Online Graduate GIS Certificate

Our Program

Utah State University’s online Geographic Information Science (GIS) certificate is designed for graduate students or professionals wanting skills and experience applying industry standard GIS and remote sensing tools to natural resource issues. 

Students who complete the program will receive a graduate-level certificate in Geographic Information Science. Their USU transcript will list the courses and grades received to complete the program. The certificate is complementary to a wide variety of graduate programs, and is available as a standalone certificate.  However, credits obtained from the certificate may be applied toward a graduate degree. The certificate may be completed in one year, but students have five years to complete the certificate.

All online courses in this certificate program will be taught in English. International students from non-English speaking countries are expected to be able to communicate in English.  Students must communicate both orally and in writing, with the instructor as well as other fellow students in class.

Curriculum Offerings

Students must complete FOUR courses (3 credits each) in order to fulfill the requirements for the GIS Certificate. Each course is offered online and the semesters they are offered are listed below:

Course Name		Credits	Spring	Summer	Fall
Online Course Offerings
NR 6910	Geographic Information Systems for Natural Resource Applications	3	X	X	X
NR 6920	Python Programming for GIS (pre-req NR6910)	3	X		X
NR 6930	Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Applications (pre-req NR6910)	3	X	X	X
NR 6940	Principles of Remote Sensing of Natural Resources (pre-req NR6910, may be taken concurrently)	3	X	X	X
NR 6950	Geospatial Analysis for Natural Resource Management (pre-req NR6910)	3	X		X
Logan Campus Course Offerings
WATS 6920	Adv. GIS & Spatial Analysis	3	X
WILD 6750	Applied Remote Sensing	3			X
GEOG 6870	Geospatial Analysis	3	X
WILD 6920	Python Programming for GIS	3	X

Course descriptions are available on the Geographic Information Science (GIS) – Certificate of Proficiency Catalog page.

In addition to the courses we have listed here there are other courses offered through the Natural Resources Distance Learning Consortium.  

Admission Requirements

• Applicants go to applynow.usu.edu.  Choose the Graduate Application and then the GIS Certificate.
• Applicant must provide an official transcript showing a bachelor's degree or higher has been received. Please send official transcripts to the following address:  0900 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322-0900.  Official electronic transcripts may be sent to graduateschool@usu.edu from the institution.  (If you've attended USU, we will obtain your transcripts.)
• Application deadlines are two weeks prior to the start of each semester. Find important dates & deadlines on the USU Academic and Registration Calendars.

Program Requirements

To receive the certificate, a participant must complete the following set of requirements:

• Apply and be accepted into the GIS Certificate Program
• Register for and successfully complete four graduate-level courses
• Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA for program courses (grades below B- will not be accepted)
• Abide by the Code of Policies and Procedures for Students at Utah State University.

Tuition Costs

• Tuition costs for Out-of-State students is $562 per credit. ($504 tuition + $43 differential tuition + $15 online course fee per credit)
• Tuition costs for in-state students is based on USU's tuition and fees table + $42 differential tuition per credit.
• GIS Certificate is not eligible for financial aid as a standalone program.