Geography
Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems
Overview
The Department of Geography and Interdisciplinary Studies offers a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS is the use of computers to manage, analyze, and display geographic data. It is an interdisciplinary technology rooted in geography and closely tied to cartography and remote sensing (collecting images by satellites). Learning to use GIS technologies involves data collection, database development, the transfer of data into maps and information sources, and the use of computer modeling to assess, plan, and predict in real-world situations. GIS mapping technology has uses from emergency management and homeland security to transportation and utilities planning, military strategy, and resource management. It is predicted to be a major growth area for employment into the future.
Graduate Certificate Requirements
15 Credit Hours
| GEOG | 4210 | Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation | 3 |
| GEOG | 4220 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG | 4221 | Geographic Information Systems II | 3 |
| GEOG | 5210 | Problems in Geography | 3 |
| GEOG | 5221 | Applications of GIS | 3 |
Program Design
The graduate certificate can be used as a stand-alone credential or as a springboard to a graduate degree. The constituent courses are all approved for graduate credit and are intended to provide both theoretical and applied aspects of GIS. The certificate can be earned through classroom and online options. The Department maintains a state-of-the-art 25 PC computer lab with scanners and large-format plotters, and it has the latest ArcGIS, Erdas Imagine, and statistical software. The Department can provide more information on the certificate program, software extensions, and hardware requirements. Contact Dr. Keshav Bhattarai, 660-543-8805 or email bhattarai@ucmo.edu.
