Kansas State GIS Certificate Programs

K-State has a great program for those interested in geography.  For those who are looking for more of a GIS focus, they offer two types of certificate programs: Undergraduate Certificate in GIS and the Graduate Certificate in GIScience.

Undergraduate Certificate in GIS

Students looking for an undergraduate certificate come from a variety of area such as agronomy, biological sciences, economics, engineering, geography, landscape architecture, and sociology.  Each one of these areas have direct benefit from GIS.  This certificate is for those students want to have an adequate foundation in geospatial tools.  The certificate is designed to help students prepare for an entry-level position working with GIS.

The following courses are required for the Undergraduate Certificate in GIS:

Ref No.	Course Name	Hrs
GEOG 302	Cartography & Thematic Mapping	3
GEOG 508	Geographic Information Systems I	3
GEOG 702	Computer Mapping & GeoVisualization	3
GEOG 705	Remote Sensing of the Environment	3
GEOG 708	Geographic Information Systems II	3
	One additional course dealing with a basic or applied aspect of geospatial technology or spatial analysis.	3
	Total Credit Hours:	18

Graduate Certificate in GIScience

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is designed to provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the rapidly expanding field of GIScience or apply GIScience concepts in their own field of study.

The Graduate Certificate in GIScience may be awarded as a “stand-alone” certificate or in conjunction with the completion of graduate degree requirements in one of the academic units at Kansas State University.

Three components comprise the program curriculum:

• A set of prerequisites to gain entry into the program
• A core geospatial courses focusing on geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing
• A set of elective courses that allow for the exploration of advanced themes in GIScience and/or the application of GIScience in geography or related disciplines

Certification Requirements:

A maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be used to meet program requirements.  Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.33 in the Geospatial Core to qualify for the Graduate Certificate in GIScience.  The graduate faculty for the program will periodically review the certificate requirements and have the authority to pass modifications to the approved list of courses.

Prerequisites

• Competency in cartography, thematic mapping, or geodesy (e.g., GEOG 302)
• Competency in basic statistics (e.g., STAT 320, STAT 330, STAT 350)
• Competency in object-oriented computer programming (e.g., Introduction to Visual Basic)

Geospatial Core (9 credit hours)

• GEOG 508 Geographic Information Systems I (3 cr)
• GEOG 705 Remote Sensing of the Environment (3 cr)
• GEOG 708 Geographic Information Systems II (3 cr)

Elective Courses – Select Two (minimum of 6 credit hours)

• AGRON 655 Site-Specific Agriculture (3 cr)
• BAE 690 Non-Point Pollution Engineering (3 cr)
• CE 585 Civil Engineering Project – must have GIScience focus (3 cr)
• CIS 501 Software Architecture and Design (3 cr)
• CIS 560 Database System Concepts (3 cr)
• CIS 635 Introduction to Computer-based Knowledge Systems (3 cr)
• CIS 636 Introduction to Computer Graphics (3 cr)
• DAS/DEN/GENAG 582 Natural Resources/Environmental Sciences Project – must have GIScience focus (3 cr)
• GEOG 610 Geography Internship – must have GIScience focus (2-3 cr)
• GEOG 700 Quantitative Analysis in Geography (3 cr)
• GEOG 702 Computer Mapping and Geographic Visualization (3 cr)
• GEOG 711 Topics in Remote Sensing (3 cr)
• GEOL 560 Field Methods (3 cr)
• LAR 758 Land Resource Information Systems (3 cr)

For more information check out – http://www.k-state.edu/geography/academics/gis.html

Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college.  Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.

East Carolina University GIS Program

East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC and is the third largest college in the North Carolina System. ECU has a strong geography department with several degree opportunities. When it comes to GIS, they have one Undergraduate Certificate Program in Geographic Information Science.

The program is designed to provide students from a variety of disciplines both the theoretical and practical competencies to be able to develop and manage Geographic Information projects.   Students should also be able to interpret and implement GIS as a decision support system.

