Geographic Information Science Certificate | Department of Geography | CAS

We are proud to announce that the department launched its fully online Graduate GISci Certificate in Spring 2022. This program was built through the University’s Miami Online initiative with both the new-to-GIS and seasoned professionals in mind. The program uses specially-designed online versions of our GIS courses to teach the fundamentals of geospatial technology while focusing on real-world applications.

The Department of Geography offers both Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates in GIScience,which give students the necessary technical skills and theory-based background to compete in the rapidly growing field of Geospatial Technology. GISci is applied to problems in fields ranging from environmental science to urban planning to business decision-making. This certificate program builds qualifications for employment and/or further study in GISci.

Miami’s GISci Certificate is a meant to complement any existing degree program (undergraduate or graduate) or it can be earned by itself.

Our program is award-winning for both course design and its deliverables!

Undergraduate Certificate Requirements

Graduate Certificate Requirements

What Students Learn

GISci is an abbreviation for “Geographic Information Science”. GISci is the theoretical foundation for all spatially driven technologies, such as GIS, Remote Sensing, and GPS. The GISci Certificate at Miami is focused beyond just Geographic Information Systems to the broader Geographic Information Sciences. Students will not only learn GIS theory and techniques, but also Remote Sensing, GPS, Database theory and practice, and computer programming. All of these topics together help to provide students with a well-rounded GISci education and and understanding of how the different spatial technologies are different but can be used together to answer questions about our natural and built environments.

Learning Outcomes

Recognize a variety of data formats available in GIS/Remote Sensing and select appropriate techniques for data classification, analysis and interpretation.
Design and execute workflows for spatial problem solving.
Effectively communicate the result(s) of GISci analyses and processes to the appropriate audience via written and cartographic means.

The Undergraduate GISci Certificate can be earned as a stand-alone Certificate or as part of broader undergraduate education at Miami. Note that the GISci Certificate can be counted as a Thematic Sequence for students outside of the Department of Geography by completing a Self-Designed Thematic Sequence application with the Office of Liberal Education.