New Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate Now Offered to USD Undergraduate Students

The Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences now offers a new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate as of Fall 2023. The program is intended for any USD students who are currently pursuing their bachelor’s degree. 

The GIS Certificate at USD offers comprehensive training in storing, analyzing, visualizing, manipulating, accessing and communicating spatial and temporal data connected to physical locations, with wide-ranging applications in various fields. This includes the natural and social sciences, government agencies and business analytics. GIS is a broad discipline that ranges from the research and development of GIS technology (e.g., programming, database structures, etc.), connections with surveying and business, to applications to solve scientific and human problems. 

While the certificate program is housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, courses will also be taught by faculty in the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the Knauss School of Business. Program Director and Associate Professor of Environmental and Ocean Sciences Suzanné Walther, PhD, is excited to see students enrolled in the program. “GIS should be available and accessible to all students and learning these important interdisciplinary skills will be further incentivized by this new certificate program. We see offering a GIS Certificate unique to USD as fulfilling a responsibility to the students and the broader communities in the area.” 

Dr. Walther also notes that the certificate program will prepare students for future career opportunities. “Students who have completed courses in GIS or obtained a certificate will be highly qualified for most entry-level positions in GIS and related geospatial technology areas but also have skills desired by NGOs, businesses and consultant companies. Because the field of GIS has a technical component, numerous employers seek employees with a demonstrated educational background in the field and this certificate program will allow students to develop this expertise in addition to an academic degree.”

Questions about the program may be directed to Dr. Suzanné Walther at swalther@sandiego.edu.