Graduate Certificates

The Department of Geography offers graduate certificates in Atmospheric Sciences, Digital Geography and GIS, and Medical Geography.

Interested in a certificate?

Please read our frequently asked questions before you apply.

Certificate FAQ

Atmospheric Sciences

Working knowledge of atmospheric processes across multiple spatial and temporal scales is essential for effective research across many disciplines. These courses emphasize an understanding of the atmosphere through visualization of data to aid students whose research involves meteorology or climatology.

Select three (3) courses from the following list with at least one (1) course from MET
(Must earn “B” or higher in each course)

GEO 6255: Climatology

Climatology in a global context. Emphasizes energy budgets, weather systems in the tropics and extratropics, and atmospheric teleconnections such as El Nino.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Introductory weather and climate course taken as an undergrad.

GEO 6348: Floods Seminar

Analysis of the world’s most extreme floods from the Pleistocene through present due to various causes. Emphasizes physical and human aspects of flood warning, preparedness, response and recovery throughout the world.

Credit Hours: 3

GLY 6075: Global Climate Change

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Credit Hours: 3

MET 5504: Weather and Forecasting

Skill development in predicting and discussing daily weather patterns using meteorological instruments to collect data and analyze weather events.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Familiarity with basic meteorology.

MET 6530: Hurricanes

Meteorological and climatological concepts related to hurricanes. Forecasting current activity; researching past storms; and analyzing storm structure, damage, and future trends.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Familiarity with basic meteorology.

MET 6565: Seminar in Atmospheric Teleconnections

Atmospheric teleconnections are recurring large-scale patterns of pressure and circulation anomalies. They can influence temperature, rainfall, storm tracks, and jet stream location/ intensity. We will examine how these patterns were discovered, how the index that characterizes the phase of each teleconnection is calculated, and the weather associated with different phases.

Credit Hours: 3

MET 6752: Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Data using GIS

How atmospheric data are collected and analyzed both for meteorologic and climatologic-scale research. Learn where to obtain various types of data and how to analyze data to answer specific research questions.

Credit Hours: 3

Digital Geography and GIS

The demands for digital geographic data analysts have been increasing in both research and practice during the 21st century. This certificate trains graduate students with a variety of analytic methods and techniques for exploring geospatial datasets, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remotely sensed image processing, and geo-visualization. Hands-on experience of geospatial data analysis are emphasized through lab-based applications.

Credits

A minimum of 11 credits (completed with an average above B-)

Required Courses

GIS 5107C: Geographic Information Systems in Research

Geographic technology for creating, modifying, displaying, and analyzing spatial information. Geographic analysis and reasoning, computer software and hardware technology, and research applications of GIS. Geographic databases.

Credit Hours: 4 |

GIS 5038C: Remote Sensing

Uses of remote sensing imagery in geographical research.

Credit Hours: 4 | Prerequisite: GEO 4120C

Electives (Choose One)

GIS 5028C Advanced Aerial Photo Interpretation

Uses of aerial photographs in geographical research.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or consent of instructor.

GIS 5008C: Maps and Graphs

General introduction to principles and techniques of thematic cartography and cartographic applications.

Credit Hours: 4 | Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

GIS 6104: Spatial Networks

Many phenomena of interest in physical, social, and cyber environments can be thought of as networks within geographic context. This course teaches methods for analyzing these spatial networks, and introduces their applications in geography, urban studies, transportation, hydrology, epidemiology, social science, etc.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Entry level knowledge of statistics (GEO6160, or equivalent) or the consent of the instructor. Prior experiences with ArcGIS is preferred, but not required.

GIS 6117: Applied Geostatistics

Introduces fundamentals and GIS practices of geostatistical analysis (or the kriging), which addresses optimal spatial interpolation. Geostatistics are currently applied in diverse disciplines such as geography, geology, engineering, hydrology, urban studies, and epidemiology.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Entry level knowledge of both statistics (STA2023, GEO3162C/6160, or equivalent) and GIS (GIS3043/5107C or equivalent), or the consent of the instructor.

Medical Geography (Graduate)

The world faces a pressing need for geographic theories, methods, and techniques to address global health issues. The Medical Geography certificate provides training in spatial disease ecology, global health, and essential geostatistical approaches to public health. Hands-on experiences of geospatial analysis are emphasized through lab-based applications.

Credits

12 – 13 (Completed with minimum grades of B-)

Core Courses

GEO 6451: Introduction to Medical Geography

Studying human-environment interactions and the influence of these interactions on public health. This course provides a broad-based, comprehensive survey of geographic approaches in medical studies

Credit Hours: 3

GIS 6456C: Applications in GIS for Zoonoses and Disease Ecology

An advanced-level course for medical geography, and sister disciplines (epidemiology, public health, ecology). It can serve as an undergraduate level major or minor requirement. Focus is on GIS applications in spatial analysis and ecology to address common research issues related to zoonotic diseases (those affecting animals and humans).

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: GIS 3043 and Geography 6161C or equivalents or consent of instructor. Students from public health backgrounds may inquire about course equivalents.

Two (2) of the following techniques courses

GIS 6104: Spatial Networks

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Entry level knowledge of statistics (GEO6160, or equivalent) or the consent of the instructor. Prior experiences with ArcGIS is preferred, but not required.

GIS 6125C: Geocomputation using R

Introduction to geodata analysis using programming. Broad introduction to the programming language as well as applied spatial data analysis. Primary outcome is to facilitate students’ use of programming to analyze data of their own choosing on a final project. Code sharing and re-use is highly emphasized, as is collaboration.

Credit Hours: 3 |

GIS 5038C: Remote Sensing

Uses of remote sensing imagery in geographical research.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: GEO 4120C.

GEO 6346: Climate Change and Health

Presents the science of climate change and impacts on health. Discussion builds on core concepts of climate change science to examine a variety of topics from acute impacts such as heat waves and other weather extremes to chronic conditions like degraded air quality. Mitigation and adaptation strategies are also discussed.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: GEO 2200 or GEO 2242 or MET 1010 or permission of instructor.

GEO 6452C: GIS Models for Public Health

Focusing on the design of GIS-based models to address health and health care issues. Major topics include: a conceptual framework, landscape epidemiology models, disease diffusion models, health accessibility, human health behavior, and location-allocation of health services. Lab section helps students gain hands-on experience applying these models with GIS tools.

Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: GEO4167C/GEO6160, or equivalent and GIS3043/GIS5107C, or equivalent. Or permission of instructor.

Geography