15.5 What Types of Educational Opportunities Are Available with Geospatial Technology?

Beyond K–12 involvement, geospatial technology is integrated into the curricula of higher education programs internationally. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) provides a framework for geospatial skills that are key for today’s workforce and workforces of the future—a framework that has been used as the basis for educational curriculum development by the GeoTech Center. Geospatial technology course offerings are increasingly to be found in college and university geography departments, but also within civil engineering, natural resources, environmental sciences, and geology programs. Bachelor’s degrees may offer some sort of concentration in geospatial technology, or at least provide the option to take several courses as part of the major. A minor in GIS or geospatial technologies is also a common option in geography departments. Graduate programs (both master’s and doctorate degrees) in geography often have an option to focus on aspects of geospatial technology.

However, with the growth of the geospatial field, it’s now possible to get a higher-education degree in geospatial technology (or GIS, or geographic information science, depending on the name of the program). Bachelor’s, master’s, and even doctorate programs have become available at several universities. Some of these are interdisciplinary programs, involving elements of various social sciences or computer science, and often integrate elements of information technology like programming, creation of databases, or Web design. For instance, Youngstown State University offers a bachelor’s degree in “Spatial Information Systems,” which combines elements from the geospatial side of the geography discipline with computer-related coursework in programming and databases, classes in CAD and professional writing, and an option for the student and advisors to design a set of courses for specific applications (such as environmental science, biology, or archeology).

Certificate programs are also a widespread option for geospatial education. These programs vary from school to school, but typically involve taking a structured set of geospatial classes (perhaps four to seven classes total). These programs tend to be focused squarely on completing the requirements for a set of courses, and are often available at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For example, the Geospatial Certificate at Youngstown State University involves students taking four required courses—an introductory mapping or geospatial class, an introductory GIS class, an introductory remote sensing course, and either an advanced GIS or advanced remote sensing class. Students take an additional two courses, chosen from a pool of options, including field methods, GPS and GIS, a geospatial-related internship, object-oriented programming, and database design. Certificates and degree programs are also becoming increasingly available at the community and technical college level (see Hands-on Application 15.9: Degree Programs and Certificates for Geospatial Technology for some further investigation).

Professional certification in geospatial technologies is also available. GIS Professional (GISP) certification is offered by the GIS Certification Institute to applicants who pass a portfolio review which includes contributions to the GIS field, evidence of candidates’ professional experience, and their level of achievement in education. Esri offers technical certification based on an exam. ASPRS offers certification status to candidates in several geospatial fields, including Certified Photogrammetrist, Certified Mapping Scientist in GIS/LIS, and Certified Mapping Scientist in remote sensing.

With geospatial technology being used in so many different fields, students from outside the discipline of geography may seek out a couple of courses or aim at certification, to give them the kind of formal background in geospatial technology that will assist them when they apply for positions in their own field (be it business, real estate, archeology, geology, or human ecology). Online courses are being offered by a variety of schools to allow students to complete a geospatial certificate or degree remotely, and “virtual universities” offer students at one school the option to take a geospatial course with a professor at another school. Even more specialized courses are being developed—for example, today you can receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in piloting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).