Geospatial Technology Courses Focus on Workforce Expansion
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
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Thanks to more than $1.7 million in federal and state funds, St. Louis Community College has begun expanding its geospatial technology course offerings.
With these funds, STLCC will focus on geospatial workforce expansion to engage students for STEM occupations with three new certificates to be used for high-demand employment and as components of a future credit program that leads to an associate of applied science (AAS) degree or as a pathway to further education.
- Commercial drone pilot training will include hands-on drone training in a netted structure and classroom instruction. Course completers will receive a certificate and be eligible to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 107 licensing exam for commercial drone pilot.
- The survey technician program will include classroom and field training using state-of-the art equipment and will result in a certificate of specialization.
- A geographical information systems (GIS) certificate of specialization is under development.
There is a lack of certificated training programs to meet workforce demand and to provide a pathway for advancing STEM careers with GIS degrees. A FAA license for commercial drone piloting is a gateway to begin geospatial information and other STEM career tracks.
The new courses will create career opportunities for those historically underserved in this and other STEM career fields. Women represent only 6.7% of drone commercial pilots (FAA, 2019) and are underrepresented in all STEM careers (27%). Black workers represent only 9% of the STEM workforce (U.S. Census 2021).
Think you have what it takes to enter the field of geospatial technology? Apply now.
GIS Student Testimonials
Still not convinced? Read what some current students have discovered about these courses.
Q: Preferred name, pronouns, job title:
A: Hunter Heimburger (he/him)
Q: What program are you studying and what degree (if applicable) are you pursuing at STLCC?
A: Core 42 program
Q: What are you doing career-wise now and what are your current job/responsibilities (if applicable)?
A: I am currently a sales associate at Rally House. I also have a business called Sky High St. Louis LLC, and currently do drone photography and videography.
Q: What led you to take classes at STLCC?
A: I want to save money on my tuition and do not want to leave home just yet. I chose to take the GIS course at STLCC originally as a class to go with my current degree but realized that it could greatly benefit my future plans and then decided to add a minor in the field when I transfer to Southeast Missouri State University.
Q: What do you like best about your classes?
A: I like the small class sizes and the accessibility of the instructors outside of class.
Q: How did you develop an interest in geographic information systems courses?
A: I developed an interest after seeing an Instagram post advertising the courses.
Q: How will the STLCC offerings prepare you for a career related to GIS? (urban planning, environmental management, disaster response, etc.)?
A: The STLCC classes helped prepare me for a career related to GIS by teaching me the rules and regulations of GIS and drones. I plan to transfer to Southeast Missouri State University for a degree in wildlife conservation and management with a minor in unmanned aerial systems.
Q: Did the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency construction influence your decision to study GIS?
A: Before I took the course, I knew nothing about the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I would love to see more courses related to flying drones or surveying.
A: Marie McCool (she/her), theater manager at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley
Q: What program are you studying and what degree (if applicable) are you pursuing at STLCC?
A: Not pursuing a degree, just took the class to learn something new.
Q: What are you doing career-wise now and what are your current job/responsibilities (if applicable)?
A: I manage the Terry M. Fischer Theatre on the Florissant Valley campus and am the designer for all the theatre productions.
Q: What led you to take classes at STLCC?
A: I work for the College, am a graduate of the deaf communication studies program and I believe we have some fantastic professors at STLCC.
Q: What do you like best about your classes?
A: I love to learn new things.
Q: How did you develop an interest in the geographic information systems courses?
A: Tom McGovern mentioned it at a meeting, and I signed up.
Q: How will the STLCC offerings prepare you for a career related to GIS (urban planning, environmental management, disaster response, etc.)?
A: I only took the first class but enjoyed it greatly. I may pursue it further later on. I would be interested in using it for both disaster response and real estate.
Q: Did the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency construction influence your decision to study GIS?
A: No.
Q: Are you interested in this as a hobby or for a career?
A: Undecided at this time.
Q: Are you more interested in courses related to flying drones or surveying?
A: Both, but flying drones is far more fun!
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I hope that as these offerings expand learning to fly a drone is separated from all the regulations needed to become a licensed pilot. There is so much training needed in both areas, and it would be helpful if they were divided, and each area expanded. I had a great time in the class, learned things I never thought about before, and if I were an undecided 18– to 20-year-old college student, I would very likely consider it as a career option.
A: Willie Banks III (he/him/his), enrollment service counselor at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley.
Q: What program are you studying and what degree (if applicable) are you pursuing at STLCC?
A: I currently am not studying a program, but I hope the Geographic Information System program will be offered at STLCC soon.
Q: What are you doing career-wise now and what are your current job responsibilities (if applicable)?
A: My current duties include helping students with the admissions and financial aid processes at Florissant Valley.
Q: What led you to take classes at STLCC?
A: I have worked at STLCC for 22 years and know what kind of diverse programs and classes we offer. Over the years I have taken classes that interest me just for personal growth, not really to obtain a degree.
Q: What do you like best about your classes?
A: I like the teachers. I can tell the enthusiasm in which the instructors teach. Obviously, these are fairly new classes, and the teachers are going above and beyond to share their knowledge of the subjects and trying to pique our interest in this new program.
Q: How did you develop an interest in the geographic information systems courses?
A: I learned about the drone class through the instructor, Louis Kelly. He came to my office in the Administration building to take care of business that he had in the Enrollment Service area at the beginning of the fall of 2023 semester. He talked about his class with me and my coworker. Both my coworker and I were interested in taking the class. But based off our work schedules, I was the only one able to do it. My interest also grew when drone information was presented during a breakout session at the fall professional development day. Subsequently, I learned about the geographic information systems courses that this class would be a part of. I also signed up for GIS:101 Intro to GIS, along with the drone class GIS:102 Intro to Unmanned Aircraft System.
Q: How will the STLCC offerings prepare you for a career related to GIS (urban planning, environmental management, disaster response, etc.)?
A: I have learned about the wide varieties of opportunities that drones are being used for, and I can see myself making money on the side for doing something that’s new and up and coming. Flying drones really doesn’t seem like work to me, it seems like something I would do for fun anyway.
Q: Did the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency construction influence your decision to study GIS?
A: The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency construction didn’t influence my decision to study GIS. My son got a drone for Christmas about 10 years ago, and now I learned that drones can do more things besides just being a remote-control vehicle to play with. I decided to see what I can do and how I can use them.
Q: Are you interested in this as a hobby or for a career?
A: Right now, this is a hobby for me, but it could be more depending on how lucrative it can be. It’s something I can be certified in, and something I can benefit from while I decide if I can maybe make this into a career.
Q: Are you more interested in courses related to flying drones or surveying?
A: Right now, I am interested in learning how to fly drones and get more skilled at it. But after seeing some of the videos that my instructor Louis Kelly does, I can see myself getting into surveying and other things, too.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I have shown pictures and shared information to family and friends about the drone class that I’m taking, and they all think it’s pretty cool. Some have even inquired about how they can take the class. I’m not just telling them to show what I’m doing, I’m showing them because I’m excited about the class and learning about flying drones and the GIS classes personally.