CCBC Geospatial Applications Program
The Community College of Baltimore County is one of the few community colleges on the east coast to offer a degree program in Geospatial Applications. The program was started in the fall of 2006 and is accredited by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. On March 1st, 2009, CCBC received statewide designation which allows for out of county students to take classes at in-county rate.
Students of all backgrounds are taking advantage of this program which feeds into the rapidly growing geospatial industry. A variety of ages are taking classes; from high school seniors to older adults in their late 60’s. Some students are seeking their first degree while others are returning for training and certification. With the downturn with the economy, more and more are returning to add a boost of GIS to their experience. Additionally, there is about a 3-2 male to female ratio.
Here is a breakdown of what the Geospatial Applications Program offers:
- Associate of Applied Science Degree
- 65-66 Credits
- 2 Year Program
- Transferable to a four year institute for a bachelor’s degree
- Introduction to Geospatial Applications Certificate
- 13 credits
- Provides immediate skills to enter the GIS workplace or as a way for skill enhancement
- Advanced Geospatial Applications Certificate
- 23 credits
- Provides additional experience in advanced spatial analysis and project design and management
- Focused on core courses and immediate employment
Transfer Options
For those who desire to pursue a four degree, an articulation agreement has been negotiated for students to transfer to the two largest transfer institutions in the area. Students who complete the A.A.S Degree in Geospatial Applications can earn junior and senior level credit through Towson University or the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. CCBC is the first community college GIS program in the country to be able to achieve such an aggressive articulation agreement.
Class Specifics
Class sizes are currently averaging about seven students. The introductory courses tend to have higher attendance with 10-16 students, and the advanced courses tend to be smaller with 3-6 students. Since the program is still relatively new, the class cohorts are slowly increasing each year.
Currently there are no classes offered online. Face-to-face interaction is important in GIS classes, specifically with Remote Sensing and GPS.
Beyond just the basic core classes of GIS, CCBC offers more specialized courses such as Decision Making Using GIS and Remote Sensing and GPS. Decision Making Using GIS focuses on the ArcGIS extensions (3D Mapper, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, etc.). Remote Sensing and GPS focuses on the principles of remote sensing and image interpretation as well as GPS software and technology.
In addition to ESRI’s ArcGIS software, students are exposed to other software programs. In the Remote Sensing and GPS class, students learn how to use Pathfinder Office, Terrasync, and ERDAS Imagine. The Adobe suite is also incorporated into map production with the use of Photoshop and Illustrator. As for software availability, enrolled students are provided with a free one year ArcView software license with all extensions.
Scholarships/Internships/Organizations
CCBC is currently establishing a series of scholarships to help with tuition for the program. As students are usually required to present posters/maps at conferences, the college will often help cost the student’s conference fees.
As internships can be a key boost to jump starting a career, a variety of paid and unpaid internships are made available. The positions are usually with local, county and state municipalities, non-profit groups, and local and regional businesses.
Although there are currently no GIS student clubs/organizations in place, CCBC students have expressed an intrest in forming a chapter of Gamma Theta Epsilon, an international honor society in geography.
Summary
The CCBC program appears to be very well organized. Although they may not offer online classes, schedule flexibility is shown with the provision of day and night classes. The small class sizes make an excellent learning environment for more one-on-one time with the professor. I believe the huge benefit of this program is the ability to transfer the A.A.S. degree. Most colleges do not have a transfer program set up and if they do, very few geospatial classes will transfer. If you are looking to move forward with a four year degree then this would be an excellent one to look into further. Check it out for yourself!
Thank you to Professor Scott Jeffrey for taking the time to provide this valuable information.
Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college. Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.
GIS Boot Camp vs. Traditional Teaching
I recently came across a post about the Introduction to GIS class at the University of Richmond. Kimberly Klinker changed up her Introduction to GIS class from the traditional lecture/lab format to a boot camp/project format. She did five weeks of teaching basic concepts of GIS and the ArcGIS software then used the remaining part of the semester to assign a project. Wondering what the result was? Well according to the article, it was a success. The class was able to present a project that helps students with disabilities transverse the campus (Read more on this project).
This teaching style may sound very strange and unorthodox, but the evolution of education is providing various techniques to help students learn. I must first commend Ms. Klinker for thinking outside of the box. I do not believe that the traditional style of learning through lecture is the best method for this technology. However, the boot camp method may also not be the best. You have to remember that each individual student has their own learning style. Some are able to use a self study workbook approach and learn more than sitting under the lecture of an experienced professor. Others may prefer the traditional classroom style, while there may be a few who even like to learn by trial and error through experience. Is there a particular learning style that works best for Geospatial Technology? I believe that this subject cannot be taught through just lecture. There must be some type of application. Having book knowledge is OK, but putting that knowledge to use is even better.
I like that fact that these students were able to take on a project from start to finish. Application, application, application is important! Knowing how to perform a task is one thing; being able to apply it is another. Students can be provided with the tools for Geospatial Technology, but they must also be able to discern when it is best to put them to use.
Does a mixture of learning styles produce the best environment for learning GIS, or is there a particular style that works best?
Loading ...Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota GIS Program
The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Department of Resource Analysis provides a Master of Science – Geographic Information Science degree. This degree consists of 41 semester hours. In addition to the master’s degree they also have a Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology which can be earned separately or concurrently with the master’s degree. These educational options are available between their two campuses; the Winona Campus and the Twin Cities Campus.
