Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Program Overview

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a comprehensive spatial database used to input, store, retrieve, manipulate, analyze and output geographically-referenced information, to support decision making for planning and management of land use, natural resources and the environment, transportation, facilities and services, and public administration. The ability of GIS to display the results of queries geographically and its unique capacity for spatial analysis and modeling, make it possible to ask and answer questions well beyond the scope of traditional databases

The use of GIS in government agencies, private businesses and nonprofit organizations has grown steadily in recent years as forward-thinking leaders acknowledge the value of GIS and spatial analysis for a variety of uses. The U.S. Department of Labor identified geospatial technologies as one of the three most important emerging and evolving fields, along with nanotechnology and biotechnology. A recent estimate (Nature, January, 2004) anticipates that the U.S. $5-billion worldwide geospatial market will grow to $30 billion by 2005. In recognition of these trends, the UW Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems offers applications-oriented training in this rapidly growing field.

The nine-month GIS Certificate Program is for professionals seeking the skills and knowledge to use GIS. This course of study most benefits entry- and intermediate-level users. All instructors are experienced teachers and professionals who have been approved by the Department of Geography and the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. Classes meet in the well-equipped GIS Lab of the UW Geography Department. Students enrolled in the certificate courses have access to this facility during evening and weekend hours outside of scheduled classes.