• Skip to Content
  • AZ Index
  • Catalog Home
  • Institution Home
  • Programs
    • Majors
    • Minors
    • Associate
    • Master's
    • Doctoral
    • Certificates
  • Courses
  • Admission & Costs
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
    • International
    • Tuition & Fees
    • Aid & Scholarships
  • Policies
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Opportunities & Resources
    • Honors College
    • Pathway Advising
    • UWM Online
    • Accelerated Master's Degrees
    • Catalog Glossary
  • Apply »
  • Visit »
  • Schedule of Classes
  • Catalog Archive
  • Download Catalog

UWM

Academic Catalog 2020-2021
  • Home»
  • Architecture and Urban Planning (School of)»
  • Urban Planning»
  • Geographic Information Systems, Graduate Certificate (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)

Urban Planning

  • Geographic Information Systems, Graduate Certificate (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)
  • Urban Planning, MUP
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Architecture, MArch
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Engineering, MS
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Public Administration, MPA
  • Urban Planning, MUP: Geographic Information Systems
  • Urban Planning, MUP: Real Estate Development
  • Urban Planning, Undergraduate Certificate
bnr-geographic-information-systems
School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Geographic Information Systems, Graduate Certificate (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)

  • Overview
  • Requirements

The Certificate in Geographic Information Systems is designed for those individuals seeking careers as GIS specialists, providing geographic data management, spatial analysis, and GIS system management support to professionals in a broad range of disciplines, such as criminal justice, health services, city and regional planning, civil and environmental engineering, transportation, and marketing. Certificate holders will seek employment in positions such as “GIS Specialist,” “GIS Analyst,” or “GIS Coordinator.”

The School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and the College of Letters and Science jointly offer the certificate. The core courses (12 credits) focus on the structure of geographic data, components for managing geographic information systems, spatial analysis, and delivery of geographic information through maps and displays. Students select the remaining 6 credits for the certificate from electives, which may include an internship, in areas such as remote sensing, map-making, and data management systems.

Upon completion of the certificate courses, a student is awarded the certificate which qualifies for 5 credential points in the GIS Certification Institute’s standards for professional certification in GIS.

On This Page
  • Admission Requirements 
  • Credits and Courses
  • Additional Requirements
  • Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Application

  • Students wishing to obtain this certificate must declare their intention by applying to the program office or director.
  • All graduate certificate applicants—even those already enrolled in a UWM graduate program—must apply to the Graduate School through the Panthera Admission Application.
  • Graduate degree and previously admitted graduate non-degree students who decide to pursue a certificate program must submit the Panthera application before completing 6 credits in the certificate sequence.
  • Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree and have a minimum 2.75 cumulative undergraduate grade point average to be admitted in to a certificate program.

Credits and Courses

A minimum of 6 credits each in Urban Planning and Geography courses are required for completion of the certificate. To earn the Certificate, one must complete six semester-long courses (with a minimum of 18 credits), satisfy graduate school criteria for successful completion and maintain at least a B (3.00) average among the following courses:

Course List
Code Title Credits
Required12
Tier 1 (select one course)
GEOG 726
Geographic Information Science
URBPLAN 791
Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems for Planning
Tier 2 (select one course)
GEOG 826
Intermediate Geographic Information Science
URBPLAN 792
Using Urban Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planning
Tier 3 (Select two courses)
GEOG 704
Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis
GEOG 705
Cartography
GEOG 748
ArcGIS Programming with Python
GEOG 834
GIS and Society
GEOG 926
Advanced Geographic Information Science: Geographic Modeling
GEOG 960
Seminar: Geographic Techniques:
URBPLAN 793
Applied Projects in Urban Geographic Information Systems
URBPLAN 794
Internet Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
ANTHRO 562
Techniques and Problems in Archaeology
BUS ADM 749
Data and Information Management
Electives6
Select two courses from the list below
GEOG 704
Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis
GEOG 926
Advanced Geographic Information Science: Geographic Modeling
GEOG 960
Seminar: Geographic Techniques:
GEOG 999
Independent Work
URBPLAN 692
Special Topics in Urban Planning:
URBPLAN 791
Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems for Planning
URBPLAN 792
Using Urban Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planning
URBPLAN 793
Applied Projects in Urban Geographic Information Systems
URBPLAN 794
Internet Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
URBPLAN 991
Legislative/Administrative Agency Internship
URBPLAN 999
Independent Study
ANTHRO 380
Anthropological Applications of GIS
ANTHRO 562
Techniques and Problems in Archaeology
ANTHRO 768
Topics in Advanced Research Design in Anthropology
BUS ADM 749
Data and Information Management
CRM JST 520
Analysis Oriented Technology: Spatial Data Analysis; Crime Mapping; ArcGIS
INFOST 465
Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services
INFOST 691
Special Topics in Information Science:
INFOST 714
Metadata
Total Credits18

