MCC is First College in State to Offer Online Associate Degree in Geospatial Information Science and Technology
March 28, 2022
New program addresses demand for technicians in a high-growth industry that is driving the Finger Lakes region’s and our national economies
BRIGHTON, N.Y. – Geospatial technology is all around us and part of our everyday lives. It allows us to find our destinations using a smart phone, warns us of approaching storms, tracks global warming, and provides intelligence that reveals trends in crimes, health, environment, business and more.
The geospatial technology sector is among the high-growth industries projected to have far-reaching impact on the nation’s economy and is in dire need of new professionals, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In collaboration with regional businesses and the National GeoTech Center of Excellence to increase the pool of skilled geospatial technicians, Monroe Community College is the first college in New York state to offer an online associate (A.A.S.) degree program in geospatial information science and technology (GIST).
Launched in spring 2022 with the support of a $468,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, MCC’s GIST program aligns with current and emerging workplace needs. GIST technicians use computer software; images taken from satellites, drones and aircraft; global positioning system (GPS); and data to map and analyze information. The ability to collect and analyze geospatial data is a skill set increasingly in high demand in the Finger Lakes region and beyond.
Jonathon Little, associate professor of geography, teaches students in MCC’s geospatial information science and technology program to map and analyze information.
Through classroom and computer lab experiences—and a blend of in-person and online courses for students seeking flexible learning options—participants learn to use specialized software to collect, convert and integrate geographical data into digital form. They will also gain skills in using geospatial data to produce data layers, maps, tables and reports and conduct spatial analysis. Innovative aspects of the program include virtual internship opportunities with organizations across the region and the globe, virtual one-on-one mentoring, and hands-on support from public and MCC libraries for students with limited or no access to computer technologies.
Upon program completion, students will be able to use geographical analysis to solve problems, produce professional-quality maps that incorporate industry standard principles, develop mobile mapping applications, and implement geospatial solutions to address real-world issues through a virtual internship as a final capstone experience.
“Geospatial technology is essential to understanding our environment and how it works, the conditions it’s in, the problems it’s facing, the changes that have occurred, and how organisms are affected,” said Lindsey Russell, an MCC alumna who returned as a nonmatriculated student after earning a liberal arts degree. “The most important thing I learned in my geospatial technology courses is to interpret data and to apply it to real-world issues.”
“Geographic technologies are increasingly important for understanding our complex world,” said Jonathon Little, associate professor of geography and director of GIST programs. “There are many jobs in the geospatial industry not only locally and regionally but also across the nation and the globe.”
Graduates can immediately begin their careers as remote sensing scientist/technologist, cartographer, urban planner, precision agriculture technician, mapping technician and geographer in various industry sectors, including education, business, government and nonprofits. The average starting salary for mapping technicians is $46,200 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The geospatial market is growing at a rate of 100 percent per year. We are constantly hiring,” said Andy Mendola, educational program manager for EagleView. “We have several people who are new hires we recruited directly from the relationship we developed with MCC.”
Graduates can also continue their education in pursuit of an advanced degree at a four-year institution, including at SUNY Buffalo, Cortland and Farmingdale.
Approved by the New York State Department of Education and the State University of New York, the new MCC program rounds out the college’s shorter-term GIST offerings—a one-year certificate as well as a credit-bearing microcredential geared for current workers and advanced students—that add up to an associate degree over time.
All courses in the degree program are offered online and some introductory courses are taught in person at MCC’s Brighton Campus. Registration for fall 2022, which began March 21, continues through August. For more information about the program and enrollment, call (585) 292-2200 or email admissions@monroecc.edu.