Spring 2025: April 3 — May 1 (5 weeks)
Subject: CMSC
Course Level: 300
Number of Credits: 1 U.S. / 2 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Schedule: Thu 17:00 – 20:00 CET (Berlin) | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM EDT (New York)
Language of Instruction: Russian
Course Prerequisites: Russian B2 / Equivalent or higher

This course introduces modern techniques and methods for visualizing and analyzing geospatial data in social sciences. The course emphasizes uncovering spatial relationships and patterns in geospatial data by analyzing their characteristics using GIS software. Numerous real-world examples of spatial data will be provided and analyzed: population distribution, income inequality, housing prices, political elections, environmental pollution hotspots, pandemic spread patterns, satellite imageries of armed conflicts, etc. Also, the concepts of spatial spillover effects and spatial heterogeneity will be discussed.

The course consists of in-class discussions on basics of the geospatial analysis and computer exercises. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the basic skills to effectively use QGIS, R, and online tools for visualizing and analyzing geospatial data in their future professional or academic tasks.

Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose:
Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

Application Portal Instructions:
1) Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose file, and the title of the file should still be in English.
2) Refrain from using email addresses associated with Russian or Belarusian educational institutions.
3) While completing the “Required Information” section, ensure you fill in the “Province” field for your address.
4) Provide an address outside Russia or Belarus in both the “Required Information” and “Geographic Location Confirmation” sections of the “Online Course Application”. This ensures we can send your transcript.
5) You must press the “Sign” button twice during the application.
6) If you hold a bachelor’s degree, select “4th+” in the “Academic Year (online)” section.
7) Applicants either unaffiliated or affiliated with educational institutions in Russia and Belarus should list ‘Smolny Beyond Borders’ as their educational institution.
8) In the student ID section, enter ‘SBB’.
9) Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time. Save it as a separate file with this format: LastName_FirstName_CourseTitle for a smoother application process.