Geospatial Information Science (GIS) is used in many fields that work with the built environment, among them urban and environmental planning, the design disciplines, and architectural or landscape history. GIS professionals in planning and design fields are best trained by a thorough education in one or more of these disciplines together with an immersion in the theory and methods guiding GIS.
The GIS Certificate aims to instill a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration through coursework and engagement with the community. The College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) has a unique opportunity to establish collaborations spanning multiple departments and campuses of the University, including:
- Architecture
- Landscape Architecture
- Planning and Design
- Civil Engineering
- Geography at UC Denver
- Geography at CU Boulder
The Certificate also builds upon the extraordinary depth of the GIS community in Colorado and the interdisciplinary teaching and research occurring at the Facility for Advanced Spatial Technology (FASTLAB) at UCD.
Certificate Requirements
- A minimum of 18 credits (at least 12 credits to be earned in residence at either UC Denver or UC Boulder)
- A minimum ‘B’ average (3.0) and a minimum grade of ‘B-‘ (2.7) in any course, as outlined in the certificate curriculum
- Two required classes: Introduction to GIS (both theory and methods) and seminar in Planning and Design Applications (6 total credits)
- At least two additional courses in GIS or remote sensing methods to be approved in advance by the GIS Committee (6 total credits) - such courses may include:
- Cartography (Boulder and Denver, Geography)
- GIS Analysis (Denver, Civil Engineering)
- GIS II (Boulder, Geography) Advanced GIS Workshops (Boulder and Denver, multiple departments)
- GIS Management (Denver, Civil Engineering)
- Quantitative Methods in Geography (Boulder, Geography)
- Remote Sensing (Boulder and Denver, multiple departments)
- Studio or thesis project involving intensive application of planning and design GIS-based methods, to be approved by the faculty GIS committee
- An internship or other work experience is strongly encouraged and may, at the discretion of the Committee, be substituted for the seminar in Planning and Design Applications
Courses
It is not possible or desirable to specify every course that should count toward a certificate. CAP and other participating programs will continue to generate new GIS-related courses as the curriculum evolves, and CAP delivers much of its instruction through studio courses that vary in content each semester. A certificate program must include an ongoing structure for managing course requirements and determining when individual students have met them.
Committee
The GIS Program is coordinated by a committee of three faculty members or instructors (GIS Committee), appointed by the chairs of participating departments. The intention of this Committee is to give deference to both your needs as well as the needs of faculty in different programs.
The GIS Committee determines which courses will count toward the various Certificate requirements. Course origination, approval, and scheduling remain with the departments according to their respective rules.
The Committee will also review your progress and determine:
- When you have met the Certificate requirements
- Requests for advanced standing
- Course substitutions
The GIS Committee elects from among its members a coordinator, who signs for the Committee in awarding certificates and listing eligible courses, and to whom the Committee may delegate other tasks such as application of Certificate requirements.
The Committee maintains a list of the GIS Faculty, all of whom teach courses that are part of the Certificate offerings, or who are interested and qualified to assist you or otherwise contribute to the program.