Geographic Information Systems

Post-Baccalaureate Credit Certificate Program

David DiBiase
2217 Earth and Engineering Sciences Building
University Park, PA 16802
Telephone: 814-863-1790
Fax: 814-863-1564
E-mail: dwd1@psu.edu

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program in GIS helps professionals in a variety of fields become knowledgeable and skillful users of geographic information systems. The program was designed specifically for experienced GIS practitioners who lack formal education in geography and GIS and wish to advance their careers, and for those who seek to make career changes. The program is offered through Penn State's World Campus. Students earn the Certificate of Achievement by completing four instructor-led online courses - three required and one elective. Students who successfully complete the program earn 11 academic credits (2 credits for the first course, 3 credits each for the rest). Students subsequently admitted to the Department of Geography's Master of GIS degree program may count up to 15 credits of Certificate Program courses toward the MGIS degree.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have received, from an accredited institution, a baccalaureate degree earned under residence and credit conditions substantially equivalent to those required by Penn State. Applicants from countries in which English is not the primary language must earn TOEFL scores of at least 550 for the paper test or 213 for the computer-based test.

PRESCRIBED COURSES

GEOGRAPHY (GEOG)
482. The Nature of Geographic Information (2)
483. Problem-Solving with GIS (3)
484. GIS Database Development (3)

ELECTIVES
Choose at least 3 credits from:

GEOGRAPHY (GEOG)
485. GIS Programming and Customization (3)
486. Cartography and Visualization (3)
487. Environmental Applications of GIS (3)
488. Acquiring and Integrating Geospatial Data (3)

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 - 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

GEOGRAPHY (GEOG) course list

Effective Date: Spring Semester 2008
Expiration Date: Fall Semester 2010

Last Revised by the Department: Spring Semester 2008

Blue Sheet Item #: 35-05-163

Review Date: 2/26/08