Saint Mary’s Department of Resource Analysis prides itself in allowing for “hands on learning”. This learning style embraces the ESRI technology in their labs and instructional materials. The class sizes are usually small and enable students to receive direct instructor support. Beyond the classroom, Saint Mary’s helps to develop networking opportunities for career placement and advancement.
On their website, Saint Mary’s University describes their program:
The program is suited for diverse interests and provides educational options for any learner no matter their background. Student centered learning is maximized through flexibility in offering distance-learning courses as well as multiple degree concentrations in natural resource management, homeland security/emergency management, business, policy administration, criminal justice, and/or project management.
Their students and alumni have received quite a bit a recognition and praise from various sources. These include:
- GIS Project Presentation at the International ESRI Conference
- Job Interview with the United States Postal Inspection Service
- Received Job as the Deputy GIS officer for all of Europe
- Student said that they went from no technology background to gaining effective GIS skills
- Described as putting top-quality professionals out in the GIS world!
To see what type of graduates this program puts out, check out some of their students’ work:
Graduate Project Video Presentations
Graduate Papers Online
Some of the topics include:
- Using GIS to Examine the Head Start Service Area in Winona County, Minnesota
- The effect of Tourist Attractions on the Crime Trends in the Growing Community of Shakopee, Minnesota
- Using GIS to Create a Gray Wolf Habitat Suitability Model in the Western Upper Penninsula of Michigan and Assessment of Wolf Pack Ranges
- Improving Geocode Match Rates of Valid Addresses by Combining Multiple Reference Data Sets
- Using GIS to Locate Target Markets in the Retail Banking Sector
The Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology falls under the Continuing Education Program. There are three different certificates available:
- Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Foundations
- Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Advanced Engagements
- Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Excellence
Each certificate requires 120 continuing education units with each continuing education unit equaling 10 hours of course time. The program is setup as an on-learning environment. The courses are described as:
The courses provided through this program are intended to ensure that geospatial and technology enthusiasts have access to, and are provided with, opportunities to remain current with technology in the field of Geographic Information Systems and related geospatial technologies.
Scholarships
Saint Mary’s University offers a variety of scholarships although none directly apply to GIS. One that caught my attention was the SGPP Faculty Staff Scholarship. The faculty and staff provide two scholarships of at least $1,700 which are available to students in any of the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs.
Learn more about Saint Mary’s University: http://www.smumn.edu/
Learn more about the Geospatial Program: http://www.gis.smumn.edu/
Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college. Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.
North Central Michigan Adds GIS Program
North Central Michigan is expanding their GIS program to include an Associate of Science Degree in Geographic Information Systems. The college just began a GIS certificate program for the spring 2009 semester. The first offered course, Introduction to Geographic Information Systems I, will allow students to learn the concept of GIS which will include basic mapping concepts, coordinate systems, georeferencing spatial data, and vector and raster data models. To fit the time needs of perspective students, this introductory course is currently being provided as a night class. Other classes will be added as the program expands.
Here is some dialog from a Petosky News-Review interview article with Sam McLin, associate dean of liberal arts:
“If you have ever played with programs like Google Earth or Onstar in your car, you have experimented with a basic form of GIS,” McLin said. “GIS is much more powerful and used in many fields. Exposing students to this here at NCMC may prepare them for future study in the earth sciences, civil engineering, biology or geography.”
Additionally, McLin said many government agencies, environmental consultants, surveying companies, municipal planning firms and power companies use GIS everyday.
“Any firm, organization, municipality or individual wishing to build, permit, tax or change the use of any land depends on someone using GIS,” she said.
The addition of the program is important to the college because it gives students more options.
“It’s important to the community because it will hopefully allow graduates to get a job, advance their career or start a new career path,” McLin said.
Another benefit? The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that many jobs that use GIS, such as surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists and surveying and mapping technicians are expected to increase 21 percent from 2006 to 2016.
“The GIS field is one of the few career fields expected to grow in the coming years,” McLin said. “The average salary is really good around the country. There are good paying jobs for a field that seems to be expanding.”
Read the full article
From their website, North Central Michigan College is described as:
…an open-door community college based in Petoskey. Through its University Center partnerships, students can take courses leading to certificates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from participating universities. North Central’s Institute for Business & Industry Training offers non-credit job skills training tailored to meet individual needs. In addition to its main campus in Petoskey, North Central offers classes, academic advising, testing and other services in Cheboygan, Gaylord and East Jordan.
This program looks like one to watch. I am interested to see how it grows with enrollment as well as course content. I encourage those in the North Central Michigan area to support this program and take a new course or two.
Breakdown the GIS PhD
Most GIS professionals are no where near the PhD level. Most are content at the Bachelor’s level or maybe the Master’s level. However, have you considered the PhD option? Is there any professional value in a GIS Phd? This topic is discussed in the Directions Magazine podcast: The GIS PhD Dilemma. Joe Francica and Adena Schutzberg discuss the pros and cons of this educational step.
Adena points out that the individuals that have a PhD in which she has encountered are working in the education field. And also the professors that she had while pursuing her geography degree, have received their PhD in Geography, not GIS. Additionally, she mentions two PhD in GIS programs:
University at Buffalo
PhD Degree in Geography with Specialization in GIS
http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/programs/phd/gis.shtml
The University of Texas at Dallas
Doctor of Philosophy in Geospatial Information Sciences
http://epps.utdallas.edu/gis/phd.html
Joe brought up an excellent question, do you get your degree in GIS the tool or GIS the Science? He also mentions that he hasn’t seen any job posts that require a PhD in GIS.
Is there a demand for this designation? Will you make the choice to follow this path? Listen to this podcast and make the decision for yourself.
