TX
Vice President, Site Selection
​Peloton Commercial Real Estate, Dallas TX
Business GIS Analyst
City of Plano, TX
Lead Market Analyst
Medcore Partners, Dallas TX
Senior Site Research Analyst
BJ's Wholesale, Westborough MA
Client Services
High Definition Logistics, Southlake TX
* Present and past positions held by our UNT Geography alumni. This is just a small sample of the total roster of position titles held by UNT Geography alumni across the United States.
Questions about career possibilities in the location intelligence learning area?

Summary

Location Intelligence Areas of Pursuit

Research Publications

We disseminate the results of our location intelligence research in peer-reviewed venues. Click here for a sampling of our journal publications.
Conference Leadership

We present in key conference venues covering applied geography, business geography, and complementary fields. Click here for a sampling of our recent presentations.
Learning Opportunities

We offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses. Click here for a summary of the educational opportunities we provide.
Professional Practice

We practice what we teach and research. Click here for a listing of UNT Geography graduates who are active in location intelligence professional practice.