Geographic Information Systems, Certificate

Program Overview

It offers a comprehensive curriculum in GIS, remote sensing, and image processing. The program is designed to accommodate working professionals, with late afternoon or evening classes. Graduates are in high demand in the expanding GIS field, with roles in environmental, remote sensing, and GIS companies.

Program Outline

Program Highlights:

• Focus on advanced remote sensing, GIS and geospatial methods
• Use of the latest image processing techniques
• Coverage of diverse applications in various disciplines
• Training with industry-leading hardware and software systems (ArcGIS, ENVI+IDL, SARscape) and open-source platforms (e.g., QGIS, Boundless Desktop)
• Late afternoon or evening classes that accommodate working professionals
• Instructors with advanced degrees who work and conduct research in the field
• State-of-the-art research labs equipped with modern computing, commercial and open-source software tools, various remote-sensing sensors and manned and unmanned aircraft.

Outline:

The GIS certificate is an 18-credit program that students can pursue on a full- or part-time basis, usually completing the certificate in less than two years.

Required Courses:

• GIS 4010 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
• GIS 4040 Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 credits)
• GIS 4030 Geospatial Data Management (3 credits)

Elective Courses:

Select three of the following:

• GIS 4050 Digital Image Processing (3 credits)
• GIS 4090 Introduction to Programming for GIS and Remote Sensing (3 credits)
• GIS 4091 Advanced Programming for GIS and Remote Sensing (3 credits)
• GIS 4092 Machine Learning for GIS and Remote Sensing (3 credits)
• GIS 4100 Microwave Remote Sensing: SAR Principles, Data Processing and Applications (3 credits)
• GIS 4120 Geospatial Analytics (3 credits)
• SOC 4670 Spatial Demography – Applied Spatial Statistics (3 credits)
Students will learn about the history of GIS, data models, spatial analysis techniques, and the use of GIS software. Students will learn about different types of remote sensing data, image processing techniques, and the use of remote sensing software.
• GIS 4030 Geospatial Data Management: This course covers the principles and practices of geospatial data management.
Students will learn about data acquisition, storage, retrieval, and analysis.
• GIS 4050 Digital Image Processing: This course focuses on the techniques used to process and analyze digital images.
Students will learn about image enhancement, restoration, classification, and segmentation. Students will learn about scripting languages, data structures, and algorithms.
• GIS 4091 Advanced Programming for GIS and Remote Sensing: This course builds on the concepts learned in GIS 4090 and provides students with advanced programming skills for GIS and remote sensing.
Students will learn about object-oriented programming, data visualization, and web mapping.
• GIS 4092 Machine Learning for GIS and Remote Sensing: This course introduces students to machine learning techniques for GIS and remote sensing.
Students will learn about supervised and unsupervised learning, classification, and regression. Students will learn about SAR data acquisition, processing, and interpretation.
• GIS 4120 Geospatial Analytics: This course focuses on the use of GIS and spatial analysis techniques to solve real-world problems.
Students will learn about spatial statistics, spatial modeling, and decision-making.
• SOC 4670 Spatial Demography – Applied Spatial Statistics: This course explores the use of spatial statistics to analyze demographic data.
Students will learn about spatial autocorrelation, spatial regression, and spatial interpolation.
• BIOL 4190 GIS in Biology: This course examines the applications of GIS in biological research.
Students will learn about habitat mapping, species distribution modeling, and conservation planning.

Careers:

Graduates have a very good employment outlook. Employment in this field is growing at an annual rate of almost 35%, with the commercial subsection of the market expanding by 100% each year, according to the Geospatial Information and Technology Association.

Recent graduates from this program have been employed by various environmental, remote sensing and GIS companies, including:

• Monsanto
• National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Other:

• Students with previous GIS experience or coursework may be allowed to take an advanced elective in place of the required Introduction to GIS course.
• In partnership with the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), students may simultaneously pursue the Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Certificate Program.
• Students must have a minimum of a 2.00 GPA in all certificate courses.