CET Proceedings 13

Proceedings of the Seminars on Developing the ICA-CET Internet Cartography Course
held at Beijing (China), August 9, 2001 and Helsinki (Finland), May 28, 2002, published in 2003

David Fraser
Department of Geospatial Science
Faculty of Applied Science, RMIT University
Australia

REPORT ON CARTOGRAPHIC EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIAN STATES AND TERRITORIES
CARTOGRAPHY PROGRAMS
2002

Australia is subdivided into six States and two Territories. In 2002 only two of the States have degree level cartography programs. One is at the Curtin University in the State of Western Australia and one at the RMIT University in the State of Victoria.

There is however a number of programs that include courses in the mapping sciences (Cartography, GIS, remote sensing, photogrammetry, etc) as part of their program structure. Discipline areas that include mapping science studies include:

Agricultural sciences
Earth sciences
Environmental studies
Geography
Geology
Land resource management
Land surveying
Natural resource management
Rural systems management
Spatial Information Science
Town planning

Provided below is a State/Territory breakdown of cartography and mapping science related programs available in Australia.

VICTORIA

RMIT University

Department of Geospatial Information

Multimedia Cartography - Bachelor of Applied Science

Overview

The Bachelor of Applied Science in Multimedia Cartography focuses on the use of New Media for mapping and its related professions. It has been designed to enable students who are interested in multimedia, information technology, design, electronic publishing and geography to undertake a program that combines all of these skills areas to provide a program that focuses on innovation and unique solutions that enable better visualisations of the world we live in.

Duration - Three years full-time or six years part-time

Professional Recognition

A holder of the Bachelor of Applied Science in Multimedia Cartography is academically eligible for admission to the Institute of Mapping Sciences Australia (MSIA) and the Australasian Urban & Regional Information Systems Association (AURISA). Undergraduates are eligible for student membership of each of the above organisations.

Career Prospects

Employment prospects in Multimedia Cartography cover a wide and varied field. Graduates are involved in developing geographic information systems, designing tourist guide publications, interpreting remotely sensed satellite images, producing topographic and base maps, compiling street directories, operating desktop mapping packages and developing computer mapping systems. They are employed by many private and public sector organisations.

Related Programs:

http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ges/undergraduate/outline.html

http://www.geom.unimelb.edu.au/students/index.html

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Curtin University of Technology

Department of Spatial Sciences
Bachelor of Science (Cartography)

Overview

The University offers a three year degree in cartography. In addition, a fourth year for honours in cartography is offered which leads directly into the Master of Science (Surveying and Mapping) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Through the cartography degree program students gain expertise from a range of areas such as computing, environmental science, film and print technology, geography, geology, management, mathematics and physics as well as the more creative aspects such as art and design. Students will also learn how to interpret, store, display and manage data which is used in representing both the natural and cultural environment.

More information: http://www.cage.curtin.edu.au/spatial/ugrad.html

Professional Recognition

Cartography graduates are eligible to apply for associate membership of the Institution of Surveyors Australia Inc (ISA) and the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia (MSIA) and, after a period of work experience, may obtain full membership. While enrolled at the University, students are eligible for student membership of the ISA free of cost and of the MSIA at greatly reduced rates.

Career Prospects

Cartographers are employed by local government and State mapping authorities, exploration and mining industries, environmental mapping agencies, and private mapping and town planning companies.

NEW SOUTH WALES