Certificate in Environmental Geographic Information Systems

Climate change is one of the most urgent and complicated issues we face today. This course explores the science of climate change by teaching students how the climate system works, what factors cause climate to change, how climate has changed in the past, how scientists use models, observations, technology, and theory to make predictions about future climate; and the possible consequences of climate change for our planet. Finally, students will explore the connection between human activity and the current warming trend and consider some of the potential social, economic, political, and environmental consequences of climate change.

This course is part of a two-course sequence that provides students with an understanding of the interconnectedness of the looming environmental issues that the world faces. This class will provide students with a basic scientific understanding of deforestation, biodiversity, and overpopulation and address what societies can do that they aren’t currently doing. Upon completion, students will be able to critically assess these issues and provide models for making more sustainable choices.

This course is part of a two-course sequence that provides students with an understanding of the interconnectedness of looming environmental issues that the world faces. This class will provide students with a basic scientific understanding of energy, water scarcity, and waste, and overpopulation and address what societies can do that they aren’t currently doing. Upon completion, students will be able to critically assess these issues and provide models for making more sustainable choices.

This course is designed for students from any discipline who are interested in applying GIS as a tool to help answer important and timely questions about our environment. This course presents the concepts upon which Geographic Information System technology is based including the fundamentals of cartography, geodesy, coordinate systems, and projections. Conceptual overview and hands-on experience of vector data analyses and table queries are introduced. Students will use ArcGIS to classify data, query tables and maps, analyze spatial relationships, set map projections, build spatial databases, edit data, and create map layouts.

This course introduces students to fundamental theories and practices of cartography and visualization.  By learning symbology, coordinate systems, map projections, topographic representations, interpolation, classification schemes, students will think and communicate visually using a variety of environmental GIS data. Assignments and the final project will teach students to visually display and examine pressing environmental problems.

This course is intended to build upon introductory GIS knowledge. Students apply more advanced methodologies using GIS and remote sensing technologies. Types of data used will include vector and raster spatial data, imagery, maps, and topographic data to examine environmental problems. Data assessed will include spatial information regarding human and natural hazards and disasters, land use and land cover, surface temperature, climate change, wetland delineation, wildlife corridor mapping, coastal erosion, human impacts on the environment, and more.