News Release
|
Office of News and Information Johns Hopkins University 901 South Bond Street, Suite 540 Baltimore, Maryland 21231 Phone: 443-287-9960 | Fax: 443-287-9920 |
September 2, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Ken Schappelle (202) 452-1910 [email protected] |
Geographic Information Systems
Five-course program will teach sought-after skills
to aspiring professionals
Students anywhere in the world can now earn a certificate in geographic information systems by taking courses online from The Johns Hopkins University.
The online certificate, offered by the university's Environmental Sciences and Policy Program and endorsed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission in July, is opening for student enrollment in the fall 2008 semester.
Geographic information systems, or GIS, allow users to collect and interpret data that are displayed as maps, reports, and charts to reveal spatial relationships, patterns and trends.
"According to the Department of Labor's High-Growth Industry Initiative, geospatial technology is one of the top three fastest-growing industries," said John Boland, chair of the Environmental Sciences and Policy Program. "The job potential for people skilled in GIS is extraordinary, and the Johns Hopkins online certificate in GIS caters to this audience. All five courses are administered online, allowing professionals to earn the certificate on their time."
GIS has boomed in recent years because many industries can capitalize on this data-rich technology. Professionals in law enforcement, disaster planning, marketing, real estate, environmental management, telecommunications, public health, urban planning, and more are now realizing the advantages of adding GIS skills to their repertoire.
"The university is dedicated to a bold initiative of augmenting our existing on-site degree offerings with quality distance learning in a robust, interactive, and asynchronous online format," said Sarah Steinberg, associate dean of the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. "The success we've had with our Environmental Sciences and Policy Program reassured us that providing the certificate in GIS in the online platform as well was the right thing to do. And because the format is asynchronous, students can keep pace with their peers regardless of where they live."
Required Courses for the Online Certificate in GIS
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
In this course, students become familiar with GIS concepts
and gain the experience necessary to appreciate the utility
of GIS in decision-making. Topics covered include the
fundamentals of cartography, geo-referencing, data
structures, database design, project planning, and basic
spatial data analysis. The course provides an overview of
the capabilities of GIS software. Class time is divided
between lectures and GIS exercises that reinforce critical
concepts. Completion of a term project is part of the
course.
Remote Sensing: Earth Observing Systems and
Applications
This course introduces remote sensing as an important
technology to further our understanding of Earth's land,
atmospheric, and oceanic processes. Students study remote
sensing science, techniques, and satellite technologies to
become familiar with the types of information that can be
obtained and how this information can be applied in the
natural and social sciences. Applications include assessment
of land cover and land use; mapping and analysis of natural
resources; weather and climate studies; pollution detection
and monitoring; disaster monitoring; and identification of
oceanographic features.
Introduction to Spatial Analysis with GIS
This course introduces students to using statistical
techniques for solving spatial problems. Students will learn
to apply the principles of statistics to address the
distribution and location of a variety of problems. Examples
and assignments are drawn from many GIS applications:
business, urban planning, security, public health,
transportation and telecommunications. Topics include
spatial sampling, measures of dispersion and central
tendency in spatial analysis, and regression analysis
applied to spatial data.
Advanced GIS Modeling (formerly Advanced GIS for
Environmental Modeling)
This course moves beyond the fundamentals of GIS to explore
application to problems in various sectors. Students review
current research in the field, learn relevant modeling
techniques, and utilize advanced software tools for
analysis. The course involves the use and integration of a
variety of data sources including maps, GPS, and satellite
imagery. Specific GIS techniques in spatial analysis are
introduced. The course builds on former GIS software
experience. Students develop a significant GIS project over
the course of the semester and present their findings at the
end.
Development and Management of GIS Projects
This course teaches knowledge and skills for managing GIS
projects, including technical, legal, ethical and
institutional problems. Students will examine the
institutional role of geographic information systems and
technologies, explore key issues in organizational
management of GIS projects (planning, staffing, budgeting),
and develop skills to design and manage geospatial
databases. Ethical and legal issues in data acquisition,
sharing, and representation will also be discussed.
For more information about Johns Hopkins' online certificate in GIS, please contact:
Dr. Eileen McGurty
Associate Program Chair
Environmental Sciences & Policy Program and Certificate in GIS
(410) 516-7049
Go to