GIS Education through Certificate Programs

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of GIS certificate programs available through colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. It is argued that by presenting a structured sequence of coursework, GIS certificate programs have begun to address the varied educational goals of both traditional students and non-degree professionals. A survey of certificate programs listed on the World Wide Web reveals considerable variation in the structure, duration, sponsorship, and intended student population associated with GIS certificates. Given demands for increasingly specialized GIS training, it is suggested that new certificate programs should be defined according to application area (horizontal) and position type (vertical) dimensions. Issues surrounding the design and implementation of new certificate programs are also reviewed.