Abstract
Developing and Implementing a Community College GIS Degree
Track: Designing GIS Curriculum for Higher Education
Author(s): Scott Jeffrey, John Walker
The field of GIS draws upon a diverse group of information technologies and scientific disciplines. This diversity makes GIS an exciting and popular discipline but at the same time makes the design of a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum a challenging exercise. To meet the growing demand for trained GIS technicians (who can take data and project it spatially) and trained GIS analysts (who can interpret spatial data and make informed decisions) the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) developed a Geospatial Analysis program. This paper will describe the evolution and design of this curriculum at CCBC. Developmental issues (from organizing a DACUM to developing an advisory board); organizational issues (including the positioning of the program within an academic division); and the barriers created by other disciplines, colleges, etc., will be examined.
Scott Jeffrey
Community College of Baltimore County
Geography
800 South Rolling Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
US
Phone: 410-455-6936
E-mail: sjeffrey@ccbcmd.edu
John Walker
Community College of Baltimore County
Enginnering
7201 Rossville Blvd
Essex, MD 21237
US
Phone: 410-706-7604
E-mail: jwalker@ccbcmd.edu