Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Information Science and Technology
This Graduate Certificate program will provide training for students to gain knowledge and skills necessary to employ Geospatial Information Science and Technology (GIST) in their field of expertise. GIST is a collective term used to describe geographic information systems, remote sensing, global positioning, internet mapping, and other approaches for collecting, managing, analyzing, and visualizing data with spatial attributes. The program combines training in core GIST concepts with exposure to how GIST is being applied in different disciplines. Students will become experienced using the leading industry system ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro, as well as other proprietary and open source systems such as ERDAS, ENVI, and QGIS. This program is appropriate for students from many disciplines and is especially relevant to students from geology, environmental science, social science, criminal justice, intelligence and national security studies, and civil or mechanical engineering.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the program requires an application to the program through the graduate school. This can occur through the graduate school at the same time students apply to another graduate program. Students who have previously been admitted to another graduate program may submit a form indicating their intention to complete this certificate directly to the program. There are no prerequisite courses, although knowledge of some programming, statistics, and/or mathematics is helpful. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for admission into the program. Students with prior coursework or experience in GIS may have the introduction to GIST requirement waived by the program but must substitute another three credit hour course.
Degree Plan
Credit hours: 15
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| GEOL 5321 | Introduction to GIST | 3 |
| or GEOL 6331 | Introduction to GIST | |
| GEOL 5322 | Advanced GIST | 3 |
| or GEOL 6322 | Advanced GIST | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Select three courses from the list below: | ||
| Image Processing | ||
| Intro to Remote Sensing Syst | ||
| Spat Analysis Earth/Env Sci | ||
or GEOL 6333 | Spat Analysis Earth/Env Sci | |
| Machine Learning in Geoscience | ||
or GEOL 6324 | Machine Learning in Geoscience | |
| Intro to Remote Sensing | ||
or GEOP 6335 | Intro to Remote Sensing | |
| Digital Image Processing | ||
or GEOP 6336 | Digital Image Processing | |
| Quantit Techniq Geological Sci | ||
| Commercial Imagery | ||
| Geospatial Intelligence | ||
| Environmental Justice | ||
| Cartography & Visualization | ||
| The following topics courses Directed Study or Independent Study must be GIST - related and approved in advance by the program. Other relevant courses may be applied wit permission from the program. | ||
| Select Adv Topics Biol Science | ||
| Special Topics Electrical Engr | ||
| Topics in Environmental Sci. | ||
| Selected Topics-Geological Sci | ||
or GEOL 6315 | Adv Topics in Geological Scien | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |