Bachelor and Science Degree in Geographic Information Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: Program Development and New Opportunities

In 1995, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi implemented a Bachelor of Science degree program in Geographic Information Science. The program was planned by university faculty, researchers, an active member of the Texas surveying profession, and a senior GIS manager in a large Texas State government agency. The objective of this four-year program is to prepare students for a number of options upon graduation, including continuing education toward advanced degrees, employment in the Geographic Information Systems market, or Professional Land Surveying. The program offers two emphases: (1) Geographic Information Systems, or (2) Geomatics. Students with the GIS emphasis also earn a minor in Computer Science, and Geomatics students satisfy academic requirements leading to registration to practice Professional Land Surveying in the State. The number of students enrolled in the program has steadily increased as new courses have been offered each year and the program moved toward full implementation in academic year 1998-99. New opportunities for articulation with four-year universities and community colleges, collaborative grant-writing, industrial partnerships, and applied research are now being pursued. A multidisciplinary advisory team meets annually to assess the appropriateness of the curriculum and the progress of its students.