HIST 486DHistory & GIS

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HIST 486D / 502 - History & GIS Professor Bradley Skopyk Fall 2026 Course Description: This course applies GIS (Geographic Information Sciences) to research and communication in the discipline of History and, more widely, in the Humanities and qualitative social sciences. Navigating the 'spatial turn' in the humanities is contingent upon the ability of emerging scholars to learn and implement new technologies and theories. Accordingly, this course builds basic competency in (1) literature and critical theory of the spatial turn; (2) hands-on technical use of ESRI's ArcGIS software suite for database development/management, digitizing and geo-rectification of historical maps, spatial statistics, and essential cartographic knowledge of coordinate systems, projections, and map design; and (3) spatial storytelling methods such as time animation, map making, augmented reality, and online presentation of maps and StoryMaps. Students will be expected to complete readings, GIS-related exercises, and a History/Humanities research project using GIS, among other assignments. No prior experience with GIS is necessary.