A compass, quill and other mapmaking tools lie atop an old map of the world

Library Resources

G&ES master's theses - library catalog search

currently available for review in the Library.

G&ES Student Handbooks 

The Department maintains a Student Handbook specifically for G&ES students. It provides information about resources and opportunities of special interest to G&ES students in G&ES, in other departments, and in the Chicago region. There is an and a . Pick one up at the main office in Room BBH 346A.

G&ES Syllabus Mapping Form

Use this syllabus mapping form to better understand the syllabi for your G&ES courses. 

Internship Databases

Students preparing to take on an internship may look through the Department's database of past internship reports. These include a daily log of activities, an executive summary of the experience, contact information for field supervisors and a reflective essay. Inquire with your advisor or in the Department office at ges@neiu.edu.

GIS Databases and Software

A great deal of information is available online. Here are some premier sites:

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  • : View 195,000 searchable databases.
  •  is a great source for maps. 
  •  (vector),  and (raster) are open source graphics programs;  is a 3D modeling tool.
  • or QGIS is an open source GIS program.
  • , also open source.

GIS Bootcamp

This online GIS bootcamp is an additional resources available to students studying GIS at NEIU. With these courses you will create a data workflow, analyze geographic data, create a map dashboard, and set up a GIS data repository in the cloud. 

Interesting Links

G&ES students make good use of technology in classes and in the field. With so many GIS classes, Interactive Cartography and Cartography, there is always something new. Here is a sample of sites we find particularly interesting.

  • A globe showing thousands of radio stations around the world. Choose any, listen in real time at .
  • Here's current in the United States and in real time.
  • Generate isochrones (travel time contour maps) with interactive tool .
  • is a quick isochrone generator for selected city areas (including Chicago).
  • The Department of Transportation recently published this .
  • The is the Center for Preventative Action's world map. 

American Psychological Association (APA) Style

This is the required style for professional writing at the graduate level in the Department of Geography & Environmental Studies. Undergraduate students would do well to study this style as well, but it is less likely to be required in their written papers.

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