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Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

Department of Physics, Geosciences & Astronomy

College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

Department of Physics, Geosciences & Astronomy

College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

On-Campus

Program

18 Credit Hours

to Graduate

Full-Time, In-State Tuition

$5,010 Per Semester

Low-Cost Textbooks

For All Students

Transform Your Community with Geographic Information Systems

Geographic information systems (GIS) has a wide range of applications including urban planning, disaster response, and transportation planning. GIS is a computer-based system that can be used to store, analyze, and display spatial data. It can help users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic context. EKU’s certificate in GIS prepares you for a variety of challenging and rewarding career opportunities. Learn to analyze and map geographic data and produce 3D digital imaging, reports, charts, tables, overlays, and applications. Gain hands-on experience focused on real-world problems and gain the experience needed to lead future generations of geographers, astronomers, environmental geoscientists, physicists, and engineers.

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Career Outlook

Although employment growth for geography-related fields is projected to show little change until 2032, about 100 openings for geographers are projected each year, on average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Local, state, and federal governments need GIS technicians in several different agencies: the Department of Defense, the Army, the Air Force, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

A GIS certificate can open the door to a wide variety of career options across the industry spectrum.

Job Titles Include:

  • Geoscientist
  • Surveyor
  • Surveying and Mapping Technician
  • Urban and Regional Planner
  • Hydrologist

EKU graduates of the Department of Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy work in various fields and positions.

Employers Include:

  • NASA
  • Rockwell International
  • Clark County, Kentucky Public Schools
  • Danville Independent Schools

The Office of Academic and Career Services is a one-stop shop for all your career and professional development needs.

Services Include:

  • Creating/updating your resume and cover letter
  • Interviewing tips and coaching
  • Career documents review
  • Job search

Why EKU?

  • Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
  • No application fee
  • Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
  • Fast-track opportunities for students with 80 or more credit hours

Curriculum & Admission

Learn essential skills for today’s GIS careers. Our programs are made up of high-quality courses and taught by experienced professors. EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as GIS cartography, remote sensing, geographic data and techniques, geographic imagery, computer aided drafting (CAD), plane surveying, disaster resilience and exercises, statistical reasoning and applied statistics, web programming, Visual Basic programming, and object-oriented programming.

A minimum of 18 credits are required to graduate.

View the degree requirements:

EKU Academic Catalog

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

TermApplication
Deadline		Classes
Begin
FallAugust 1August
SpringDecember 1January
SummerMay 1May

All applicants must provide an application and evidence of appropriate scholastic achievement through prior educational experience.

Please note that certain degree programs have special admission requirements. Admission to the University does not mean automatic admission to all degree programs.

The completed application and all required supporting documentation must be received by the University no later than:

• August 1 for fall enrollment
• December 1 for spring enrollment
• May 1 for summer enrollment

To apply for undergraduate admission to Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), submit an application at apply.eku.edu and submit your materials noted below electronically or by mail to:

Office of Admissions
Eastern Kentucky University
Whitlock Bldg. 112, CPO 54
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475-3154.

Enrolling & Advising Information

EKU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics is committed to delivering high-quality enrollment and academic advising for our students. We strive to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and meaningful engagement to help students reach their academic goals and have a rewarding educational experience.

Interested in enrolling? Reach out to your enrollment advisor.

professional photo of Heather Davis

Heather Davis

Senior Director of Enrollment and Intervention

859-622-3524
cstem.recruitment@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment
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Robert Munafo

Enrollment Advisor

859-622-3101
robert.munafo@eku.edu

Schedule an Appointment

Additional Contact Info

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Stories & Features

  • Madison High

    EKU Environmental and Applied Geology Graduate
    My degree provided me with the knowledge I needed to get a solid start to my career. I was able to get a job with the Kentucky Geological Survey within a few months of graduating and I am thrilled to be working for them. I also took the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology exam shortly after graduating and passed it on my first try.

  • James Matthew Christie

    EKU Physics Graduate
    My undergraduate research helped get me familiar with a big range of vacuum equipment that I regularly use for my ongoing research. Professors almost always had an open-door policy, you could just drop by and hang out and chat, and it really made for a much more welcoming environment than I’ve seen in many places.

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News & Updates

EKU Researcher Leads Global Bee Conservation Efforts

20,000. That’s the number of described bee species worldwide. In tropical Costa Rica, there are almost 700. And Kentucky is home to approximately 400 bee species, according to the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. With these bees working as powerful pollinators to support crop production, Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) Associate Professor Dr. Valerie Peters focuses […]

Eastern Kentucky University and Lockheed Martin: More Than a Decade of Community Investment and Partnership

Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), located in the heart of the state’s manufacturing hub, prepares skilled graduates to enter various areas of manufacturing operations. Committed to meeting workforce demands, the university partners with local businesses to identify ways to support local industries. In 2010, Lockheed Martin, a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific […]

First Gen, First in Cyber

Ervin Daniels, ’94, sets the standard as a first-gen graduate and cybersecurity expert With First-Generation College Celebration Day on Nov. 8, Ervin Daniels, ’94, serves as an example of how first-generation students can build powerful firewalls of perseverance to reach their dreams. Daniels has achieved considerable success as a first-generation college graduate and now a […]

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Contact Information

Department of Physics, Geosciences & Astronomy

Science Building
Room 3140
533 John Hanlon Drive
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-1521
pgas@eku.edu

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