Program Overview

Overview

The Remote Sensing Graduate Certificate program at the University of Colorado Boulder is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of remote sensing techniques and their applications. Remote sensing is increasingly being used to probe the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces, and this program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to work in this field.

Requirements

The certificate is available to graduate degree-seeking and non-matriculated students. To be eligible, students must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, with undergraduate courses in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, as well as two semesters of undergraduate calculus-based physics and at least two semesters of upper-division undergraduate courses in engineering or physics. Students must also have the ability to program at a level that will enable successful completion of graduate course assignments.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires four courses totaling at least 12 credit hours. Two courses must be taken from one of the following topical areas: data analysis, instrumentation and measurement techniques, or remote sensing theory. One course must be taken in each of the two remaining topical areas. Grades of B or higher are required for fulfillment of requirements and certificate award.

Course List

The following courses are available for the Remote Sensing Graduate Certificate program:

• Data Analysis Courses:
  • ASEN 5307: Engineering Data Analysis Methods (3 credit hours)
  • ASEN 6337: Remote Sensing Data Analysis (3 credit hours)
  • ASTR 5550: Observations, Data Analysis and Statistics (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5244: Applied Stochastic Signal Processing (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5254: Remote Sensing Signals and Systems (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5612: Random Processes for Engineers (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5652: Detection and Extraction of Signals from Noise (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5103: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics (4 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5203: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling (4 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5303: Geographic Information Science: Spatial Programming (4 credit hours)
• Instrumentation & Measurement Techniques Courses:
  • ASEN 5245: Radar and Remote Sensing (3 credit hours)
  • ASEN 6050: Space Instrumentation (3 credit hours)
  • ASEN 6091: Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver Architecture (3 credit hours)
  • ASEN 6365: Lidar Remote Sensing (3 credit hours)
  • ASTR 5760: Astrophysical Instrumentation (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5134: Electromagnetic Radiation and Antennas (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5100: Special Topics: Geography (Topic needs to be relevant to instrumentation/measurement) (1-4 credit hours)
  • PHYS 5160: Fundamentals of Optics and Lasers (3 credit hours)
• Remote Sensing Theory Courses:
  • ASEN 6265: Fundamentals of Spectroscopy for Optical Remote Sensing (3 credit hours)
  • ATOC 5235: Introduction to Atmospheric Radiative Transfer and Remote Sensing (3 credit hours)
  • ATOC 5560: Radiative Processes in Planetary Atmospheres (3 credit hours)
  • ECEN 5264: Electromagnetic Absorption, Scattering, and Propagation (3 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5093: Remote Sensing of the Environment (4 credit hours)
  • GEOG 5100: Special Topics: Geography (Advanced Remote Sensing) (1-4 credit hours)
  • PHYS 5150: Introductory Plasma Physics (3 credit hours)

Distance Education Option

Students can take individual courses toward a master's degree or graduate certificate through distance education (online). For more information, students should connect with the individual graduate program directly.