Northwest Mississippi Community College students as well as members of the community will have the opportunity to enroll in a new class in the 2008 Spring semester. Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems (GIT 2123) will be offered on the DeSoto Center campus Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.

This class includes the use of computer mapping and database in multiple applications, according to Joyce Brasell, director of Workforce Planning and Development. “Included is the incorporation of imagery and data into a graphical oriented database system. Also taught will be the fundamentals of geographical information systems techniques, approaches and applications.”

According to Brasell, spatial data play a role in location-based services and mapping. Career-Technical programs at Northwest which might take advantage of this elective include Agricultural Technology (Precision farming), Agricultural Business and Management Technology, Automotive Electronics, Civil Technology, Drafting and Design Technology, EMT Paramedic, Health Care, Paralegal Technology, Aviation Maintenance Technology and Computer Information Systems Technology.

Professionals who might benefit from the course involve firemen, EMT (emergency medical technology) personnel, tax assessors, city planners, law enforcement, biologists, foresters, environmental scientists, and medical personnel, just to name a few.

Registration for the evening classes for the Spring semester at all Northwest campuses is set for Jan. 8 and 9. For information on admission requirements, call DeSoto Center at 342-1560 or the Senatobia campus at 562-3200. You can also visit the Northwest Web site at www.northwestms.edu