Program details

The Department of Community and Regional Planning offers a multidisciplinary graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GIS Certificate Program is open to graduate students in all disciplines of the university. Students must complete a minimum of 13 graduate credits of GIS coursework to receive the certificate. In addition, students must maintain a grade-point average of B or higher in these courses.

Current Iowa State graduate students

  • Request to Pursue a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems in addition to a graduate degree

New students

  • Graduate College Application Form
  • Statement of Purpose (background, experience, interest areas, career goals)
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts

Application deadline

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Spring Semester: December 1
  • Summer: April 1

Application package to be sent to:

GIS Certificate Program Coordinator
Department of Community and Regional Planning
146 College of Design
715 Bissell Road
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1066

Course requirements

To meet the 13 credits requirement, students should choose one of the options (A or B) and complete the following GIS coursework:

Option A
3 credits (1 course) from the pool of Foundations of GIS courses
6 credits (2 courses) from the pool of GIS Tools and Techniques courses
3 credits (1 course) from the pool of GIS Application courses
1 credit of GIS Seminar

Option B
3 credits (1 course) from the pool of Foundations of GIS courses
9 credits (3 courses) from the pool of GIS Tools and Techniques courses
1 credit of GIS Seminar

Ideally, students can complete the certificate program in three (3) semesters or less depending on course availability in the summer. Qualified students can enter the program in the fall, spring or summer during the academic year. The following schedule is suggested as a means of accomplishing the certificate program.

  • Fall Semester (beginning semester)
    3 credits (1 course) from the pool of Foundations of GIS courses
  • Spring Semester
    6 credits (2 courses) from the pool of GIS Tools and Techniques courses
  • Fall Semester (ending semester)
    3 credits (1 course) from the pool of GIS Application courses and 1 credit of GIS Seminar

Foundations of GIS

  • CRP 551: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
    {3 credits} Fall, Spring, Summer
  • GEOL 552: GIS for Geoscientists
    {3 credits} Fall

GIS Tools and Techniques

  • ABE 537: Water Quality Modeling and Policy
    {3 credits} Fall
  • AGRON 665X: Digital Soil Mapping
    {3 credits} Spring
  • CE 551: Urban Transportation Planning Models
    {3 credits} Fall
  • CRP 549: GeoDesign: Planning for Sustainable Futures
    {3 credits} Fall
  • CRP 552: Geographic Data Management and Planning Analysis
    {3 credits} Spring
  • CRP 554X: Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
  • CRP 556X: GIS Programming and Automation
  • GEOL 568: Applied Geostatistics for Geoscientists
    {3 credits} Fall
  • GEOL 588: GIS for Geoscientists II
    {3 credits} Spring
  • LA/CRP 558X: Introduction to Web Mapping
    {3 credits}
  • LA 567: Advanced GIS Landscape Modeling
    {3 credits} Fall
  • MTEOR/GEOL/NREM 589: Survey of Remote Sensing Technologies
    {4 credits =  Lecture 3 credits + Lab 1 credit}
  • NREM 546: Integrating GPS and GIS for Natural Resource Management
    {3 credits} Fall
  • STAT 406: Statistical Methods for Spatial Data
    {3 credits} alternate Spring
  • STAT 576: Introduction to Spatial Analysis
    {3 credits} Spring
  • STAT 506: Spatial Statistics
    {3 credits}
  • URB D 532: Urban Design Media
    {3 credits} Fall

GIS Applications

  • If you are an ISU GIS Graduate Certificate student only, you should take an independent study (i.e., 590) to complete your GIS Application.
    • CRP 590: Special Topics O: Spatial Analytical Methods {3 credits} Fall, Spring, Summer
    • LA 590: Special Topics K: Computer Applications {3 credits} Fall, Spring, Summer
    • Note: This course will be taken in your advisor’s home department.
  • If you are an ISU master’s student and you are using geospatial technology as part of your methodology in your Master’s Thesis or Professional Report, then you are eligible to use your Master’s Thesis or Professional Report as your GIS Application. Contact the Director of the GIS Certificate for approval.
    • If approved, you will be able to use your Master’s Thesis or Professional Report as your GIS Application.
    • In other words, you can use 599 or 699 courses from your home department.
  • If you are an ISU doctoral student and you are using geospatial technology as part of your methodology in your PhD dissertation, then you are eligible to use your PhD dissertation as your GIS application. Contact the director of the GIS Graduate Certificate Program for approval.
    • If approved, you will be able to use your PhD Dissertation as your GIS Application.
    • in other words, you can use 599 or 699 courses from your home department.

