Overview

Stand out in the job market with a transcript-visible Undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science with Oregon State.

The use of GIScience technologies has become pervasive throughout scientific, natural resource management, government, industry and business organizations.

Oregon State’s highly-regarded GIScience undergraduate certificate is delivered online by nationally ranked Oregon State Ecampus, and it combines theory and principles underlying:

• Geospatial data collection (remotely sensed imagery from satellites, aircraft, drones, social media, telemetry, GPS, etc.)
• Technologies to manage, analyze and visualize geospatial data (geographic information systems)
• Computational, statistical and mathematical methods to analyze and model geospatial data (machine learning, big data, spatial statistics, spatial modeling, geovisual analytics, etc.)
• Digital cartography and geovisualization (the science and practice of creating maps)
• Cognitive, social and environmental implications of GIScience (professional ethics, privacy, digital divide, etc.)

Fits perfectly with your Oregon State major

This certificate complements many disciplines and could be especially beneficial if you're enrolled in one of the following degree programs:

• Marine sciences
• Environmental sciences
• Earth sciences
• Climate sciences
• Forestry
• Agricultural sciences
• Public health
• Business
• Economics

Prerequisites

You may need to complete additional coursework prior to enrolling in this program and taking the required certificate courses. This could mean completing 3 or more additional credits, depending on your individual educational background as it relates to the program requirements. We recommend that you evaluate this prior to applying for admission.

Computer software requirements

Three required major courses utilize ArcGIS Pro software that is not Mac-compatible. Your PC must meet these requirements: 

• Operating system: A 64-bit version of Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
• Processor: A quad-core Intel Core i5 2.4GHz processor or better
• Memory: 16 GB of RAM or more
• Storage: 32 GB or more on a solid-state drive (SSD)
• Monitor/Video card: SVGA or better resolution display (1024 x 768, 24-bit graphics)
• Video/Graphics adapter

See Open GL or DirectX adapter and additional system requirements at the ArcGIS Pro website.

Benefits of learning online with Oregon State

• All classes are developed by OSU's world-class faculty, who are known worldwide for their expertise, research and innovation.
• Oregon State is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
• OSU Ecampus students receive the same transcript-visible certificate as on-campus students.

NOTE: The U.S. Department of Education has approved this certificate for federal financial aid eligibility as part of a full degree program, but not as an independent certificate program. Alternate funding sources (e.g. loans, private funds) may be required to cover the costs associated with this program.