Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

 

Dean Whitman, Earth and Environment

 

Coordinating Committee

Zhaohui Jennifer Fu, Library GIS-RS Center

Jennifer Gebelein, International Relations

Hugh Gladwin, Sociology/Anthropology

Assefa Melesse, Environmental Studies

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, Civil Engineering, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geoscience, International Relations, Landscape Architecture, Sociology, 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, contact the Program Director, Dean Whitman: phone: (305) 348-3089; email: whitmand@fiu.edu, or visit the GIS Center website: 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  3 categories)

 

1. Introduction to GIS

GIS 5050               Environmental GIS

CGN 5320             GIS applications for Civil and Environmental Engineering             

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             Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing        

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 Ecology

EVR 6XXX              Remote Sensing in Hydrology

GIS 5935                Topics in GIS

                                or

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

                                or

Other GIS-related courses approved by the Program Director in consultation with the Coordinating Committee.

 

Tentative 2 Year Schedule (subject to change)

Category	Fall 09	Spring 10		Fall 10	Spring 11
Introductory GIS	GIS 5050	CGN 5320		GIS 5050	CGN 5320
Remote Sensing		GLY 5754			GLY 5754
Intermediate GIS	GLY 5758	EVR 6xxx SYA 6356			EVR 5044 SYA 6356
Electives				EVR 7056