| |
 |
What
Is The Professional Certificate program
The Professional Certificate in GIS has been designed
by GIS professionals to meet the needs of anyone requiring
a fundamental yet practical understanding of the technology.
The program consists of core courses that address knowledge
central to GIS and a range of elective courses that focus
on specific uses, techniques, and integrative aspects
of GIS. As GIS and related geospatial technologies are
increasingly integrated into organizations and become
an extension to more traditional enterprise architecture,
a variety of workers are finding themselves exposed to
tools and concepts they have never had to deal with before.
Professionally Developed Courses
Courses are developed and taught by experienced GIS
professionals and are updated on a regular basis to keep
pace with the industry. Courses consist of a combination
of lecture, hands-on computer learning, and conceptual
exercises with a focus on practical knowledge that easily
translates to work requirements. Courses are typically
offered over a three-day period to provide a concentrated
learning environment while minimizing the impact on busy
work schedules.
Practical Knowledge for Professionals
A number of GIS certificate programs exist across the
United States. Virtually all of these consist of standard
geography and GIS courses developed to meet the academic
requirements of degree programs. Two or three of the courses
are then collected into a "certificate" and
offered to the public. These programs are too long and
academically focused to meet the needs of working professionals.
This program, as developed, is not exclusively academic.
Courses in this program do cover fundamental concepts
and theories, but they are offered in a "need-to-know"
fashion in order to provide context to GIS tools and techniques.
The focus of this program is to provide professionals
the knowledge and techniques required to perform their
job. Practical, hands-on experience is the goal.
How is the program structured?
Flexibility is another hallmark of this certificate. All
participants take a selection of core courses that provide
the foundation and context for GIS. These courses address
the key components of the technology. Included is a technical
software course, utilizing ArcGIS by Environmental
Systems Research Institute (ESRI). This introduces students
to the environment in which most of the hands-on exercises
are provided. Additional important topics include spatial
data and database issues, cartographic principles, and
GIS project development and process.
The remainder of the certificate program consists of two
or more elective courses which will help participants
focus on topics or application areas that are most relevant
to their professional needs. There are two primary categories
of elective courses, Tools and Techniques, focusing on
advanced technology topics, and, Application Areas, courses
geared toward specific industry areas where GIS is applied.
Application Areas courses incorporate case studies, as
well as pertinent hands-on exercises.
The Professional Certificate is granted after students
complete a total of eight (8) courses drawn from Core
and Elective categories. Core courses address the principle
issues and components of GIS and cover the topics that
are common to virtually all GIS users. Elective courses
are either technical, addressing specific GIS or related
geospatial technologies, or applied, focusing on industry
sectors and how the tools are utilized in those communities.
For those that have some GIS knowledge or software experience,
the first two core courses may be substituted by additional
elective courses to fill out the eight course requirement. |
|
|
 |
 |
| The Professional
Certificate in GIS is designed to meet the needs of anyone
requiring a fundamental yet practical understanding of
the technology. The flexible structure and diverse course
topics meet a variety of needs. |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
