Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

The GIS courses in the program were designed to meet the learning objectives outlined in the US Department of Labor geospatial technology competency model (GTCM) (https://www.careeronestop.org/competencymodel/competency-models/geospatial-technology.aspx). GTCM categorizes competencies into five major tiers. Tiers 1, 2, and 3 include foundation competencies. Tiers 4 and 5 are geospatial industrial specific technical competencies. Here are the tiers:

• Tier 1 – Personal Effectiveness Competencies - soft skills 

• Tier 2 – Academic Competencies - cognitive functions and thinking styles 

• Tier 3 – Workplace Competencies - motives and traits, interpersonal and self-management styles 

• Tier 4 – Industry-Wide Technical Competencies - cross-cutting knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by workers within the geospatial technology industry 

• Tier 5 – Industry-Sector Technical Competencies - knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics that are specific to a specific segment in the geospatial technology industry. 

The specific segments in the geospatial technology industry include: 

1. Positioning & Data Acquisition, 

2. Analysis & Modeling, and 

3. Software & Application Development. 

The existing GIS curriculum at PSU offers GIS industrial-wide and sector-specific training with strengths in key GIS competencies. Students who complete the program will be able to master a majority of the following GIS competencies:

• Knowledge of the conceptual foundation of GIS and basic analytical operations

• Familiarity with geospatial software tools

• Knowledge of geospatial data models and quality

• Map projection and coordinate systems

• Map production and cartographic representation techniques

• Overlay and site suitability analysis and modeling

• 3D and terrain modeling and analysis

• Automate geospatial analysis methods

• GIS scripting languages

• Spatial database design and query languages

• Field data collection and integrate GNSS/GPS position data

• Photogrammetry

• Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for mapping

• Remote sensing systems and data

• Remotely sensed image classification and analysis

In addition, students who complete the program are expected to master the following general competencies.

• Interdisciplinary perspective

• Geographic and spatial reasoning and literacy

• Communication in writing, numeracy, oral, visual, and video presentation

• Critical thinking and problem solving skills

• GIS professional competence and conduct

• Research skills, methods, and ethics