Graphic Design in Cartography
Studies map design as graphic communication, covering organization, symbolic coding, color, and lettering. Students design web maps using GIS software and apply visual storytelling principles.
Summary
Past student reviews · Robert Roth
Historical instructor Robert Roth condensed a large amount of material into short periods, creating an extreme workload with rigid deadlines.
What you’ll be able to do
Explain how maps work by justifying design decisions.
Design maps while applying principles of visual storytelling genres and tropes; bivariate and multivariate mapping; visual layout and balance; terrain representation; time representation; iconic map symbol design; and aesthetics and style.
Execute original map designs for the web from conceptualization to delivery while estimating and managing the time needed for an open-ended design project.
Acquire and prepare geographic datasets.
Follow and deviate from a cartographic workflow using contemporary cartography and GIS software.
Discuss cartographic design within its broader historical and social contexts.
Provide constructive feedback for peers and self during the process of design
Place design principles within the contemporary cartographic literature.
Source: UW Guide
Grade history
↗All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors
Prerequisites
Course mapGEOG 370 or graduate/professional standing
“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.
Prerequisite text tree
- Any of
- GEOG 370
- graduate/professional standing
Professors
Spring 2027No instructors recorded for this selection.
Historical instructors & teaching patterns
ROBERT ROTH is recorded teaching in Fall 2012, Fall 2013, Fall 2015, Fall 2016, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2025. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.
Calendar & sections
Spring 2027Schedule loads here as you scroll.
| Section | Mode | Enrolled / capacity | Waitlist |
|---|
Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.
Meeting source records
Student experience
the class
Past student reviews · Robert Roth
Students described the course as fine but noted that the intense workload and rigid deadlines required significant personal sacrifices.
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2024: 3.88 GPA, 90.0% A/AB (n=30 letter grades); Spring 2025: 2.70 GPA, 60.0% A/AB (n=10 letter grades); Fall 2025: 3.81 GPA, 85.7% A/AB (n=21 letter grades).
difficulty & workload
Past student reviews · Robert Roth
Historical instructor Robert Roth condensed a large amount of material into short periods, creating an extreme workload with rigid deadlines.
Past student reviews · Robert Roth
A student who received an A stated they would likely not take the course again because they had to abandon other parts of their life.
Topics
- Map organization, symbolic coding, color, and lettering
- Bivariate/multivariate mapping, terrain and time representation, icon design, and aesthetics
- Historical and social contexts of cartographic design
Skills
- Justify cartographic design decisions
- Apply visual storytelling, layout, and symbolic coding to map design
- Manage open-ended web map design projects
- Acquire and prepare geographic datasets
- Use contemporary cartography and GIS software
- Provide and receive constructive design feedback
Grades
Latest available · Fall 2025— not enough history to project Spring 2027.
Grade distribution · % of letter grades
Grades over time
Through Fall 2025
More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data
Not enough comparable courses for Spring 2027 in UW–Madison.
Sources & history
Catalog & offerings
Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.
Catalog observation history
Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.
Selected offering source records
No offering records for the selected term.
Raw records
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Student reviews
Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.
Read original reviews
Grade history
Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.
Explore recorded gradesRecorded 2026-10-14
Model outputs & technical records
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces
Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.
Model & dataset provenance
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"task_version": "17",
"output_id": "4cf748e8eadb6f797265d46164c66593381119d8e418699c9076527f2b9cd5af",
"requirements_status": "valid",
"dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
"observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}