2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Geographic Information Sciences Certificate


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Roger Sandness, Head
Department of Geography
Scobey Hall 232
605-688-4511
e-mail: roger.sandness@sdstate.edu


The certificate in Geographic Information Sciences (GISc) will prepare students to utilize their knowledge of geography, the physical environment, the cultural environment, geographic applications, and various technologies to meet the challenges of today’s society.

Geographic information sciences, the science of GIS, is concerned with geographic concepts, the basic elements used to describe, analyze, model, reason about, and make decisions on phenomena distributed on the earth surface. This GISc certificate would include the necessary courses to prepare the graduate to do geographic information science.
 
Geographic information sciences are utilized by many Governmental agencies including the US Geologic Survey. Nearly every job advertisement for geographers requests a GIS background. With GIS’s capability to visually display large amounts of geo-spatial data, thereby making it easier to analyze, there is a demand for college graduates educated in its use.
 
This program targets people seeking a different level of learning outside of a traditional degree format. We would deliver the certificate statewide, especially targeting employees of the EROS Data Center.

A total of 15 to 21 credits are required. Total credits for persons holding degrees in environmental sciences are 15, while 21 credits are required for those with degrees other than in environmental science.

Note


Since the targeted audience will in most cases minimally hold a bachelor’s degree, some flexibility in the certificate plan of study will need to be made on a case by case basis. Substitutions and alternate courses may be approved as the need arises.

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