GIS Certificate Program

The GIS Certificate Program is designed to meet the needs of both the novice, and experienced GIS professionals. Students who graduate from this program will have a solid understanding of the theoretical basis of GIS and rich hands-on experience with GIS software packages.

Application

The GIS Certificate Program is open to both matriculated and non-matriculated students at the University of Cincinnati. Students can start the program in any semester. The certificate can be granted retroactively; the deadline for application is two years after completion of all required courses. However, students are strongly encouraged to contact an advisor and apply early in the process.

Requirements

To obtain a GIS certificate, a student must complete five required courses from the following list, with a minimum grade of C in each course. The certificate will be awarded upon application and satisfactory completion of the required courses.

  1. Introductory Level (Two courses are required):
    1. One out of the following courses:
      • Geography 574: Introduction to Computer Cartography
      • Geography 576: Introduction to Remote Sensing
    2. One out of the following courses:
      • Geography 580: Introduction to GIS
      • Planning 580/780: Introduction to GIS
  2. Intermediate Level (Two courses are required):
    • Geography 581: GIS Modeling and Environmental Applications
    • Geography 582: GIS Urban-Economic Applications
    • Planning 581/781: GIS Planning Applications
  3. Advanced Level (One course is required):
    • Geography 591: Internet Mapping and Web GIS
    • Geography 693: Advanced GIS
    • Planning 582/782: GIS Project Management and Formulation

Lower level courses may be replaced by upper level courses upon approval of the advisor. One of the five required courses may be substituted by a similar course taken outside the program. A written petition must be submitted to Dr. Liu or Dr. Wang for such substitution, and it must include wellreasoned justifications, including a thorough comparison of content coverage between the two courses, with the syllabi attached. The petition will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Advisors

Lin Liu
Geography
Braunstein Hall 400E
556-3429
lin.liu@uc.edu

Xinhao Wang
Planning
DAAP Building 6217
556-0479
xinhao.wang@uc.edu

Costs

The cost of courses in this program is in accordance with the university's general tuition rate.

Application

Please download the GIS Certificate Program application form to apply.