As GIS technology is increasingly used in a wide array of industries, there continues to be a growing need for, and anticipated shortfall of qualified GIS professionals.  The central goal of this project is to increase production of qualified GIS technicians to meet current and future workforce demands by creating an awareness of the technology.  Other project objectives include the following:

• Development of skill certificates that certify specific work-based competencies useful to industry
  
  
• Development of a standards-based curriculum, aligned across the three educational levels (high school, community college, and four-year university), designed to meet identified industry needs and linked to job descriptions
  
  
• Creation of articulation agreements that ensure that students are able to progress efficiently through the skills certificate and more traditional programs
  
  
• Preparation of high school teachers and post-secondary faculty to provide the GIS skills training
  
  
• Development of a Web-based GIS career awareness program to encourage students to pursue careers in the field and enhance enrollment in technician training and educational programs
  
  
• Sharing of the developed GIS skills certification and technician training program model with other educational institutions and communities.

Investigators

Eileen Goff
Project Principal Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
School of Business, Computer Studies, & Technology
San Diego Mesa College
7250 Mesa College Dr.
San Diego, CA, USA 92111
PHONE: 1 (619) 218 6463
FAX: 1 (619) 702 6225
EMAIL: EGoff@GeomorphIS.com

Ming-Hsiang Tsou (Ming)
Project Co-Principal Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Associate Professor
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
PHONE: 1 (619) 594 0205
FAX : 1 (619) 594 4938
EMAIL: mtsou@mail.sdsu.edu

Carl Eckberg
Project Co-Principal Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
PHONE: 1 (619) 594 6834
FAX : 1 (619) 594 6746
EMAIL: eckberg@cs.sdsu.edu

Otto Lee
Project Co-Principal Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Dean
School of Business, Computer Studies, & Technology
San Diego Mesa College
7250 Mesa College Dr.
San Diego, CA, USA 92111
PHONE: 1 (619) 388 2600
FAX: 1 (619) 388 2968 
EMAIL: olee@sdccd.edu

John Johnson
Project Consultant/Project Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
School of Business, Computer Studies, & Technology
San Diego Mesa College
7250 Mesa College Dr.
San Diego, CA 92111
PHONE: 1 (619) 388 2277
PHONE2: 1 (760) 635 9409
FAX: 1 (760) 634 7946
EMAIL: jjohnson@sdccd.edu

Karen Owen
Project Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Associate Professor
School of Business, Computer Studies, & Technology
San Diego Mesa College
F-102i
7250 Mesa College Dr.
San Diego, CA, USA 92111
PHONE: 1 (619) 388 2235
FAX: 1 (619) 388 2968 
EMAIL: kowen@sdccd.edu

Karen Schneiter-Williams
Project Investigator
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Professor
School of Business, Computer Studies, & Technology
San Diego Mesa College
F-102g
7250 Mesa College Dr.
San Diego, CA, USA 92111
PHONE: 1 (619) 388 2236
FAX: 1 (619) 388 2968 
EMAIL: kschneit@sdccd.edu

Research Assistants (by last name)

Gagan Arora(2005)
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Computer Science
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: gaganarora81@yahoo.com

Kimberly Dodson (Kim)(2005)
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: dodson@rohan.sdsu.edu

Cheena Garg
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Computer Science
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: cgarg@rohan.sdsu.edu

Anthony James Howser (Tony)(2005~2007)
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: ahowser@rohan.sdsu.edu

Ting-Hwan Lee
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Geography
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
PHONE: 1 (619) 594 5619
EMAIL: lee60rohan@gmail.com

Deepthi Pavagada
Graduate Research Assistant
A Scalable Skills Certification Program in GIS
NSF-ATE DUE #0401990
Department of Computer Science
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA, USA 92182
EMAIL: pavagada@rohan.sdsu.edu

The Research

The San Diego Educational GIS Consortium, comprised of San Diego State University, San Diego Mesa College (part of the San Diego Community College District), and San Diego City Schools, is developing a scalable GIS skills certification program to prepare students for entry into a range of jobs in GIS-related fields and for career advancement.

One of the goals of the project are to encourage underrepresented high school and community college students to pursue careers in GIS, and to provide a ladder of certification and education that enable students to work in GIS-related positions while pursuing further training and education.
Read the Research Abstract...
Read the Research Proposal...

The NSF-ATE DUE Program

This project is funded by an award from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program (NSF-ATE).  The NSF-ATE program is managed by the NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE).  DUE's mission is to promote excellence in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all students.  Their ATE program focuses on improvement in technological education at the undergraduate and secondary school levels by supporting curriculum development; the preparation and professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; internships and field experiences for faculty, teachers, and students; and other activities.
Read More About the NSF-ATE Program...
Read More About the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education...