Programs : Semester Exchange : Student Experiences
In Fall 2005, the inaugural group of students went to study at the Institute for Geoinformatics (IFGI) in Münster, Germany. Taking GIS classes in English and participating in research projects, the students had the opportunity to work with renowned GIS professors and study at one of the most reputable GIS schools. The students also participated in German language courses at the University of Münster. Between classes and homework, the students traveled all around Europe, visiting Christmas markets in Germany and Prague, the Amalfi Coast in Italy, Dublin, Switzerland, Paris, London, and more. The Münster exchange program allowed the students to get an international perspective on GIS, as well as travel and experience different cultures. Currently, one student from SDSU is spending the fall semester 2008 in Münster.
English Language Classes/Research
Complete Classes
- Open Source Spatial Statistics Tools (Dr. Pebesma)
- Reference Systems for GIS (Dr. Kuhn)
- User Interface Design (Dr. Krüger)
Short Courses (Guest Lecturers)
- Project Management in GI Projects
- Spatial Analysis
- People-based Geographic Information Science
- Spatial Data Infrastructures
- Spatial Databases
- Ethics in GI Science and Society
- Visualization of Spatio-Temporal Data
- Geographic Data Mining
Research Projects
English is the research agenda language.
- Semantics and Ontology for GIScience
- Cognitive Aspects of GIS
- Open Source for GIS
- Spatial Analysis with Open Source Tools
- Navigation Systems, LBS, mobile GIS
- Spatial Data Infrastructures
- OGC and ISO standards working groups
- Sensor Web Enablement
- Visualization
Deciding to Study at IFGI
Classes and projects
IFGI is renowned for GIS and geoinformatics
Financial Support
- Regular tuition paid through SDSU
- Scholarship money is available
Travel
- Experience different cultures and travel to foreign countries
- Fly cheaply from Dortmund (1-hour free train ride from Münster)
Münster: Site and Situation
- Cultural center of Westphalia
- Roman, medieval, baroque, and Catholic heritage
- University city: Third largest university in Germany
- “The most livable city in the world”
- “Model city of urban planning”
Münster and Germany Resources on the Web
- ifgi: Institute for Geoinformatics
- University of Münster
- City of Münster
- The German National Tourist Office
- Historic Highlights of Germany: Münster
Questions
For details about registration, housing, advising, and other issues, contact Dr. Jankowski, the current and former students of the SDSU-IFGI exchange.
Dr. Piotr Jankowski (Storm Hall 322): piotr@geography.sdsu.edu
Grant Fraley: fraley@rohan.sdsu.edu
Cristiano Giovando: giovand@gmail.com
Jennifer Larson: larson.jl@gmail.com
Martin Swobodzinski: mswobodz@mail.sdsu.edu