GIS Certificate: Overview

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Introduction

The University of Washington, Tacoma offers courses leading to a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It is co-administered by the Urban Studies and Environmental Science programs. The certificate program consists of a 24-credit series of courses which starts every autumn and progresses for 3 consecutive quarters. This program will most benefit entry-level and intermediate-level GIS users who lack formal education in geography or GIS.

What is GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies (ESRI 1997).

The Certificate in GIS at the University of Washington, Tacoma provides students with an excellent foundation in the concepts necessary for spatial modeling with a variety of digital data. Students develop the analytical and practical skills needed for research in GIS and entry into the employment sector. The Certificate Program in GIS provides students with the educational foundation for transfer into a baccalaureate program in related fields of study.

The certificate program provides a nine-month course of study for those seeking the knowledge and skills to utilize GIS in fields such as urban and regional planning, environmental research, resource management, crime analysis, marketing, real estate, medical research, and various branches of government. The program is designed to benefit entry to intermediate level users who lack formal education in GIS.

How does GIS actually work?

A number of related data layers can represent the many geographies of the real world (ESRI 1995). Conceptually, GIS stores spatial information in separate layers that can be manipulated and used for analysis. There can be a separate layer for each land use type of features such as roads, streams or vegetation.

A GIS is:

An organized collection of:

• Hardware
• Software
• Network
• Data
• People
• Procedures

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