Abstract: With the development of geography, surveying and mapping science and technology, information technology and other disciplines, the core curriculum system of geographic information science (GIS) is facing the need of revision and improvement. How to design a course system suitable for this major, and what factors need to be referred to, are issues that need to be discussed urgently. Based on the comparative analysis of the GIS major core curriculum system of Peking University, Nanjing University and Beijing Normal University, this paper discusses the design principles and practice process of the GIS major core curriculum system of Wuhan University in detail, and puts forward several factors affecting the curriculum system design, including academic support, social needs, teacher structure, etc., which can provide useful reference for the design of GIS major curriculum system of other universities.

Key words: geographic information science education, professional setting, curriculum system, discipline basis, top undergraduate major