Course Review: PAD 550 GIS

This semester I enrolled in PAD 550 Geographic Information System. While this course is not one of the more traditional MPA courses, it does fall under the GIS micro-credential and is a good tool for many public administration careers. GIS can be used in mapping parks, measuring impervious surfaces for the water district, planning disaster prevention, and more. Overall, this course is about developing an understanding of, and being able to use GIS in an efficient manner. 

Going into the class I had no knowledge or understanding of GIS. While taking this course in an online format made me a little nervous, the instructor provided all of the needed materials and resources to succeed. The online lectures demonstrated tasks in the weekly labs, and the weekly office hours allowed for the opportunity to work through problems one-on-one with the professor. Additionally, the feedback on submitted labs was quick and focused solely on how we could further develop our skill sets by providing tips or explanations. 

All of the lectures, labs and quizzes ultimately lead to the semester's final project. The final project is designed by the student utilizing the learned GIS skills. For example final project topics have included Active Shooter Scenarios on NKU's Campus, Colerain Township Land Use, New Residents of Cincinnati Availability and Accessibility of Identifying Parks, Commercial Buildings and Schools, and Improving Disaster Response Times to Licensed Daycares. Being able to customize this project allows the student to take the skills learned and apply it to their chosen career path.