UI Coeur d’Alene To Offer Technology Degree, GIS Certificate
Tuesday, August 6 2002
Aug. 6, 2002^COEUR D’ALENE – The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene has added two new offerings to its academic roster in preparation for its semester kick-off Monday, Aug. 26.^ Starting this fall, students can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Technology degree at UI Coeur d’Alene. The degree program will provide an applied approach to technology supplemented with business theory. “This is a unique opportunity for students with an associate’s degree or certificate to use their technical training to go toward a bachelor’s degree,” said Pete Townsend, consultant at UI Coeur d’Alene and coordinator of Professional-Technical Student Support Services at North Idaho College. “Luckily, students are able to stay in Coeur d’Alene and pursue a four-year degree. It is a great opportunity, especially in a field like technology.”^ Students can begin pursuing the degree and attending UI classes as long as they have earned 26 semester credits. Some students will attend North Idaho College and UI simultaneously while working on the degree.^ North Idaho College is a reputable technical school, offering drafting and electronics courses, according to Townsend. “Coeur d’Alene became a natural place for UI to develop such a program,” he said. ^ Another natural fit for UI Coeur d’Alene is the addition of a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) certificate program. A computer mapping course will be offered this fall at UI’s Research Park in Post Falls.^“This program is unique in the Northwest,” according to Harley Johansen, head of UI’s geography department. “The GIS field is growing rapidly. For those who don’t have time to pursue a four-year degree, this is a perfect alternative.”^ GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, querying, analyzing and displaying geographic data. “Applications of GIS have expanded continuously during the past decade and GIS software has become very powerful, enabling complex problem solving in a variety of public and private sector settings,” Johansen said.^ The 15-credit certificate program is designed for individuals who want to learn GIS as a technical skill or for those who have GIS training, but need updated, advanced capabilities, he added.^ Individuals working for various companies and government and state agencies are attracted to the GIS certificate program, including employees of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, real estate and planning offices, emergency services and the county assessor’s office. “Plus, students from any major can supplement their degree with this certificate program,” Johansen noted.^ The GIS certificate program has been offered online for nearly a year-and-a-half. Offering a “live” class or two each semester at UI Coeur d’Alene will strengthen the program and the university’s overall outreach efforts, according to Wanda Quinn, program development specialist at UI Coeur d’Alene. For more information on UI’s GIS Certificate Program, go to: http://www.ets.uidaho.edu/gis-crt/. ^For additional information on the new offerings, contact UI Coeur d’Alene directly at (208) 667-2588, e-mail cdactr@uidaho.edu or stop by UI’s new location at the Harbor Center in Coeur d’Alene.^Contact: Wanda Quinn, program development specialist, UI Coeur d’Alene, (208) 667-2588, wquinn@uidaho.edu; Pete Townsend, consultant, UI Coeur d’Alene, (208) 769-3468, dctownse@nic.edu; Harley Johansen, geography professor, (208) 885-6216, johansen@uidaho.edu or Leslie Einhaus, University Communications, (208) 885-6489, lesliee@uidaho.edu^-30- ^LE-8/6/02-CDA/SCI^
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The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.