Southeast to offer first geographic information science degree program in state

Southeast Missouri State University plans to offer a new bachelor’s degree in geographic information science, starting with the 2017 fall semester.

Southeast would be the first public university in the state to offer this degree, school officials said.

The board of regents approved the new degree program at its meeting Thursday in St. Louis.

The Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education must approve the program before it can take effect.

Labor-market experts predict geospatial information scientists, technologists and remote-sensing scientists will be in high demand to fill new jobs in the coming decade, according to John Kraemer, Southeast professor of biology and environmental science.

He said federal and state governmental programs and private companies are developing or have developed new employment opportunities for graduates from this major, and the new program will address regional and state needs as well.

Graduates of the program will be well positioned for high-paying jobs with a median starting salary of $83,000 to $91,000 at private companies, such as Google and GPS navigation software and development companies, or with local, state and federal governments, Kraemer said.

Karl Kunkel, Southeast provost, said initial enrollment in the program is anticipated to be about 15 students, growing to nearly 60 by the fifth year.

Southeast’s College of Science, Technology and Agriculture will offer most of the courses for the degree program.

In other action, the regents approved a $114 million operating budget as well as auxiliary operating budgets totaling $37.8 million for fiscal year 2017, which begins July 1.