GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY

A.A.S. DEGREE

Description
The Geospatial Information Science Technology (GIST) A.A.S. is a growing and exciting career field that allows users to see trends and patterns in crimes, health, environment, urban planning, business decisions, geosciences, agriculture, and more. GIST uses computer software, imagery (airplanes, drones, and satellites), location, and data (phones to online data) to map and analyze information. Students who earn an A.A.S in GIST will have received a comprehensive education and completed an internship to prepare them to enter the geospatial workforce as a GIST technician who has a wide variety of career options (cartographer, geospatial intelligence, remote sensing analyst, and more).

Program Learning Outcomes
1. Employ geographical analysis to solve problems or answer specific questions.
2. Perform geospatial workflows to solve a particular problem or make a particular decision.
3. Employ industry standard principles in the design of professional quality maps.
4. Configure a geospatial server for use in mobile mapping applications.
5. Use scripting language to streamline geospatial workflows.
6. Implement geospatial solutions to solve problems or answer specific questions through a final capstone experience.
7. Develop a GIST portfolio.


Requirements for Program Entrance
No previous courses are required. MCC Level 6 Mathematics Placement is needed. Students may be able to begin the program by taking a dual enrollment section of Digital Earth in high school.


Distribution Requirements

Credit Hours
FIRST SEMESTER: 15 Credit Hours
GEG 130 Digital Earth
3
GEG 131 Cartography
3
GEG 133 Introduction to Remote Sensing
3
MTH 160 Statistics I
3
ENG 101 College Composition OR ENG 200 Advanced Composition
3
First Semester Total:
15
SECOND SEMESTER: 15-16 Credit Hours
GEG 100 Physical Geography I Laboratory
1
GEG 101 Physical Geography I
3
GEG 230 Spatial Analysis and GIS
3
GEG 237 Web Mapping
3
OPEN ELECTIVE**
3-4
MCC GENERAL EDUCATION HEALTH & WELLNESS ELECTIVE (MCC-HW)
2
Second Semester Total:
15-16
THIRD SEMESTER: 15-16 Credit Hours
GEG 102 Human Geography
3
GEG 236 Geospatial Data Acquisition and Management
3
PROGRAM ELECTIVE*
3
PROGRAM ELECTIVE*
3
OPEN ELECTIVE**
3-4
Third Semester Total:
15-16
FOURTH SEMESTER: Credit Hours 15
GEG 238 Introduction to Geospatial Programming
3
GEG 239 Capstone Course in Geospatial Technology
2
CIS 100 Information Processing Fundamental
4
PROGRAM ELECTIVE*
3
OPEN ELECTIVE**
3
Fourth Semester Total:
15
TOTAL CREDITS:
60-62
* Students should consult with their advisor to select GIST electives. Choose from: GEG 104, 111, 200, 211, 215, 220.
**Students should each consult with their advisors to select open electives based on their mathematics placement, concentration, transfer plan, and career goals. If a student needs to reach MCC level 8 mathematics placement in order to take CIS 100, use an open elective to reach this math level. Recommended open electives also include AAD 104, AAD 105, COM 115, CPT 101, CRC 170, ENG 251, MET 101.