Designing and developing a new online graduate geospatial program presents a unique opportunity to shape an innovative curriculum. Given that most Master’s degree programs are comprised of 12 classes or 36 credits, building a graduate level geospatial program requires significant thought and compromise. This is particularly true in geospatial education in which the curriculum must mirror the 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. Our Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS) was designed for working professionals who have domain expertise in fields other than GIS. The MGIS will provide these individuals with the geospatial skills and knowledge necessary to incorporate geospatial concepts and practice into their professional lives. Students that end their studies upon completion of the initial 5 classes (15 credits) will be awarded a GIS Graduate Certificate. Overall, our program consists of courses that are designed to blend core geospatial fundamentals with dynamic geospatial technologies and GIS applications. The program courses will be discussed in the context of advice from industry experts, advisory boards, geospatial competency models and accrediting standards. Finally, strategies for assessing and maintaining program quality and relevancy will be outlined.

1. Designing and Developing a New Online
Graduate Geospatial Program
Stephen A. McElroy, Ph.D., GISP
GIS in the Rockies
September 20, 2012

2. Announcement
American Sentinel University is pleased to announce two
new degree programs:
● Geospatial Information Systems Graduate Certificate (GISGC)
● Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS)
On September 19, 2012, our educational accrediting
agency – Distance Education and Training Council –
formally approved these degree programs.
We will begin offering GIS graduate courses in November
2012!!
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3. Who are we?
 Private, for profit, online, accredited university located in Aurora, CO.
 Founded in 2006 from the merger of three schools that were started in
the late 1980s.
 Currently offer associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in
business, information technology, business intelligence, GIS, health
care administration and nursing.
 Over 2,500 adult learners from around the world.
 Offered our first undergraduate GIS degree program in 2007.
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4. Currently Offer Two Online GIS Degrees
• Associate of Science Geographic
Information Systems (ASGIS)
• Bachelor of Science Geographic
Information System (BSGIS)
November 2012:
• Geospatial Information Systems
Graduate Certificate (GISGC)
• Master of Geospatial
Information Systems (MGIS)
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5. Mapping the Path to a MGIS Degree
1. Doing our homework
2. Getting advice
3. Debating the possibilities
4. Establishing the path
5. Finding the people
6. Measuring the outcomes
7. Building the courses
8. Following the rules
9. Considering opinions
10. Dealing with options
From - http://media.photobucket.com/image/treasure%20map 11. Marketing the program
12. Opening the doors
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6. Establishing the Path
The American Sentinel Master of Geospatial Information Systems
(MGIS) is designed for:
• Working professionals who have domain expertise in fields other than
GIS.
• The MGIS will provide these individuals with the geospatial skills and
knowledge necessary to incorporate geospatial concepts and practice
into their professional lives.
• Many students entering this program will come from work
environments that have historically not assimilated or effectively used
geospatial strategies, but where there is a growing recognition of the
value of this approach.
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7. Some Thoughts to Support the Path
• The 2011 ESRI User Conference theme: “Taking GIS from the
Professional to the Personal” supports the need to provide
geospatially focused educational opportunities that meet the
needs of non-GIS professionals.
• This is further reflected in an article published by Al Butler, the
president-elect of URISA about the need to revisit GIS job titles
and descriptions in order to better capture the changing nature
and pervasiveness of the geospatial field.
Al Butler, “A New Approach to Updating URISA Publications” in the
GIS Professional, A publication of the Urban and Regional Information
Systems Association, Issue 246 Nov/Dec., 2011, pp. 6-9.
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8. Describing the Path
The Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS) is a 36-credit hour
program designed to provide the working professional with the skills and
knowledge necessary to incorporate and effectively use geospatial
strategies in the workplace. Geospatial strategies are those that integrate
visual, spatial, temporal, social and contextual information in a manner
that allows individuals and organizations to more effectively understand
and solve complex problems.
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9. MGIS Program Outcomes
MGIS graduates will be able to:
1. Develop an understanding of geospatial principles and practices.
2. Develop a working knowledge of ArcGIS and other GIS related tools
used in developing and implementing geospatial strategies.
3. Collect, store, access and use geospatial data across multiple
disciplines.
4. Develop an enterprise level geospatial strategy.
5. Understand the ethical and legal issues associated with the use of
geospatial data.
6. Understand similarities and differences in geospatial strategies among
specific industries.
7. Design, develop and complete a GIS project.
8. Present geospatial information in a clear and professional manner.
9. Complete an e-Portfolio as evidence of academic achievement.
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10. Measurements Along the Path…
How do you know if you've arrived?
