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Kansas State University

GIS and GIScience Certification Programs

 

Undergraduate Certificate in GIS

 

Geographic information systems (GIS) are a combination of computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, and display (map) spatial information and data.  Effective use of geographic information systems (GIS) has evolved into a requisite skill in most academic research, as well as for agencies in both the public and private sectors.  Undergraduate students from such varied disciplines as agronomy, biological sciences, economics, engineering, geography, landscape architecture, and sociology benefit from applying GIS and related technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, geostatistics, and computer programming to input, analyze, model, and display (map) location-based data.

The Undergraduate Certification in Geographic Information Systems, as distinct from the Minor in Geography, is focused on meeting the needs of students who want to acquire grounding in geospatial analytical tools (cartography, remote sensing, and GIS).  The certificate is designed to help students prepare for an entry-level position in the private sector or government.

Ref No.

Course Name

Hrs

GEOG 302

Cartography & Thematic Mapping

3

GEOG 508

Geographic Information Systems I

3

GEOG 702

Computer Mapping & GeoVisualization

3

GEOG 705

Remote Sensing of the Environment

3
GEOG 708 Geographic Information Systems II 3
 

One additional course dealing with a basic or applied aspect of geospatial technology or spatial analysis.

3

Total Credit Hours:

18
 
Program Administration

 

The Undergraduate Certificate in GIS is coordinated by Dr. Shawn Hutchinson (Department of Geography).  Administrative support is provided by the Department of Geography. Questions should be directed to the Certificate Coordinator.  Undergraduate students are required to fill out an enrollment form (click on link to download PDF form), which is maintained by the Department of Geography for each student who is in the certificate program.  Completed forms should be returned to the program administrator via email (shutch@k-state.edu) or campus mail (Department of Geography, 118 Seaton Hall). 

 

Graduate Certificate in GIScience

 

Geographic information systems (GIS) are an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and people designed and organized to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.  Effective use of geographic information systems (GIS) has evolved into a requisite skill in most academic research, as well as for agencies in both the public and private sectors.  Graduate students from such varied disciplines as agronomy, biological sciences, economics, engineering, geography, landscape architecture, and sociology benefit from applying GIS and related technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, geostatistics, and computer programming to input, analyze, model, and display (map) location-based data.

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is designed to provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the rapidly expanding field of GIScience or apply GIScience concepts in their own field of study.  Three components comprise the program curriculum:  A set of prerequisites to gain entry into the program, core geospatial courses focusing on geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite remote sensing, and a set of elective courses that allow for the exploration of advanced themes in GIScience and/or the application of GIScience in geography or related disciplines.  The Graduate Certificate in GIScience may be awarded as a “stand-alone” certificate or in conjunction with the completion of graduate degree requirements in one of the academic units at Kansas State University.  The certificate program is administered by the Department of Geography and is supervised by a multidisciplinary group of instructors and researchers from across the K-State campus.

Certification Requirements

 

The course requirements for the Graduate Certificate in GIScience are shown below.  A maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be used to meet program requirements.  Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.33 in the Geospatial Core to qualify for the Graduate Certificate in GIScience.  The graduate faculty for the program will periodically review the certificate requirements and have the authority to pass modifications to the approved list of courses.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite preparation in three general areas provides essential background for participation in the certificate program.  Courses may be waived in consultation with the certificate coordinator and academic advisor if the student can demonstrate satisfactory completion of previous coursework or significant professional experience in the area.

