This resource paper on thematic cartography is part of a series designed to supplement undergraduate geography courses. It reviews recent developments in the field and identifies problem areas which warrant future attention. Cartography is defined as both the conceptual, problem-oriented research and the technical processes of map making. It explicitly introduces the graphic model nature of maps and the resulting implications for map-making methodology. The cartographic process is viewed as a source of transformations involving the selection of data from the real world, the transformation of these data into a graphic map, and the retrieval of information through an interpretive map reading. Chapter 2 reviews recent trends and developments in data collection. Chapter 3 examines recent trends in map production efficiency and effectiveness. Chapter 4 analyzes the visual, quantitative, optical, and tactual procedures for reading today's highly sophisticated maps. Chapter 5 describes the future direction of cartography as a scientific discipline. Also included is a list of selected readings. (Author/DE)