For some of the answers we turned to the Lumina Foundation
and the Geospatial Technology Competency Model
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11. Mapping Throughout the Program
American Sentinel University’s mission is to provide
Mission Statement high-quality, innovative degree and certificate
programs that enable students to enhance their
professional and civic lives.
Program Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Objectives
Module Learning Objectives
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12. Measuring Educational Outcomes
1. Applied Learning
2. Intellectual Skills
3. Specialized Knowledge
4. Broad, Integrative Knowledge
5. Civic Learning
http://www.luminafoundation.org
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13. GIS Course/ Program Map for Lumina
Outcomes Specific Outcome Evidence: Student e-Portfolio
Applied Course exercises and projects requiring the
Working skill with ArcGIS software, data
development of skills in using ArcGIS software and
learning acquisition and manipulation.
geospatial data.
Broad, Fundamental understanding of geospatial Research papers on data acquisition, data mining,
integrative data, information systems and software open GIS systems, and alternative commercial GIS
alternatives. software.
knowledge
Intellectual Knowledge of how to address geospatial
Research papers and project assignments in a wide
problems and to design geospatial
skills variety of fields with geospatial challenges.
investigations.
Specialized Skills with statistical integrity,
Coursework, comprehensive project assignments or
cartographic representation, data
knowledge capstones on topics of significant scope.
visualization and map interpretation.
Applying GIS skills and knowledge to
Research papers, projects, capstones on public
Civic learning address persistent challenges faced by
policy issues.
people and their communities.
Evidence: portfolio assessments, geospatial learning lab badges, prior learning, course
activities, external activities and student responses to each of the mapped areas.
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14. GIS Course and Degree Program Map for
Geospatial Technology Competency Model
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15. Course Level Mapping
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16. Following the Rules
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17. MGIS Program Details
Core Courses (5 courses – 15 credits)
• Geospatial Principles and Practice
Available to all students as a resource. Includes learning support,
American Sentinel Online Geospatial Learning Lab
• Geospatial Practicum Using ArcGIS Graduate
GIS activities and other resources to promote geospatial
• Geospatial Data Certificate
• Developing an Enterprise Level Geospatial Strategy
principles and practice across the curriculum.
• GIS Accuracy, Ethics & the Law
Course Track Project Track
6 Elective courses – 18 credits 4 Elective courses – 12 credits
+ 1 Project course – 3 credits + 3 Project courses – 9 credits
Elective Courses (7 courses – 21 credits)
• Web-based Applications and Resources for Geospatial Analysis
• Emerging Topics, Trends and Technologies in Geospatial Analysis
• GIS Applications in Health and Human Services
• GIS Applications in Business MGIS
• GIS Applications in Government
• GIS Applications in Defense, Intelligence and Public Safety
• GIS Applications in Environment and Natural Resources
• Geospatial Project Overview (required)
• Design and Development of a Geospatial Project
• Geospatial Project and Presentation
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18. GIS Course Delivery in Moodle
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19. COMMUNITY
KNOWLEDGE Access to Yammer and
Incorporate external expertise other tools to help build
and up-to-date information an online community
through RSS feeds
HELP
Include direct links to
various avenues of support
ACCESS
Link directly to tools needed
to complete the course
ArcGIS in the Cloud
Accessing ArcGIS in the Cloud
PRACTICE CONTENT ASSESSMENT
Provide opportunities Create and share Frequently check
to apply what they are relevant and reliable on student learning
learning information
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20. Geospatial Thinking Across the Curriculum
We believe that geospatial thinking is so important that we decided to
not only create new graduate GIS programs and revamp our
undergraduate GIS programs, but to add geospatial literacy to the list
of critical cross-disciplinary themes in our university-wide programs.
Business
GOAL: Exemplify (where
appropriate) the relevance
of geospatial technology
for problem solving in
Nursing major disciplines.
Technology
and
Health Care
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21. Initiative to Implement Geospatial
Thinking Across the Curriculum
Business
Nursing
and
Heath Care
Technology
Geospatially
Knowledgeable Graduates
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22. Two New Geospatial Graduate Programs
Geospatial Information Systems Graduate Certificate (GISGC)
Master of Geospatial Information Systems (MGIS)
• Currently recruiting new students
• First course begins in November 2012
• Admissions deadline is October 31, 2012
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23. Questions?
Contact:
Stephen A. McElroy, Ph.D., GISP
GIS Program Chair
American Sentinel University
Stephen.McElroy@americansentinel.edu
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24. www.americansentinel.edu
800.729.2427