Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems

Not offered in 2021

The Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems is an 18-unit program offered by the College of Science and Engineering. 

The Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems articulates with the 36 unit Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems .

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants will normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. The Dean (Education) may admit others who can demonstrate fitness for candidature. 

The Graduate Certificate in GIS is not available to graduates of the Bachelor of Applied Geographical Information Systems or of equivalent undergraduate courses from other tertiary institutions. 

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provides an introduction to the theory and application of GIS and remote sensing and is intended for students with an undergraduate degree that is not related to studies in GIS.

It provides a theoretical and practical framework for students from a range of graduate backgrounds, as well as those from the public sector and non-government organisations wishing to extend their choice of career path by acquiring knowledge and skills in the capture, synthesis and communication of spatially-referenced information.

It provides both a stand-alone program for the purposes of mid-career development, as well as an entry point into more advanced studies in the Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems. Students will learn skills which are applicable to a range of areas such as urban and regional planning, infrastructure management, transportation, the environment, biological sciences, biodiversity management and archaeology.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete the graduate certificate will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the processes required to combine and effectively manage various sources of data for spatial analysis
• undertake data manipulation and GIS analyses of the type commonly required in industry using ESRI''s ArcGIS software
• demonstrate an understanding of remote sensing theory and principles that are fundamental to scientists across all areas, including its relationship and integration with GIS
• use the professional image processing software ERDAS IMAGINE for visualisation, geometric correction, analysis and inquiry of remotely sensed data.

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems, students must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better, from the following list of optional topics.

The Graduate Certificate in GIS is specifically designed to provide flexibility to students with different levels of GIS experience and skills. Specifically, the Graduate Certificate in GIS allows students who have already completed undergraduate introductory topics in GIS or remote sensing to complete more advanced topics in these areas, while also providing an entry level for those students who have no GIS experience.

A student's program of study must be approved by the program approver.

Option - Year 1 topics

18 units selected from:

 COMS9001  Communicating Research  (4.5 units)
 STEM8002  Introduction to Geographical Information Systems GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8003  Remote Sensing for all Disciplines GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8004  Modelling in Space and Time, Geostatistics and GIS GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8005  Applied Problem Solving with Computers GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8006  Airborne Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8007  Advanced Geographical Information Systems GE  (4.5 units)
 STEM8008  GIS Airborne and Ground Data Capture for all Disciplines GE  (4.5 units)

 Note: a different 4.5 unit topic may be taken with the approval of the Course Coordinator.