GIS Seminar

  • CRP 595: Seminar in GIS Applications and Research
    {1 credit} Spring only

Application requirements

Current ISU Graduate Students

  • Request to Pursue a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems in addition to a graduate degree

New Students

  • Graduate College Application Form
  • Statement of Purpose (background, experience, interest areas, career goals)
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts

Application Deadline

  • Fall Semester: July 1
  • Spring Semester: December 1
  • Summer: April 1

Application Package to be Sent to:

GIS Certificate Program Coordinator
Department of Community and Regional Planning
146 College of Design
715 Bissell Road
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1066

Request to Pursue a Certificate in Addition to a Graduate Degree (PDF file on Graduate College Student Forms page)

Program of Study Form (PDF file on Graduate College Student Forms page)

GIS Application Assessment (PDF)

Certificate Completion Form (PDF file on Graduate College Student Forms page]

All graduate students enrolled in the GIS Certificate must write their Final Report for their GIS Application following the Basic Guidelines described below. The student’s advisor (member of the Faculty Pool) is responsible for ensuring that his/her advisee follows these Basic Guidelines. The advisor is also responsible for grading the Final Report (A, B, C, etc). An electronic copy (PDF file) of the Final Report must be submitted to the Director of Certificate Studies for the ISU GIS Certificate (Dr. Monica A. Haddad).

 

  1. Content

Students should include each of the following content in their reports:

Component Description
Front Matter
  • Title page
  • Abstract including objectives, methods, and results
  • Table of contents
  • Lists of figures and tables
Problem Definition
  • Statement of the research problem
  • Project purpose, background, and context
  • Main objectives and contributions of the study
  • Spatial questions and hypotheses
Research Design
  • Relevant literature review on the problem
  • Relevant theories on the problem, if applicable
  • Conceptual framework and definition of key terms
  • Description of concepts and variables
Methodology
  • Study area description, location, and context
  • Operationalization and measurement of variables
  • Database and data sources
  • Data analysis and modeling
Results
  • Results of data analyses
  • Presentation of results in text, figures, and tables
Discussion
  • Review of results in relation to spatial hypotheses and research problem
  • Discussion of results in the context of the project background
  • Conclusions and recommendations based on results
  • Recommendations for future studies
Back Matter
  • Bibliography
  • Appendices

 

  1. Format

A minimum of 28 written pages is generally expected, including figures and tables. Not counting “Front Matter” and “Back Matter” (please read below). In details, not to be included in the 28 pages: Title page; Abstract; Table of contents; Lists of figures and tables; Bibliography; and Appendices. Students should follow the specific guidelines given below when preparing their report:

  • Margins: Use 1″ margins on all sides.
  • Page numbers: Number all pages of the report using the exact same font, size, and location.  Front matter should be numbered with Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.).  The title page should be page “i” but do not show the page number on the title page.  Report body pages and back matter should be numbered with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
  • Font and spacing: Use 12 point Times New Roman font throughout the report.  Double space the entire report.
  • Title page: Follow title page formatting given in the current Thesis Manual.  Capitalize only the first word of the title and proper names.  Include your full name, area of specialization (i.e. Geographic Information Systems Certificate), semester and year of graduation.  Also, provide the name of your GIS Application advisor.
  • Front matter: Ensure that Table of Contents headings exactly match the headings used in text and that headings and page numbers are correct.
  • Text: Organize your text in a coherent and consistent manner.  Use headings and subheading formats consistently throughout, and ensure clear differentiation between formatting of different heading levels.
  • Tables and figures (maps, graphs, photographs, etc.): Each table and figure must have a number and a title.  These should be clear and integrated into the text as close as possible to the in-text reference (not at the end of the report).  Format all captions in a consistent manner (numbering, font, location in relation to image, etc.)
  • Appendix: Pages should be numbered in the same font and location as text pages.  Each appendix needs a main heading, in the same location and formatted like the other main headings in the text.
  • References: Cite references in the text correctly, completely, and in a consistent style.  Use a consistent formatting style throughout the Bibliography.

 

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