Electives

Course List
Code Title Credits
GEOG 403Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis (if not selected above)4
GEOG 405Cartography (if not selected above)4
GEOG 515Watershed Analysis and Modeling3
GEOG 525Geographic Information Science (if not selected above)4
GEOG 547Spatial Analysis4
GEOG 625Intermediate Geographic Information Science (if not selected above)4
GEOG 647ArcGIS Programming with Python (if not selected above)4
GEOG 698GIS/Cartography Internship1-6
GEOG 804Advanced Remote Sensing3
GEOG 926Advanced Geographic Information Science: Geographic Modeling3
GEOG 834GIS and Society3
GEOG 904Remote Sensing and Urban Analysis3
GEOG 960Seminar: Geographic Techniques: (if not selected above)3
GEOG 999Independent Work (with appropriate topic)1-6
URBPLAN 692Special Topics in Urban Planning: (“Transportation Planning and GIS” subtitle)1-3
URBPLAN 791Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems for Planning (if not selected above)3
URBPLAN 792Using Urban Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Planning (if not selected above)3
URBPLAN 793Applied Projects in Urban Geographic Information Systems (if not selected above)3
URBPLAN 794Internet Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (if not selected above)3
URBPLAN 991Legislative/Administrative Agency Internship3-6
URBPLAN 999Independent Study1-3
ANTHRO 380Anthropological Applications of GIS3
ANTHRO 562Techniques and Problems in Archaeology (if not selected above)3
ANTHRO 768Topics in Advanced Research Design in Anthropology3
BUS ADM 749Data and Information Management (if not selected above)3
CRM JST 520Analysis Oriented Technology: Spatial Data Analysis; Crime Mapping; ArcGIS3
INFOST 465Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services3
INFOST 691Special Topics in Information Science: (Economics of Information)1-3
INFOST 714Metadata (prerequisites strictly enforced)3
Other courses as approved by the GIS Certificate Advisory Committee chairperson

Students will be advised by the Geography and Urban Planning faculty who teach GIS courses.

Additional Requirements

Transfer Credit

No more than 20% of the required credits may be taken at an institution other than UWM. To be eligible for transfer, the course must have been completed within the last two years. These courses are subject to Graduate School transfer policy and must be approved by the director of the certificate program.

Grade Point Average Requirement

A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average in certificate courses taken at UWM is required.

Articulation with Degree Programs

  1. Credits and courses required for a certificate may double count toward meeting UWM graduate degree requirements subject to the following restrictions:
    • Degree programs must approve the courses from certificates that can double count toward the degree.
    • All credits taken in completion of certificate requirements may count towards a UWM graduate degree as long as they do not contribute more than 90% of the total credits needed to obtain the degree. (Note: Students in PhD programs must still complete the minimum residency requirements)
    • Certificate courses used toward meeting degree requirements must be completed within the time limit for transfer credit.
  2. Courses completed for a degree may be counted toward a subsequent certificate, subject to all certificate policy requirements.
  3. A course may count toward no more than one certificate and one degree.
  4. Students may not earn a certificate subsequent to a concentration in the same area.

Time Limit

Certificate program time limits shall be established as follows:

  • 18 or fewer credits/Three years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.
  • 19 or more credits/Four years from initial enrollment in the certificate sequence.

For certificates that are designed as add-ons to degree programs and are awarded concurrent with the degree, the time limit shall be the same as that of the degree program.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

  • UWM Financial Aid Gainful Employment
  • Gainful Employment Disclosure Information
Apply Now Request Info Program Website

Urban Planning

  • Geographic Information Systems, Graduate Certificate (School of Architecture and Urban Planning)
  • Urban Planning, MUP
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Architecture, MArch
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Engineering, MS
  • Urban Planning, MUP/​Public Administration, MPA
  • Urban Planning, MUP: Geographic Information Systems
  • Urban Planning, MUP: Real Estate Development
  • Urban Planning, Undergraduate Certificate
Print Options
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Our Catalog is a general source of information about course offerings, academic programs and requirements, expenses, rules, and policies. The University reserves the right to change the information published in this Catalog without notice. Students are advised to consult with their individual School/College or department for the most up-to-date information about program requirements.

  • Schedule a tour
  • Request information
  • Apply
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

© 2020-2021 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. All rights reserved.

Back to Top

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download PDF of this page

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Download PDF of the 2020-2021 Catalog

All pages in the 2020-2021 Catalog.

Cancel