Geographic Information Systems (GIS) informally describe the fields of geospatial analysis, cartography, remote sensing and global positioning systems. GIS is the geospatial discipline that focuses on the technologies and software applications used for geospatial data-related and analysis tasks. GIS background training and preparation include technical geography such as location coordinate systems and map projections as well as methodologies (e.g. data acquisition, data processing, geodatabase structure, spatial statistical analysis, and quality control) required to develop and maintain organizational spatial data resources and to correctly interpret spatial data. GIS helps end users analyze and optimize network, transportation and routing systems, retail and service locations, land use, resource monitoring in the natural and man-made environments, emergency response planning, crime and health hot spots, and many other spatial issues in the private and public sectors.
GIS end users, researchers and developers are found in business, marketing, landscape architecture, land surveying, geography, urban planning, local government, the legal profession, law enforcement, health care, education, international development, agriculture, biology, water resources, environmental conservation, epidemiology, aeronautics, transportation, archaeology, defense, computer programming, and many other fields that use spatially referenced information.
The certificate program consists of four one-day courses; each taught on a Saturday in our state-of-the-art GIS training facility. Students who complete the core courses will satisfy the requirements for the GIS certificate. The courses are listed below.