Program Overview

Geographic Information Systems Certificate

Overview

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate is an undergraduate program that provides students with valuable GIS capabilities, representing the intersection of geospatial data management, analysis, research, and visualization and mapping.

Program Details

• Program Type: Certificate
• Format: On Campus
• Estimated Time to Complete: 2-3 semesters
• Credit Hours: 15

Why Earn a Geographic Information Systems Certificate?

Students who complete our certificate have acquired and honed their skills in fundamental GIS concepts, applications, analysis, and programming. The certificate is flexible, allowing students to emphasize or blend GIS programming, geospatial visualization, and analysis.

Geographic Information Systems Certificate Highlights

• Manage and analyze geographic data
• Apply GIS programming in problem-solving
• Encounter a broad range of GIS courses
• Work with internationally renowned faculty
• High investment in students by faculty
• Learn to use state-of-the-art GIS software to produce geographic visualizations

Geographic Information Systems Certificate Courses

• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (3 hrs) Introduces the concepts and applications of computer-based spatial data handling, known as geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Illustrates the essential methods of GIS and its applications in fields including geography, business, administration, planning, and environmental science.
• Advanced Geographic Information Systems (3 hrs) Advanced spatial analysis through the use of specialized software and the design and development of spatial databases and applications. The course includes GIS data models, project planning, raster-based data manipulation and analysis, three-dimensional (3D) analysis, network analysis, and other advanced topics in spatial analysis.
• Introduction to Python Programming (3 hrs) Automation is an important component of data processing, analysis, and visualization. Python is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that is used for automation, scientific analysis, and other data management and visualization tasks. Examines the basics of writing computer programs in Python, input and output operations, logic and data structures, object-oriented programming, and data visualization using graphing libraries.
• Using LiDAR Data in GIS (3 hrs) Provides an overview of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) principles and data processing methods. Develops skills to effectively use LiDAR data in a geographic information system environment with applications in natural and built environments.
• Introduction to Enterprise GIS Applications (3 hrs) Explore cloud computing technologies, how they are used to host, manage, transform, and visualize geospatial data. Implement open-source and commercial software GIS solutions including spatial databases, geographic data mediators, and dashboards.

Related Programs

• Geographic Information Systems and Computer Science Degree
• Geography Degree

Similar Areas of Study

• Data Analytics & Information
• STEM

College and Department

• College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Department of Geography and the Environment

Location

• Environmental Education, Science & Technology Building, Room 210
• 1155 Union Circle, Denton, Texas