Expand Your Knowledge and Skills

Are you a geospatial professional who is interested in expanding your knowledge and skill set? Are you new to the field and interested in joining one of the fastest growing areas of technology?

The Certificate of Proficiency in Geospatial Technologies is designed for working professionals and for those who wish to join this field. Courses will equip you with key skills that are in demand in an enormous and rapidly growing range of jobs. You also have the option of taking individual online courses within the program.

Time Scanners

National Geographic International and PBS turned to researchers from the University’s Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies to explore the world in a unique way.

The U.S. Department of Labor has defined geospatial technologies as one of major areas of job growth in the coming decade. Geospatial technologies are becoming central skills in an array of fields, including environmental management, energy development, agribusiness, marketing and store location, and logistics. The market for geospatial technology is growing at an annual rate of almost 35 percent, with the commercial subsection of the market expanding at a rate of 100 percent each year. The reason is the uses for geospatial technology are widespread and diverse.

The courses address specific needs of today’s geospatial job market, such as programming and spatial databases, as well as core geospatial skills. In addition to the University of Arkansas certificate, the curriculum also prepares the student for three external certifications, if you chose to pursue them.

• Geospatial Intern Program certification through the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS)
• Certified ArcGIS (Geographic Information Systems) Desktop Associate through Esri, a company that was founded as Environmental Systems Research Institute in 1969.
• The Geographic Information Science Professional (GISP) exam offered by the Geographic Information System Certification Institute (available in 2015)

The six geospatial technology courses will provide you with a solid foundation in the field, including the basics of the computational, mathematical and statistical tools that are the foundations of geospatial applications.

The courses cover the basics of GIS, GPS and GNSS; remote sensing; and LiDAR. They provide particular emphases on the use of geospatial tools in analysis and the creation and use of spatial databases.

University of Arkansas faculty use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) to define the objectives of the classes and overall program. The GTCM identifies the expertise that distinguishes successful geospatial professionals of all kinds, whether you are currently in the workforce or a student planning to enter it.

Courses

• GEOS 3543 - Geospatial Applications and Information Science
• GEOS 3013 - Foundations of Geospatial Data Analysis
• GEOS 3103 - Geospatial Technologies Computational Toolkit
• GEOS 3553 - Spatial Analysis Using ArcGIS
• GEOS 3563 - Geospatial Data Mining
• GEOS 3593 - Introduction to Geodatabases

NOTE: Students may substitute GEOS 3733 - Geospatial Data Science in Public Health in place of GEOS 3543 - Geospatial Applications and Information Science with department consent.

Classes are offered each spring and fall semester. It is possible to waive 3 to 6 hours of required coursework for GEOS 3013 and GEOS 3103 through successful completion of proficiency exams.