Course Requirements

Program Structure

Five courses are required to complete the certificate allowing students to finish in as little as one year. All courses will be taught online, giving students access to the best geospatial experts, regardless of their location.

Certificate Course Requirements

The Certificate requires the following five courses:

420.633 – Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
In this introductory course, students become familiar with the concepts and gain the experience necessary to appreciate the utility of Geographic Information Systems in decision-making. Topics covered include the fundamentals of cartography, geo-referencing, data structures, database design, project planning, and basic spatial data analysis. The course provides an overview of the capabilities of GIS software. Class time is divided between lectures and GIS exercises that reinforce critical concepts. Students must complete a term project as part of the course.

420.636 – Remote Sensing: Earth Observing Systems and Applications
This course introduces remote sensing as an important technology to further our understanding of Earth’s land, atmospheric, and oceanic processes. Students study remote sensing science, techniques, and satellite technologies to become familiar with the types of information that can be obtained and how this information can be applied in the natural and social sciences. Applications include assessment of land cover and land use, mapping and analysis of natural resources, weather and climate studies, pollution detection and monitoring, disaster monitoring, and identification of oceanographic features.

420.663 - Introduction to Spatial Analysis with GIS
This course introduces students to using statistical techniques for solving spatial problems. Students will learn to apply the principles of statistics to address the distributional and locational aspects of a variety of problems. Examples and assignments are drawn from many GIS applications, such as business, urban planning, security, public health, transportation and telecommunications. Topics include spatial sampling, measures of dispersion and central tendency in spatial analysis, and regression analysis applied to spatial data.

420.640 – Advanced GIS Modeling (formerly Advanced GIS for Environmental Modeling)
This course moves beyond the fundamentals of GIS to explore its application to problems in various industry sectors. Students review current research in the field, learn relevant modeling techniques, and utilize advanced software tools for analysis. The course involves the use and integration of a variety of data sources, including maps, GPS, and satellite imagery. Specific GIS techniques in spatial analysis are introduced and the course builds on former GIS software experience. Students develop a significant GIS project over the course of the semester and present their findings at the end.

420.664 –Development and Management of GIS Projects
This course imparts knowledge and skills for managing GIS projects, including technical, legal, ethical, and institutional problems. Students will examine the institutional role of geographic information systems and technologies, explore key issues in organizational management of GIS projects (planning, staffing, budgeting), and develop skills to design and manage geospatial databases. Ethical and legal issues in data acquisition, sharing, and representation will also be explored.

Alternate Course Options

Students who have completed one GIS course or who have GIS work experience can request a waiver of the introductory course, Geographic Information Systems. These students must choose an additional course to complete the certificate requirements. Such students can choose from courses that are offered by the Computer Science program in Engineering Programs for Professional or GIS courses offered in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Heath. Students will need to meet the prerequisites for the specific computer science and epidemiology courses they choose.