University to Announce Accreditation at Annual Geospatial Summit
Herndon, Virginia (Feb. 23, 2015)—The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) announced the online graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence from the Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) at the University of Southern California (USC) as the 12th collegiate program to receive USGIF accreditation.
SSI launched in 2010 and now offers students a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in geodesign, geospatial intelligence, geospatial leadership, geohealth, spatial studies, and geographic information science and technology.
“We’re well-situated to present a cutting edge and vibrant set of academic programs and research to achieve measurable success,” said Dr. John Wilson, SSI director as well as a professor at the institute. “Everything we do at SSI is interdisciplinary and we are dedicated to helping students look outward for opportunities, especially in geospatial intelligence.”
Students completing the SSI’s online graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence are also eligible to receive a USGIF GEOINT certificate. Students who graduate from USGIF-accredited programs receive—along with their accompanying college degree or certificate—USGIF’s GEOINT certificate, which helps ensure the GEOINT Community has a robust workforce. To date, more than 470 students have graduated with USGIF GEOINT certificates from accredited schools across the United States, and several more university programs are in the pipeline.
“USC’s SSI is particularly well regarded for expertise in GIScience and spatial analysis,” said Dr. Maxwell Baber, USGIF’s director of academic programs. “This new online geospatial intelligence program provides another excellent option for current and aspiring GEOINT analysts working to advance their professional capabilities.”
USC’s accreditation will be formally announced Feb. 27 at SSI’s 2015 Los Angeles Geospatial Summit. The summit will focus on emerging trends in GIScience intersections with unmanned aerial systems, location-based data, community health, and more.
USGIF is sponsoring the event, and USGIF CEO Keith Masback will give a luncheon keynote where he will announce SSI’s accreditation and present the institute’s leadership with a certificate of accreditation.
“The Institute has been presenting the summit to foster a sense of community among students, faculty, and professionals in the geospatial world of the greater Los Angeles area,” said Susan Kamei, SSI associate director. “We wanted to offer an annual opportunity for all participants to learn from geospatial leaders as well as from students through their paper and poster presentations. It’s a chance for all to share ideas and expand their networks.”
About USGIF
USGIF is a nonprofit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and developing a stronger GEOINT Community with government, industry, academia, professional organizations, and individuals who develop and apply geospatial intelligence to address national security challenges. USGIF’s mission is to build the community, advance the tradecraft, and accelerate innovation.
For more information, please visit www.USGIF.org and follow USGIF on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.