  • Competency in cartography, thematic mapping, or geodesy (e.g., GEOG 302)
  • Competency in basic statistics (e.g., STAT 320, STAT 330, STAT 350)
  • Competency in object-oriented computer programming (e.g., Introduction to Visual Basic)

Geospatial Core (9 credit hours)

Three core geospatial technique courses expose students to the conceptual framework of GIScience and methods of data capture, storage, retrieval, modeling, and digital map display of biophysical and/or cultural geographic phenomena. Students are required to earn a minimum GPA of 3.33 in the following core courses, which must be taken for graduate, rather than undergraduate, credit: 

  • GEOG 508 Geographic Information Systems I (3 cr)
  • GEOG 705 Remote Sensing of the Environment (3 cr)
  • GEOG 708 Geographic Information Systems II (3 cr)

Elective Courses - Select Two (minimum of 6 credit hours)

In addition to the Geospatial Core courses, students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in GIScience program must take a minimum of 6 additional credit hours of electives consisting of courses in intermediate/advanced GIScience or application courses with a major emphasis on the use of geospatial technologies.  Elective requirements may be satisfied from the following course list or, in some instances, be met through special topics or independent study courses with significant geospatial content (must be approved by the certificate coordinator).

  • AGRON 655 Site-Specific Agriculture (3 cr)
  • BAE 690 Non-Point Pollution Engineering (3 cr)
  • CE 585 Civil Engineering Project – must have GIScience focus (3 cr)
  • CIS 501 Software Architecture and Design (3 cr)
  • CIS 560 Database System Concepts (3 cr)
  • CIS 635 Introduction to Computer-based Knowledge Systems (3 cr)
  • CIS 636 Introduction to Computer Graphics (3 cr)
  • DAS/DEN/GENAG 582 Natural Resources/Environmental Sciences Project – must have GIScience focus (3 cr)
  • GEOG 610 Geography Internship – must have GIScience focus (2-3 cr)
  • GEOG 700 Quantitative Analysis in Geography (3 cr)
  • GEOG 702 Computer Mapping and Geographic Visualization (3 cr)
  • GEOG 711 Topics in Remote Sensing (3 cr)
  • GEOL 560 Field Methods (3 cr)
  • LAR 758 Land Resource Information Systems (3 cr)
Additional Certification Requirements

 

The Graduate Certificate in GIScience may be awarded as a “stand-alone” certificate or in conjunction with the completion of advanced graduate degree requirements in one of the academic units at Kansas State University.  To be awarded a graduate certificate in GIScience, the student:

  1. Must not be on probation,
  2. Must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on graduate coursework (if applicable), and
  3. Must be enrolled during the semester in which the certificate requirements are completed.

In order to ensure that certificate recipients display a strong command of GIScience, the certificate is granted only to those graduate students who earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.33 in the Geospatial Core courses that comprise the Graduate Certificate in GIScience program.  The GPA for certificate purposes will be computed in accordance with Kansas State University policy.

Courses may be waived in consultation with the certificate coordinator and academic advisor if the student can demonstrate satisfactory completion of similar coursework or significant professional experience in the area. If transfer courses are to be used to meet program requirements, the student must furnish the program director with a certified university transcript and, in some instances, a copy of the class syllabus.  A maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be used to meet program requirements

Upon approval by the certificate coordinator, course credits earned before the student entered the certificate program may be applied to the Graduate Certificate in GIScience.  Graduate students, and post-baccalaureate students returning to acquire the certificate, may be asked to repeat any of the prerequisite, geospatial core, and/or elective courses completed more than five years prior to the semester in which the certificate requirements are finished.

Program Administration

 

The Graduate Certificate in GIScience is coordinated by Dr. Shawn Hutchinson (Department of Geography) and supervised by a multidisciplinary group of graduate faculty from across the K-State campus. Administrative support is provided by the Department of Geography. Questions should be directed to the Certificate Coordinator.

Post-baccalaureate students and graduate students working towards advanced degrees are required to submit a list of courses to be used in meeting certification requirements to the certificate coordinator. Where these courses are included in a program of study for an advanced degree, they should be approved by the student’s supervisory committee. Should courses for the certification program not be included in the advanced degree program of study, a supplementary course list should be approved by the student’s major professor and the certificate coordinator. Students are required to fill out an enrollment form (click on link to download PDF form), which is maintained by the Department of Geography for each student who is in the certificate program.  Completed forms should be returned to the program administrator via email (shutch@k-state.edu) or campus mail (Department of Geography, 118 Seaton Hall).