Students from a variety of majors who have enrolled in this program include:

• Geography
• Geology
• Biology
• Planning
• Marketing and management
• Political science
• History
• Coastal studies

This certificate program requires a minimum of 15 s.h. and is composed of the following courses:

Core Courses:

• Fundamentals of GIS
• Fundamentals of GIS
• Geographic Information
• Systems I
• Introduction to GPS

Plus One Additional Course:

• GIS Applications Programming
• Advanced Cartographic Design & Production
• Remote Sensing II
• Geographic Information
• Systems II
• Introduction to GIS in Planning

The Center for Geographic Information Science facility is composed of 25 PC workstations.  These workstations provided a variety of mapping software including:

• Applied Imagery’s Quick Terrain Modeler
• ArcGIS Desktop 9.3
• ArcInfo Workstation 9.3
• ERDAS Imagine 9.1
• FRAGSTATS 3.3
• Interactive Visualization Systems’ (IVS 3D) Fledermaus & Dmagic
• Visual Nature Studio 2 w/ Scene Express

Scholarships

The two main scholarships that are advertised are the ASPRS NC Chapter Scholarship and the NCGITA Scholarship.  Students can apply for thse scholarships through the individual organization and are awarded at thier discresion.

You can find additional information about the GIS Certificate Program at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/geog/GISCertificate.cfm

Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college.  Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.

CCBC Geospatial Applications Program

The Community College of Baltimore County is one of the few community colleges on the east coast to offer a degree program in Geospatial Applications.  The program was started in the fall of 2006 and is accredited by the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  On March 1st, 2009, CCBC received statewide designation which allows for out of county students to take classes at in-county rate.

Students of all backgrounds are taking advantage of this program which feeds into the rapidly growing geospatial industry.  A variety of ages are taking classes; from high school seniors to older adults in their late 60′s.  Some students are seeking their first degree while others are returning for training and certification.  With the downturn with the economy, more and more are returning to add a boost of GIS to their experience.  Additionally, there is about a 3-2 male to female ratio.

Here is a breakdown of what the Geospatial Applications Program offers:

• Associate of Applied Science Degree
  • 65-66 Credits
  • 2 Year Program
  • Transferable to a four year institute for a bachelor’s degree
• Introduction to Geospatial Applications Certificate
  • 13 credits
  • Provides immediate skills to enter the GIS workplace or as a way for skill enhancement
• Advanced Geospatial Applications Certificate
  • 23 credits
  • Provides additional experience in advanced spatial analysis and project design and management
  • Focused on core courses and immediate employment

Transfer Options

For those who desire to pursue a four degree, an articulation agreement has been negotiated for students to transfer to the two largest transfer institutions in the area.  Students who complete the A.A.S Degree in Geospatial Applications can earn junior and senior level credit through Towson University or the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.  CCBC is the first community college GIS program in the country to be able to achieve such an aggressive articulation agreement.

Class Specifics

Class sizes are currently averaging about seven students.  The introductory courses tend to have higher attendance with 10-16 students, and the advanced courses tend to be smaller with 3-6 students.  Since the program is still relatively new, the class cohorts are slowly increasing each year.

Currently there are no classes offered online.  Face-to-face interaction is important in GIS classes, specifically with Remote Sensing and GPS.

Beyond just the basic core classes of GIS, CCBC offers more specialized courses such as Decision Making Using GIS and Remote Sensing and GPS.  Decision Making Using GIS focuses on the ArcGIS extensions (3D Mapper, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst, etc.).  Remote Sensing and GPS focuses on the principles of remote sensing and image interpretation as well as GPS software and technology.

In addition to ESRI’s ArcGIS software, students are exposed to other software programs.  In the Remote Sensing and GPS class, students learn how to use Pathfinder Office, Terrasync, and ERDAS Imagine.  The Adobe suite is also incorporated into map production with the use of Photoshop and Illustrator.  As for software availability, enrolled students are provided with a free one year ArcView software license with all extensions.

