Academics

Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information System (GIS)

The Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs offers a certificate program in Urban Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The program is central to the School’s mission to provide academic and professional education, expertise, and research capabilities to enhance the quality of life in urban communities.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized database management system used for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data. GIS is useful to every discipline that utilizes geographic data and is one of the most exciting and rapidly growing computer technologies.

GIS has spread widely into fields such as land use, transportation, utility management, emergency services, natural resource management, environment, demographics, public safety and public health, market and business location, housing, and real estate. With digital representation of spatial entities and their spatial relationships in GIS database, GIS are used to improve services, assist in managing resources, and provide support for better decision-making and policy-planning activities.

The certificate program offers a sequence of courses to professionals who wish to learn GIS technology to complement their careers in government, planning, environment, public works, and other urban agencies. The program provides a solid understanding of basic concepts, technical and institutional factors in GIS design and implementation, and applications of the technology to current issues of urban interest.

The program balances training in fundamental GIS concepts and theory, practical GIS-based problem-solving applications, and the development and completion of both independent and collaborative GIS projects.
 

Admission Information

Degree-seeking graduate students who hold regular admission status may be admitted to a certificate program. Alternatively, the applicant must meet the graduate certificate admission requirements detailed in the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog and listed below. With program permission, non-degree graduate students may take the courses noted below, but non-degree graduate students cannot earn a university graduate certificate.

GIS Certificate Admission Requirements:

  • Submission of application for licensure admission and application fee.
  • Official transcripts confirming completion of baccalaureate degree, completed master’s degree, or completed JD degree.
  • Students must meet one of the following admission criteria:
  1. For bachelor's degrees earned within the past six years, the applicant must have a minimum cumulative GPA for the bachelor’s degree of 2.75 (4 point scale),
  2. OR if the bachelor's degree is more than six years old, the applicant must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA,
  3. OR a minimum GRE score of the 50th percentile,
  4. OR completion of 12 graduate level credits at CSU with a minimum "B" in each course,
  5. OR completion of regionally accredited U.S. masters or Juris Doctorate degree.

Submit application materials to the Graduate Admissions Office:
2121 Euclid Ave
Attn: Application Processing Center
Cleveland, OH 44115

To facilitate the admission process, please use the online application system.
 

Course Requirements

The GIS certificate program consists of three courses. The introductory course approaches GIS as a tool to provide students with basic technical, analytical, and management skills that can be used in other courses or in the work setting. The course focuses on the principles and concepts of GIS and tools of spatial information analysis that result in recommending fast and efficient solutions to everyday problems.The second course focuses on advanced professional and academic applications of GIS technology. The third course centers upon individual GIS-based projects and seminar-based discussions of current issues in GIS.

  • UST 585: GIS Principles
  • UST 586: GIS Methods*    
  • UST 587: GIS Applications 

*Note: Beginning in Fall 2019, UST 601 is the prerequisite for UST 586.
 

Career Opportunities

The certificate program offers a sequence of courses to professionals who wish to learn GIS technology to complement their careers in government, planning, environment, public works, and other urban agencies. The program provides a solid understanding of basic concepts, technical and institutional factors in GIS design and implementation, and applications of the technology in professional settings.
 

Faculty

Urban Geographic Information Systems Certificate classes are taught by Cleveland State University faculty, researchers, instructors, and GIS professionals working in the region.
 

Contact Information

For more information please contact:
Public Affairs Student Services Center
Telephone: (216) 687-3884 / E-mail: passc@csuohio.edu