Abstract

Building a New Online Graduate Geospatial Program: Trials and Triumphs
Track: Teaching About GIS for Future Professionals
Authors: Devon Cancilla, Paul Capicik, Gene Ziegler, Richard Oliver

Building a new online graduate geospatial program presents a unique opportunity to shape a novel curriculum unencumbered by the legacy of existing courses or programs. However, this does not mean that an institution has an empty canvas on which to draw. Indeed, given that most Master's degree programs require 36 credit hours, roughly 12 classes, building a graduate level geospatial program requires significant thought and compromise. This is particularly true in geospatial education, where curriculum must mirror the truly cross disciplinary nature of the geospatial profession. This paper describes the design and development of a new online geospatial graduate program at American Sentinel University. How and why particular courses were developed and the focus of each course will be discussed in the context of advice from industry experts, advisory boards, geospatial competency models, technology limitations, and accrediting standards. Strategies for assessing and maintaining program quality and relevancy will be discussed.