Geographic information systems (GIS) is a geospatial technology that visualizes, analyzes, and transforms data into geographic knowledge. GIS can be used for so many things! Examples include:
- modeling the population growth and distribution in cities, towns and regions
- identifying, modeling and mapping wildlife habitats, distributions and threats
- mapping crime patterns and statistics
- performing market demographic analyses and identifying the best locations for businesses
- developing aid distribution networks and evacuation plans for community disaster preparedness.
GIS helps planners, nonprofit agencies, environmental scientists, biologists and business owners to make site location decisions and solve urban and environmental problems. Moreover, the spatial thinking and analysis inherent in GIS are skill sets that are valued by many other disciplines including law enforcement, homeland security, public health, business and marketing, communications and media, political science, and history.
GIS skills are highly-marketable today and our GIS Minor gives you the skills and hands-on experience you need to use GIS successfully in your future career. In 18 credits, the GIS minor prepares students to use the technology to address real-world problems and to communicate effectively complex information to a diverse audience. Included in these credits are internship opportunities that students are often able to turn into full-time jobs after graduation.
Topics Covered
- Core concepts underlying GIS
- Analytical techniques, software, and hardware used in GIS
- GIS applications across disciplines
- Discipline-specific applications (for Planning, Environmental Science, Criminal Justice, Political Science, or Business)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate
Our GIS Certificate includes a 12-credit course series to account for the diversity of backgrounds, needs, and computer experience of the students. The target audience is non-traditional students, e.g. professionals from the private and public sectors, educators, local town government officials, etc., with and without an academic degree. The GIS Certificate is also available for 'regular' students wanting 'formal' GIS training without completing our GIS Minor.
The GIS Certificate is awarded through Graduate & Continuing Education; however, coursework may be taken during the day or evening offerings. Some coursework from other institutions may be accepted in transfer after review by the Certificate Director.