Scholarships/Internships/Organizations

CCBC is currently establishing a series of scholarships to help with tuition for the program.  As students are usually required to present posters/maps at conferences, the college will often help cost the student’s conference fees.

As internships can be a key boost to jump starting a career, a variety of paid and unpaid internships are made available.  The positions are usually with local, county and state municipalities, non-profit groups, and local and regional businesses.

Although there are currently no GIS student clubs/organizations in place, CCBC students have expressed an intrest in forming a chapter of Gamma Theta Epsilon, an international honor society in geography.

Summary

The CCBC program appears to be very well organized.  Although they may not offer online classes, schedule flexibility is shown with the provision of day and night classes.  The small class sizes make an excellent learning environment for more one-on-one time with the professor.  I believe the huge benefit of this program is the ability to transfer the A.A.S. degree.  Most colleges do not have a transfer program set up and if they do, very few geospatial classes will transfer.  If you are looking to move forward with a four year degree then this would be an excellent one to look into further.  Check it out for yourself!

Thank you to Professor Scott Jeffrey for taking the time to provide this valuable information.

Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college.  Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota GIS Program

The Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Department of Resource Analysis provides a Master of Science – Geographic Information Science degree.  This degree consists of 41 semester hours.  In addition to the master’s degree they also have a Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology which can be earned separately or concurrently with the master’s degree.  These educational options are available between their two campuses; the Winona Campus and the Twin Cities Campus.

Saint Mary’s Department of Resource Analysis prides itself in allowing for “hands on learning”.  This learning style embraces the ESRI technology in their labs and instructional materials.  The class sizes are usually small and enable students to receive direct instructor support.  Beyond the classroom, Saint Mary’s helps to develop networking opportunities for career placement and advancement.

On their website, Saint Mary’s University describes their program:

The program is suited for diverse interests and provides educational options for any learner no matter their background. Student centered learning is maximized through flexibility in offering distance-learning courses as well as multiple degree concentrations in natural resource management, homeland security/emergency management, business, policy administration, criminal justice, and/or project management.

Their students and alumni have received quite a bit a recognition and praise from various sources.  These include:

• GIS Project Presentation at the International ESRI Conference
• Job Interview with the United States Postal Inspection Service
• Received Job as the Deputy GIS officer for all of Europe
• Student said that they went from no technology background to gaining effective GIS skills
• Described as putting top-quality professionals out in the GIS world!

Read more testimonials…

To see what type of graduates this program puts out, check out some of their students’ work:

Graduate Project Video Presentations
Graduate Papers Online

Some of the topics include:

• Using GIS to Examine the Head Start Service Area in Winona County, Minnesota
• The effect of Tourist Attractions on the Crime Trends in the Growing Community of Shakopee, Minnesota
• Using GIS to Create a Gray Wolf Habitat Suitability Model in the Western Upper Penninsula of Michigan and Assessment of Wolf Pack Ranges
• Improving Geocode Match Rates of Valid Addresses by Combining Multiple Reference Data Sets
• Using GIS to Locate Target Markets in the Retail Banking Sector

The Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology falls under the Continuing Education Program. There are three different certificates available:

• Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Foundations
• Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Advanced Engagements
• Professional Certificate in Geospatial Technology – Excellence

Each certificate requires 120 continuing education units with each continuing education unit equaling 10 hours of course time. The program is setup as an on-learning environment. The courses are described as:

The courses provided through this program are intended to ensure that geospatial and technology enthusiasts have access to, and are provided with, opportunities to remain current with technology in the field of Geographic Information Systems and related geospatial technologies.

Scholarships

Saint Mary’s University offers a variety of scholarships although none directly apply to GIS. One that caught my attention was the SGPP Faculty Staff Scholarship. The faculty and staff provide two scholarships of at least $1,700 which are available to students in any of the certificate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs.

Learn more about Saint Mary’s University: http://www.smumn.edu/
Learn more about the Geospatial Program: http://www.gis.smumn.edu/

Note: The information within this article has been thoroughly researched but should be verified with the college.  Publication of this article was not initiated by the college but is the sole work of GIS Pathway.