The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems signifies advanced study of GIS techniques and applications and is used to enter the profession or to gain career advancement. Typical entry and mid-level titles are “GIS Technician” or “GIS Specialist”. Mid- to advanced-level career titles include “GIS Manager” and “GIS Senior Analyst.” Regardless of title, which can vary greatly by industry, individuals in these roles provide geographic data management, spatial analysis, and GIS system management support to professionals in criminal justice, health services, city and regional planning, civil and environmental engineering, transportation, corporate siting, and marketing.
The core courses (12 credits) focus on the structure of geographic data, components for managing geographic information systems, spatial analysis, and delivery of geographic information through maps and displays. Students select the remaining 6 credits for the certificate from electives, which may include an internship, in areas such as remote sensing, map-making, and data management systems.
Upon completion of the certificate courses, a student is awarded the certificate which qualifies for 5 credential points toward the GIS Certification Institute standards for professional certification in GIS.
The career outlook in GIS is overall positive as more and more industries recognize the need for data-driven decision making. Salaries range widely depending on area of the country and industry, but average entry-level salaries are around $60,000 to $70,000.
The graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems is open to both degree-seeking and non-degree students. Many students complete the certificate while working on a related master’s or doctoral degree such as one in geography, urban planning, public health, or public administration. Others pursue just the certificate without also seeing a graduate degree – these are non-degree students. In either case, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree.
Our long-standing program – founded in 1991 – offers lots of faculty-student interaction and smaller classes. In general, there are about 20 to 30 students in the program at any given time. Our alumni have gone on to <u>career success in both the public and private sector.</u>
View the course requirements, time limits, and other details about the certificate in the academics section of this web page. Contact Professor Changshan Wu with questions about the program.
GIS Alumni
The GIS Program at UWM has been in place since 1991 and now has more than 160 graduates working in various GIS positions in the private sector as well as the public sector. Sample employers include Milwaukee County, Stantec, City of Chicago, City of Milwaukee, U.S. Census Bureau, Aurora Healthcare, Waukesha County, City of Kenosha, Continental Properties, American Transmission Company, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, State of Arizona, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ruekert & Mielke, and U.S. Bank.
See our GIS career page for more information.
How to Apply
Eligibility and Admission
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or a graduate degree to be accepted into the certificate program. For international applicants, whose first language is not English, a score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) of at least 600 (250 on the computer-based version) or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 must also be submitted.
Application Process
All graduate certificate applicants – even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program and those planning to complete the certificate without a master’s or doctoral degree – must apply for admission to the certificate program through the UWM Graduate School. Visit their website for more information about applying to a graduate certificate program and a link to the application.
Students who have already started taking graduate level coursework at UWM must apply for admission to the certificate program before completing 6 credits in certificate courses. There is no deadline to apply but students must leave enough time to complete the process before classes start.