Geographic Information Systems Undergraduate Certificate
Certificate Requirements
The Undergraduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems provides students with a strong foundation in the concepts, technologies, and methods used to acquire, manage, analyze, and communicate geographic information across diverse fields of study. Students develop the ability to collect geospatial data from multiple sources, interpret and visualize spatial information, and apply geographic information system (GIS) software to support problem-solving and decision-making.
This 15-credit program emphasizes both interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience with industry-standard platforms, including ArcGIS and ArcGIS Pro. Open to students in all majors, the certificate equips participants with practical geospatial skills that are widely applicable in today’s data-driven world.
| Course Number | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| GIS 1000 | Exploring Geospatial Thinking and Technology | 3 |
| GIS 2301/SOC 2501 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Sciences | 3 |
| GIS 4303 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems and Sciences | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose one course from the following list of methods/visualization electives | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Internship in Geographic Information System | ||
| Introduction to Geography (MOTR GEOG 101) | ||
| Topics in Information Literacy 2,3 | ||
| Data Visualization for Business Applications 2 | ||
| Introduction to Data Visualization 2 | ||
| Political Parties and Elections 2 | ||
| Social Mapping for Change | ||
| Data Programming | ||
| Introduction to Digital Image Processing and Computer Vision 2 | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis for GIS | ||
| Choose one course from the following list of broadening electives | 3 | |
| World Regions (MOTR GEOG 101) | ||
| Cultural Geography | ||
| Inquiries in the Fine and Performing Arts 3 | ||
| Inquiries In Mathematics And Computing 2,3 | ||
| The Geography of Governance 2 | ||
| Inquiries in U.S. History 2,3 | ||
| Geospatial Analysis in the Social Sciences 2 | ||
| Python for Scientific Computing and Data Science 2 | ||
| Topics in Logic 2,3 | ||
| Introduction to Poverty, Human Rights, and Social Justice 2 | ||
| Sustainability Management 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Other UMSL courses and courses from other UM campuses, through ICCS or other formats, may be included as electives with prior approval of the program coordinator.
- 1
Must be approved by the program coordinator
- 2
This course has departmental prerequisites, please consult an advisor for more information
- 3
Only specific section offerings (those with formalized GIS content) may count toward certificate and must be approved by program director
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, certificate earners will be able to:
- Explain the important role of the geospatial dimension in data analysis and presentation
- Apply foundational concepts and methods of acquisition, management, visualization, and analysis of geographic data and apply these skills to problems in various disciplines
- Use GIS tools and methods to create maps, images, and other media to communicate in a meaningful way to others
- Solve GIS focused problems independently and as a member of a team