Certificate in Geographic Information Science (GIS)
Offered by: Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Biology
Coordinators:
Dr. C.S Greene csgreene@dal.ca (Earth and Environmental Sciences)
Dr. D. Tittensor Derek.Tittensor@dal.ca (Biology)
Dr. E. Rapaport eric.rapaport@dal.ca (School of Planning)
The GIS Certificate program provides training and experience in geographic information science as part of an undergraduate degree program, usually in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science or Biology, and prepares students for further study or employment in the area. The Certificate requires the completion of GIS-related courses and completion of a major project that involves work with geographic information systems and geomatics.
Admission to Certificate
It is recommended that students enrol in the GIS Certificate in their second or third year of studies, and that they contact the Certificate Coordinator at that time. To enrol, students must declare the Certificate through Dal Online (https://dalonline.dal.ca >Web for Students>Admissions>Declare Major/Minor/Certificate). To qualify for the Certificate, students must complete all course requirements, and have received approval for the research component (project) from the Certificate Coordinator if intending to use an alternative to the Geographic Information Science Research course to satisfy the research component of the certificate.
To graduate with the Certificate, students must apply to graduate with a certificate at the time they apply to graduate from their degree program.
Certificate Requirements:
1. A minimum grade of B- in each of the following courses:
2. A minimum grade of B- in a minimum of two of the following courses:
3. Completion of a research project with an emphasis in geographic information science via one of the following sets of courses (minimum grade of B-). Research topics must be pre-approved by the Certificate Coordinator
Set 1
Set 2
Research Project Guidelines for the Certificate in Geographic Information Science
Students should learn how to design, manage and complete a research project that emphasizes the use of a geographic information system (GIS). Students will identify a suitable research problem and work to solve it through acquiring, organizing, analyzing and presenting data using GIS. A substantive analytical component involving GIS must be included. Projects should be undertaken after all or most of the coursework is completed, e.g. students should already be familiar with GIS concepts and functions, and be proficient in the use of at least one GIS package. Supervision and evaluation of research projects must include input from a professor or GIS technician competent in geographic information science, methods and technologies.
Students enrolled in an undergraduate program other than Biology, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences or the College of Sustainability, may be able to complete the project through a directed readings or honours thesis course listed within their home department. The project must be pre-approved by a Certificate Coordinator. Non-thesis students, or honours students who wish to complete the certificate through a project that is not part of their thesis, who are in Biology, Earth Sciences or Environmental Science should complete the project through SCIE 4850: Geographic Information Science Research Project.