Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

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About

The undergraduate/post-baccalaureate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) gives you the opportunity to study computer mapping, spatial analysis and spatial information technologies and gain valuable skills using software such as ArcGIS.  It is intended to be completed either at the same time as, or after, a bachelor’s degree.  No prior GIS experience required.

Courses are sequenced so that you can finish the certificate in one year. However, most full-time Eastern students choose to spread the coursework out over two years.

Online Option

This certificate is offered both in-person and online. The online certificate is designed with the working professional in mind. No classroom visits are required, and scheduled events that require timed participation are kept to a minimum.

Who Should Apply?

Our program attracts students from many majors and backgrounds, from Anthropology to Zoology and everything in between. Some start with no prior GIS experience and some are GIS professionals looking to hone their skills further. If you are hoping to add a spatial perspective to your bachelor’s degree and gain marketable skills at the same time, consider the GIS Certificate.

Apply

To apply to either the in-person or online certificate program, please contact the program advisor, Stacy Warren, PhD at swarren@ewu.edu or 509.359.7962.

Curriculum GIS Resources

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Geographic Information Systems Certificate, Undergraduate

This certificate program is open to all majors and post-degree students.

The Certificate in Geographic Information Systems offers students an intensive, interdisciplinary course of study in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Candidates must take four required courses and choose three additional courses from a list of options. All students study a core of computer mapping and spatial analysis basics and then focus on their own application area (e.g. wildlife biology, wetlands, programming, cartographic design). An internship or similar participation in a ‘real world’ GIS project is a required component of the certificate program.

Grade Requirements: a grade ≥B must be earned in each course for it to count toward the Certificate.

Required Introductory Course–choose at least one of the following
GEOS 321GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES5
or GEOS 323 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS I: SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Required
GEOS 428GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS II5
GEOS 429GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS III5
GEOS 493GIS PORTFOLIO2
Electives–choose three of the following13-15
REMOTE SENSING WITH SATELLITE IMAGERY
REMOTE SENSING WITH LIDAR
REMOTE SENSING WITH DRONES
DIGITAL GEOARCHAEOLOGY
CRITICAL GIS
DESKTOP MAPPING
ADVANCED SPATIAL ANALYSIS
DIGITAL CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
GIS PROGRAMMING
Total Credits30-32

GIS Resources

The Geography Program supports hands-on learning. If you’re interested in learning GIS, we have software licenses and labs to help you. We currently use ArcGIS 10.7 as part of the Washington State Higher Education ESRI site license. All EWU students, faculty, and staff have access to ArcGIS software through our license. ArcGIS is installed locally in computer labs in Isle, Senior, and Kingston Halls. You can also access ArcGIS through EWU’s Virtual Labs.

For more information, contact Stacy Warren, PhD at swarren@ewu.edu.

Certificate Options

Data Resources

  • WAGDA: Basic public GIS data for Washington State
  • WSDOT: Transportation-related GIS data for the state of Washington
  • WA Dept. Ecology: Environmental GIS data for the state of Washington
  • American Fact Finder: A variety of GIS and demographic data for the United States from the Bureau of the Census
  • GIS DataDepot: A basic public GIS data from around the world