Curriculum: Graduate Certificate
in Geographic Information Science – Online

Upon completion of this 19-credit online program, students will receive graduate-level university credits and a certificate.They can also apply the certificate as needed points toward the national credential of GISP (Certified GIS Professional) offered by the GIS Certification Institute.

Prep for the program

Students need to take introductory cartography courses (GEO 360) or have equivalent experience, fundamental math and trigonometry (MTH 112) and basic statistics courses (ST 201/202 or ST 351/352 or ST 511/512). These courses can either be completed prior to starting the certificate program or pursued in tandem with the required courses below. 

Program curriculum is geared toward working professionals interested in advancing their careers within the GIScience field. Courses offer quality content formatted for online learning that is engaging, interactive and effective.

Required courses (8 credits)

    • Remote sensing of the environment (GEO 544 - four credits)
    • Geographic information systems and science (GEO 565 - four credits)

Additional courses (at a minimum, 11 credits chosen from below)

    • Internship (GEO 510)
    • Responsible GIS practice: Ethics for future geospatial professionals (GEO 567 - three credits)
    • Advanced applications of GIS in the geosciences (GEO 580 - four credits)
    • GIS programming with Python  (GEO 599 - three credits)

Internship

Online students participate in a 10-week internship (GEO 510) in which they complete a project of a GIScience nature and submit a final report. It is anticipated that many of the online students enrolled in the graduate certificate program will be employed for an agency or organization where a GIScience related internship experience can be easily arranged. For students not currently employed in the field and making a career change, the program will help match students to internship providers in their area.

Request information

or contact:
Kuuipo Walsh, Program Director
221 Wilkinson Hall - office
104 CEOAS Administrative Building - mailing
Corvallis, OR 97331
Tel: 541-737-3795
Fax: 541-737-1200
Email: kuuipo.walsh@oregonstate.edu

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