Hopkins to offer online degrees to grad students
Hopkins is adding an online certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to its Environmental Sciences and Policy Program this fall.
The certificate will enlarge current online offerings of master's degrees in Bioinformatics and Environmental Planning and Management. It is comprised of five courses taken online.
In recent years, the growth of GIS has been staggering, largely due to its versatility. According to statistics published on the U.S. Department of Labor's Web site, the market is growing at an annual rate of almost 35 percent, while the commercial subsection of the market is expanding at a rate of 100 percent each year.
The system can be used to make accurate predictions based on data, visualize complex problems and optimize various processes.
While the certificate is not a degree, students working toward a master's degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy in the classroom can apply the online certificate's courses toward the requirements.
Student-professor interaction is facilitated through projects, papers and message boards.
John Boland, chair of the Environmental Sciences and Policy program, said there was no measurable difference between classes offered online and in the classroom.
"We can't see any difference in the test scores. The online students do as well as the classroom students do," Boland said.
The first class is an introduction to GIS. Those with previous experience can substitute a more advanced class. Four other classes, Remote Sensing: Earth Observing Systems and Applications, Introduction to Spatial Analysis with GIS, Advanced GIS Modeling and Development and Management of GIS Projects, cover a broad range of material.
GIS, though conceptually simple, forms the foundation for many valuable applications, such as acting as a tool that links data to geographical locations. GIS is used by most federal agencies to facilitate transportation, conduct environmental research and perform studies on voting behavior.
The certificate will enlarge current online offerings of master's degrees in Bioinformatics and Environmental Planning and Management. It is comprised of five courses taken online.
In recent years, the growth of GIS has been staggering, largely due to its versatility. According to statistics published on the U.S. Department of Labor's Web site, the market is growing at an annual rate of almost 35 percent, while the commercial subsection of the market is expanding at a rate of 100 percent each year.
The system can be used to make accurate predictions based on data, visualize complex problems and optimize various processes.
While the certificate is not a degree, students working toward a master's degree in Environmental Sciences and Policy in the classroom can apply the online certificate's courses toward the requirements.
Student-professor interaction is facilitated through projects, papers and message boards.
John Boland, chair of the Environmental Sciences and Policy program, said there was no measurable difference between classes offered online and in the classroom.
"We can't see any difference in the test scores. The online students do as well as the classroom students do," Boland said.
The first class is an introduction to GIS. Those with previous experience can substitute a more advanced class. Four other classes, Remote Sensing: Earth Observing Systems and Applications, Introduction to Spatial Analysis with GIS, Advanced GIS Modeling and Development and Management of GIS Projects, cover a broad range of material.
GIS, though conceptually simple, forms the foundation for many valuable applications, such as acting as a tool that links data to geographical locations. GIS is used by most federal agencies to facilitate transportation, conduct environmental research and perform studies on voting behavior.
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