This program is available at the following locations:

• Corvallis
• Ecampus

Oregon State University offers an undergraduate and graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science. Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is a discipline that combines theory and principles underlying:

• geospatial data collection (remotely sensed imagery from satellites, aircraft, and drones, social media, telemetry, GPS, etc.);
• technologies to manage, analyze, and visualize geospatial data (geographic information systems);
• computational, statistical, and mathematical methods to analyze and model geospatial data (machine learning, Big Data, spatial statistics, spatial modeling, geovisual analytics, etc.);
• cartography and geovisualization (the science and practice of creating maps); and
• social and environmental implications of GIScience (professional ethics, privacy, digital divide, etc.).

The OSU GIScience certificate can help lead to certification as a nationally-recognized geographic information systems (GIS) professional (GISP). GIS professionals are in high demand for jobs in government, NGOs, and the private sector, and have rewarding careers in natural resource management, conservation, public health, urban planning, and many others.

Contact Information

Kuuipo Walsh, Director
Geographic Information Science Certificate Program
134 Wilkinson Hall
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-3795
Email: kuuipo.walsh@oregonstate.edu 
Website: https://ceoas.oregonstate.edu/geographic-information-science-graduate-certificate/

Certificate Code: CG03

Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate skill in integrative spatial thinking and effective implementation of various spatial analysis methods, as well as collaborative learning across several sub-disciplines within the GIScience field.
• Develop solid grounding in GIScience technology and the appropriate application of that technology (software, data collection instruments and devices).
• Express familiarity with a wide variety of research applications, management and decision-support scenarios, with the capacity to apply knowledge to natural resource problems at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.

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Students must have completed GEOG 370 or have equivalent introductory cartography experience. The course can either be completed prior to starting the certificate program or pursued in tandem with the other courses in the certificate

Certificate Code: CG03