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Geography
Mailing address: Clippinger 231
Chair: Edna Wangui
Undergraduate Chair: Brad Jokisch
Graduate Chair: Thomas Smucker

Geographic Information Science (GIS) Undergraduate Certificate

Certificate code CTGISU

Admissions Information

Certificate Requirements

Faculty Contact: Dr. Gaurav Sinha

Program Overview

The ability to think spatially, interpret maps, and creatively use geospatial technologies is a fundamental skill expected in a wide variety of careers today. Maps and mapping technologies also underlie a significant proportion of everyday decision-making. Acquiring such skills requires formal training in many topics related to the interdisciplinary field of Geographic Information Science (GIScience). The Certificate in GIScience is designed for students to complement their major with knowledge of mapping and geospatial technologies. The curriculum ensures a balanced background in the three core areas of GIScience:

  • Theoretical foundations of mapping and geospatial analysis
  • Use of geospatial technologies for creating, mapping, and analyzing geographic information
  • General computational and information analysis skills.

The certificate is open to all undergraduates except those enrolled in the GIScience major.

Careers & Graduate School

Job opportunities for GIS specialists abound in both government and private sectors. Depending on skill level, career tracks include, but are not limited to the following: data technician, database administrator, cartographer, geospatial analyst, software designer, GIS educator, and project manager.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy: No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission: No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Requirements

Certificate Hours Requirement

The geographic information science (GIS) certificate program is a minimum of 17 hours. Students must take at least 6 hours outside their major of study.

Core Courses

Complete the following courses:

  • GEOG 2680 - Introduction to GIS and Mapping Sciences Credit Hours: 4.0
  • GEOG 4730 - Principles of GIS Credit Hours: 4.0

Core Elective

Choose one of the following courses:

  • GEOG 3600 - Cartography I Credit Hours: 4.0
  • GEOG 4660 - Principles of Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 4.0
  • GEOG 4760 - Advanced Spatial Analysis and GIS Applications Credit Hours: 4.0

Specialization Electives

Chose two courses (5-8 credits) from the following:

  • CE 2100 - Elements of Land Surveying Credit Hours: 3.0
  • CE 4100 - Applied Boundary Surveying Credit Hours: 2.0
  • COMS 2400 - Information Diffusion Credit Hours: 3.0
  • CS 2300 - Computer Programming in JAVA Credit Hours: 4.0
  • CS 2400 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit Hours: 4.0
  • CS 2401 - Introduction to Computer Science II Credit Hours: 4.0
  • CS 3560 - Software Engineering Tools and Practices Credit Hours: 3.0
  • ET 2100 - Programming in C Credit Hours: 4.0
  • GEOG 4710 - Quantitative Methods in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
  • ISE 2100 - Data Management and Display Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MIS 2200 - Systems Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MIS 2800 - Business Intelligence and Information Management Credit Hours: 3.0
  • SOC 4500 - Data Analysis Credit Hours: 3.0
  • VICO 2162 - Interactive II: Advanced Web Design Credit Hours: 3.0
  • VICO 2401 - Multimedia Production for Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3.0

Specialization Elective Subgroup 1

Choose no more than one course:

  • MIS 2010 - Introduction to Information Analysis and Design Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MIS 2011 - Introduction to Information Analysis and Design Nonmajor Credit Hours: 3.0

Specialization Elective Subgroup 2

Choose no more than one course:

  • ISE 4350 - Database Information Systems Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MIS 2020 - Business Information Systems Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MIS 2021 - Business Information Systems Nonmajor Credit Hours: 3.0

Specialization Elective Subgroup 3

Choose no more than one course:

  • VICO 2161 - Interactive I: Web Design Credit Hours: 3.0
  • VICO 2561 - Introduction to Basic Web Design Credit Hours: 3.0

Specialization Elective Subgroup 4

Choose no more than one course:

  • GEOG 2710 - Introduction to Statistics in Geography Credit Hours: 3.0
  • GEOL 3050 - Statistical Methods in Geology Credit Hours: 4.0
  • ISE 3040 - Fundamentals of Statistics Credit Hours: 3.0
  • ISE 3200 - Engineering Statistics Credit Hours: 3.0
  • MATH 2500 - Introduction to Statistics Credit Hours: 4.0
  • PBIO 3150 - Statistical Methods in Plant Biology Credit Hours: 4.0
  • PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4.0
  • QBA 2010 - Introduction to Business Statistics Credit Hours: 4.0