San Antonio College

Degree or Certificate Program and Concentrations

Learning Outcomes & Measures

I. Degree, Certificates or Concentration or Unit in Support of:

Associates in Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

II. Expected Program/Unit Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete the GIS courses should be able to:

· Describe the History of GIS

· Edit Vector Data features

· Create Data Base Management Systems

· Create and modify database tables

· Populate and update database values

· Import and export data between files and database software

· Normalize a database (1^st or 2^nd normal form)

· Query a database using SQL, QBE or other query methods

· Group, sort and analyze database records

· Generate database reports

· Work with Raster Data

· Create and Manage Topology

· Acquisition of Spatial Data

· Query Spatial Data

· Perform Spatial Analysis

· Create and Manage Metadata

· Customize GIS software interfaces (e.g. menus, tool bars) using built-in tools

· Write programs using scripting languages (e.g. PERL) and apply these to data handling tasks

· Develop well structured and documented computer programs

· Use flowcharts for program development

· Test and debug programs

· Implement well designed forms for a user interface

· Define event driven and object oriented programming

· Design and implement algorithms for geo-data handling and problem solving

· Design a database for a simple GIS application

· Develop a data dictionary for a GIS dataset

III. Measures of Program/Unit Learning Outcomes: The instructors within the GIS program use a variety of learning measures, including:

· Daily Assignments

· Periodic Examinations

· Collaborative Research Projects

· Classroom Simulation

· Problem-Based Learning

· Comprehensive Final Examinations

· Student Survey (Course Evaluation)

A. To ensure that our program/unit reaches these goals, our faculty members pursue the following outcomes:

· Offering a broad range of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) courses

· Develop appropriate lecture materials

· Develop intensive hands-on laboratory exercises

· Collaborate with students to develop professional relationships with the GIS community

B. To achieve these program/unit outcomes, faculty members employ the following strategies:

· Add an Internet course (GEOG 2470)

· Add a blended course (GEOG 2472)

· Perform a curriculum review

· Vary teaching strategies beyond lecture, some of which included group research, student research projects, and fieldwork.

· Participate in regular updates in training with this rapidly-changing technology through workshops, seminars, and conference attendance.

· Maintain professional relationships with former students to promote continued workforce development activities, some of which are supervisors in both the public and private sector.

IV. List of Courses in Degree, Certificate or Concentration Program or Unit in Support of:

Relevant Courses Listed under the GEOG Rubric

GEOG 1301 - Elements of Physical Geography

GEOG 2389 - Internship in Geography (for GIS job placement)

GEOG 2470 (same as CRTG 1411) - Introduction to GIS

GEOG 2472 (same as CRTG 2472) - Intermediate GIS

GEOG 2474 (same as CRTG 2474) - Advanced GIS

GEOG 2478 (same as CRTG 1421) - Remote Sensing and Raster GIS

GEOG 2479 (same as CRTG 2479) - Programming for GIS

Relevant Courses Listed under the CRTG Rubric

CRTG 1170 - Concepts and Careers in GIS

CRTG 1191/1291/1391/1491 - Special Topics in Cartography

CRTG 1411 (same as GEOG 2470) - Introduction to GIS

CRTG 1421 (same as GEOG 2478) - Remote Sensing and Raster GIS

CRTG 2264 - Practicum in Cartography

CRTG 2472 (same as GEOG 2472) - Intermediate GIS

CRTG 2474 (same as GEOG 2474) - Advanced GIS

CRTG 2479 (same as GEOG 2479) - Programming for GIS

V. Department Faculty and Staff (name and title)

Chair: Mr. G. Roger Stanley

Full-Time	Part-Time
Dr. Dean Lambert	Thomas Scott Girhard, Instructor
	Thomas A. Griffith, Instructor
	Eric Pimpler, Instructor
	Dr. Ryan Rudnicki, Instructor

APPROVED: ________________________________________ Date:____________

(Signature of Dean)

Five Year Review Assessments:

Five Year Review Assessments and academic related recommendations were addressed in this document by adding an Internet course (GEOG 2470), a blended course (GEOG 2472), curriculum review, and varying teaching strategies beyond lecture, some of which included group research, student research projects, and fieldwork.