ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To apply you must have:
- One of the following:
- A bachelor’s degree
- Two years of college education with professional experience in a field such as planning, engineering, environmental sciences, utilities, resource management or branches of business that require spatial analysis
- Education or professional experience with GIS fundamentals and spatial data formats
- Ability to use ArcGIS Desktop 10, 9 or 8.x for basic functions, such as spatial and attribute queries, map overlay and map display
Also Recommended
You should be familiar with data analysis and statistics.
You should also be familiar with ArcGIS Pro.
If you need help meeting the GIS requirements or want to brush up on your skills, we recommend the following independent study. If you are new to GIS, we’ll need you to show evidence that you have taken three of the recommended Esri courses below, including a cartography course:
- Free online courses or tutorials through Esri. These courses provide essential fundamental knowledge:
- Getting Started With GIS
- Cartography MOOC (usually offered twice a year)
- ArcGIS Pro Basics
- Getting started with ArcGIS Pro
- Cartography creations in ArcGIS Pro
For some of these courses you will need ArcGIS Pro and this is available for free on a 21-day trial basis: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-pro/trial
- Getting to Know ArcGIS (third edition). This textbook teaches the basic functions and capabilities of ArcGIS Pro through practical project workflows and shows how to be productive with this essential component of the ArcGIS platform.
Time Commitment
Including time in class, you should expect to spend about 10 to 15 hours each week on coursework.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Noncredit Programs.
International Students
Because this offering is 100% online, no visa is required and international students are welcome to apply. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
- Access to a recent computer (no more than five years old) with:
- Windows operating system (MacOS users would need to install and configure Windows emulation software in order to run the Esri ArcGIS software)
- At least 16GB of RAM
- 20GB or more of available disk space
- Recent web browser
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset and webcam (recommended)
Ideally, the computer meets the system requirements identified on the ArcGIS Desktop website.
Earning the Certificate
You earn the certificate by adhering to the program's attendance policy and successfully completing all required courses. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.