After enrolling in this course, you should click on the appropriate on-line orientation for the semester you are enrolled in this course.

Go to the orientation for...
Spring | Summer | Fall

After completing the online orientation (above) you should log into the Blackboard Vista system to read the syllabus and gain access to all the course materials.
Enter Blackboard Vista System

General Information About this Course
This is a basic introduction to the concepts and techniques of GIS.  Students will learn the principles and applications of GIS in general, and they will become entirely comfortable working with the fastest growing GIS package in use today (ArcGIS 9.x).

Textbook, Readings and Materials
Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop (2nd or 3rd edition), by Tom Ormsby and others, 2004, ESRI Press.  ISBN: 158948083X - Make certain the back pocket contains both CD-ROMs and that they are new (sealed). If the book is used there is a chance the software has already been utilized by someone else and will now be expired.

Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems (4th edition) by Michael N Demers, 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN: 978-0-470-12906-7.

You will also be using the resources of Blackboard Vista (a secure Web site at SAC) in order to complete this course.  Blackboard Vista is an online tool designed for Internet courses, and it provides you with tools such as email, discussion bulletin board, online quizzes, and direct access to your course grades.  Click here to enter the Blackboard Vista system. You can also access Blackboard Vista by typing this address (https://vista.alamo.edu) into your Internet browser and striking the "Enter" button on your keyboard. That link also provides you instructions if you have not used Blackboard Vista previously. Once you log in you will need to click this course (GEOG 2470.090).

Course Grading System
The total course grade will based on the four quizzes, a Midterm Exam, a Final Exam, the tutorial exercises in the book by Tom Ormsby, and participation in online discussion activities. 

Standard 10% letter grade cutoffs will be applied (e.g., A is 90% or more, B is 80-89.9%, C is 70-79.9%, etc).

Course Schedule - consult the syllabus in Blackboard Vista once you have enroled in this course.

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Contact Information:
Department of Chemistry/Earth Sciences/Astronomy
San Antonio College
1300 San Pedro Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78212-4299

Office Location: Chance Academic Center (CAC), Room 312

Phone: 210-486-0471
E-mail: (preferred) deanplambert@yahoo.com or dlambert@alamo.edu