This graduate certificate prepares students for employment in federal, state, and local government positions that require GIS skills. The certificate has been found suitable for the needs of business and industry, including those corporations that serve as contractors to governments in the United States and overseas.
The Geographic Information Science Graduate Certificate may be pursued on a full-or part-time basis.
Admissions
University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Graduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog. International students and students having earned international degrees should also refer to Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
Eligibility
All applicants should have a working knowledge of, or prior education or training in, computer technology. Knowledge of GIS, remote sensing technology, and cartography are preferred. Students from any discipline are welcome to apply.
Application Requirements
To apply for this certificate, prospective students should submit the George Mason University Admissions Application and its required supplemental documentation.
GRE scores and letters of recommendation are not required but will strengthen an application, if available.
Policies
For policies governing all graduate certificates, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Transferring Previous Graduate Credit into this Certificate
Previously earned and relevant graduate credits may be eligible for transfer into this certificate; details can be found in the Credit by Exam or Transfer section of this catalog.
Premium Tuition Rate
This professional certificate program charges students at a differential (premium) tuition rate. This rate applies to all students who enroll in this certificate program, regardless of in-state or out-of-state status. The differential tuition will be used to fund continuing improvements in the departmental computational facilities used to support the certificate program.
Certificate Requirements
Total credits: 15
This certificate may be pursued on a full-or part-time basis.
Students should refer to the Admissions & Policies tab for specific policies related to this certificate.
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GGS 550 | Geospatial Science Fundamentals | 3 |
| GGS 553 | Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to GIS Algorithms and Programming | ||
| GIS Analysis and Application | ||
| Web-based Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select an additional 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Transportation Geography | ||
| Land-Use Modeling Techniques and Applications | ||
| Cartographic Design | ||
| Quantitative Methods | ||
| Advanced Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Remote Sensing | ||
| Spatial Agent-Based Models of Human-Environment Interactions | ||
| Spatial Modeling for Public Health | ||
| Introduction to GIS Algorithms and Programming | ||
| GIS Analysis and Application | ||
| Geovisualization | ||
| Terrain Mapping | ||
| Spatial Data Structures | ||
| Location Science | ||
| Web-based Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Interoperability of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Scientific Data Mining for Geoinformatics | ||
| Deep Learning for Geoinformation | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |