Online GIS Professional Certificate

Add GIS to your professional skill set

Overview

The School of Professional & Continuing Studies offers the Geographic Information System (GIS) Professional Certificate, a six-month program offered entirely online that positions graduates to sit for the Esri ArcGIS Pro Foundation certification exam.

GIS technology has broad applications in business, natural and social sciences, environmental studies, engineering and management. The use of geospatial technologies continues to rapidly grow and values a certified workforce. Esri, the global GIS market leader, notes that because organizations increasingly rely on location intelligence to make better decisions, careers in GIS are in demand more than ever. Esri points to a number of careers that rely on, or can incorporate, GIS skills.

The GIS Professional Certificate consists of two blocks of instruction — GIS Fundamentals and GIS Spatial Analysis & Statistics — split into special topics modules and two main deliverable projects. Graduates will leave the GIS Professional Certificate program with knowledge of the newest GIS software and best practices for utilizing it in your field.

Student Experience

Classes will focus on creating new features, editing, georeferencing, and basic knowledge of web mapping, advanced GIS concepts along with hands-on experience in specialty topics. Specialty topics will provide a deep dive into a particular subject matter such as web mapping, field collection, and cartography. The curriculum is divided into two core blocks supported by 10 modules.

Unlike other GIS certificate programs, the University of Richmond GIS Professional Certificate focuses on how desktop GIS software transitions to web-facing applications and the role web GIS plays in today’s organizations.

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Program Curriculum

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GIS Fundamentals

The first core block, GIS Fundamentals, covers the following topics in modules and an initial project.

  • 5 parts of a GIS: Hardware, software, data, people, methods
  • Data types: Raster & vector
  • Projections
  • Metadata
  • Finding & evaluating data
  • Data Storage: Geodatabases, shapefiles
  • Web GIS

Course Modules

  1. What is GIS?
  2. Data, Data, Data
  3. Introduction to Web Mapping
  4. Initial Project
satellite map image of a city

GIS Spatial Analysis & Statistics

The second core block, GIS Spatial Analysis & Statistics, covers the following topics in modules and a culminating project.

  • Spatial analysis
  • Spatial statistics
  • GIS scripting
  • Advanced geoprocessing
  • Project management

Course Modules

  1. Spatial Analysis
  2. Spatial Statistics
  3. Scripting/Automation
  4. Advanced Web Mapping/Field Apps
  5. Cartography
  6. Final Project

Program Components

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Theory

Theory is taught throughout the course, combined with hands-on activity, to ensure theory and application are linked.

  • Become familiar with the five parts of a GIS.
  • Learn the basics of how to find, store, create and edit spatial data.
  • Discover the importance of coordinate systems and projections in GIS.
  • Explore basic principles and applications of spatial analysis.
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Desktop Software

Most instruction will take place in ArcGIS Pro, the premier professional desktop GIS application. ArcGIS Pro is set to replace ArcMap. Students familiar with ArcMap will learn new workflows to help with the transition to ArcGIS Pro.

Students will learn the following essential workflows:

  • Visualizing spatial data
  • Performing spatial analysis
  • Sharing completed maps in static and web formats.
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Web Mapping Application

ArcGIS Online is a collaborative web GIS that allows users to create and share maps, apps and data to the web for easy access.

Students will learn and practice the following skills:

  • Create your own web maps and easily share them on the web.
  • Explore mapping data.
  • Connect ArcGIS Online work with your skills in ArcGIS Pro, combining desktop and web-based GIS.
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Presentations & Cartography

Two applied projects are required to earn the certificate, which contribute to your professional portfolio. The initial project covers the GIS Fundamentals section, while the final project covers the entire program.

  • Includes data collection, analysis, interpretation and final layout.
  • Cartography is emphasized in the final presentation.
  • Projects communicate spatial information effectively and aesthetically.

Registration & Payment

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2023-2024 Schedule

The GIS Professional Certificate is a 26-week program excluding campus holidays and breaks.

  • Term Dates: Oct. 4, 2023–April 17, 2024
  • Live Remote via Zoom: Wednesdays, 6-7:30pm
  • Online Self-Paced Content: 2 hours each week
  • Registration Deadline: Sept. 29, 2023
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Register

Register for GIS Professional Certificate

$3,999 includes materials and ArcGIS Pro license. Payment in full is due at registration.

Important: Windows operating system on laptop or desktop required to participate in class. ArcGIS Pro will not work on Apple or Linux operating systems, nor on tablets or mobile devices.

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Paying for Studies

UR Employees

A limited number of eligible UR employees may use tuition remission benefits for this program. Contact the program manager for details.