Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

 

Zhaohui Jennifer Fu, Head, Library GIS-RS Center

 

Coordinating Committee

Jennifer Gebelein, International Relations

Hugh Gladwin, Sociology/Anthropology

Assefa Melesse, Environmental Studies

Dean Whitman, Earth Sciences

Keqi Zhang, Environmental Studies

Fang Zhao, Civil and EnvironmentalEngineering

 

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems provides students with an interdisciplinary background in GIS. The program consists primarily of graduate level courses in Geographic Information Systems with electives in related disciplines such as Biology, Earth Sciences, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, International Relations, Landscape Architecture, Public Health, and Urban Planning.

 

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a set of computer hardware and software used to organize, manipulate, and analyze maps and spatial data.  GIS is a rapidly developing technology that can be applied to many areas of the natural and social sciences.  Applications areas include: Architecture, Engineering, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Public Health, and Urban Planning.

 

There is an increasing demand for GIS specialists in the job market as a result of advancements in information technology, and the development of spatial/geographic database management programs.  Currently, many faculty at FIU in a variety of disciplines are actively engaged in teaching and research in GIS.

 

For more information on the Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, contact Zhaohui Jennifer Fu, the head of the FIU GIS-RS Center, GL 275D or call (305) 348-3138 or email: fujen@fiu.edu, or visit: http://gislab.fiu.edu.

 

Prescribed Courses and Other Requirements

The certificate program will require 15 graduate level credits (5 courses) distributed as follows:

 

Required Courses: (One course from each of the following subjects)

 

1. Introduction to GIS

GIS 5050/EVR 4934 Environmental GIS

CGN 5320             GIS Applications for Civil and

                                Environmental Engineering             

GIS 5935               Topics in GIS

PAD 6717             GIS Applications for Urban

                                Management       

or equivalent

 

2. Intermediate/Advanced GIS

GLY 5758              GIS and Spatial Analysis for Eath

                                Sciences

EVR 5044              Advanced GIS and Environmental Data

                                Analysis

CGN 6325             Advanced GIS for Civil and

                                Environmental Engineering

SYA 6356              GIS and Social Research

or equivalent

 

3. Remote Sensing

GLY 5754              Applied Remote Sensing in Earth

                                Sciences              

GIS 5038               Remote Sensing

or equivalent       

 

Electives: (6 credits out of the following)

EVR 7329              Watershed Analysis and Management

EVR 7056              GIS in Water Resources

PCB 5328             Spatial & Landscape Ecology

BSC 5935             Topics in Biology

                                or

Additional intermediate/advanced GIS courses under required courses, category 2

                                or

Future elective courses approved by the GIS coordinating committee. Proposed future courses include:

·   Design and Programming of GIS Applications

·   Advanced Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing

·   Internet and Distributed GIS