- Certificate Program in Geographic & Environmental Policy Systems
Basic and Advanced Option
The basic certificate allows for application/specialization in a single area and is designed for the professional needing to develop or update GIS understanding. The advanced certificate encourages both greater breadth and depth through coursework in a variety of cognate areas and is appropriate for individuals wanting to move in a different career direction or who need significant retraining to adapt to the changing demands of their job.
Additional certificates in Information, Communication, and Technology, Public Service & Leadership, and a graduate level certificate in Ethics, Values & Society are described on other pages.- Training and development
- Performance management
Geographic and Environmental Policy Systems
- Basic Certificate (15 credits)
- Advance Certificate (30 credits)
Core Requirements 12 credits GEO 215 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3 cr GEO 415 Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 3 cr POLS 381 Cooperative Education 3 cr GS 300 Technology& Society (offered during the Spring Semester) OR 3 cr GEO 321 Urban and Regional Planning 3 cr Core Electives Basic-minimum 3 credits, Advanced-minimum 9 creditsPOS 361 Public Policy 3 cr ECON 210 Environmental Economics & Policy 3 cr BIO 250 Human Environmental Biology 3 cr BIO 440 Ecology 4 cr GS 395 LAW 448-Environmental Law (open only to students with a bachelor's degree) 3 cr Electives up to 9 credits for Advanced CertificatePOLS 361 Public Policy 3 cr BIO 350 Field Biology (offered during the Spring Semester) 3 cr ENGL 300 Introduction to Professional Writing 3 cr GEO 210 Current Themes in Geography 3 cr GEO 230 Remote Sensing 3 cr GEO 385 Field Study 2-3 cr GEO 490 Select Topics in Geography 3 cr MET 490 Select Topics in Meteorology 3 cr ENVS 320 Environmental Modeling 3 cr PHIL 230 Environmental Philosophy & Ethics 3 cr POLS 320 Politics of Urban & Metropolitan 3 cr PSY 355 Environmental Psychology 3 cr
The basic certificate can be completed on a part-time basis within a one-year time frame (6 credits/semester, with internship/coop during summer session). The advanced certificate requires approximately two years of study on a part-time basis. Students earning the basic certificate would be eligible for undertaking further work to earn the advanced certificate. For students holding a bachelor's degree, up to 9 credits may be taken at the graduate level.
Criteria for Admission and Registration
Students apply to the College of Adult Scholars for admission to the program. Applicants are generally expected to have baccalaureate degree, although qualified non-degreed applicants will also be considered. Applicants without a baccalaureate degree must present at least 60 credits of undergraduate work or an equivalent Associates degree with a 2.00 GPA ("C") from an accredited institution for admission.
Certificate students may enroll in a maximum of 11 credits per semester. Although every effort is made to accommodate students who must attend classes during the evening hours, at present some courses are offered only during the day and not all courses are offered every semester.