Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate
Program available at all campuses and SE center - view program contacts.
Are You...
- a student who wishes to acquire technical and topical knowledge to support the their major or professional field?
- a student who wish to acquire specialized training to meet current (or future) job requirements calling for GIS knowledge?
- spending hours looking at maps and Google Earth to better understand the world you live in?
What is GIS?
Essentially, GIS is a framework to acquire, store, manage, analyze, and visualize spatial data. Traditional paper maps are able to display just one view of data, at one point in time. Using GIS allows the display of information in various space and time. GIS provides a suite of tools used to support many kinds of decision-making, statistical and spatial analysis. It is an applied discipline – a person does not simply ‘do GIS’ but applies it to a variety of professional disciplines.
GIS Program
The GIS Certificate prepares students to apply GIS with a solid theoretical foundation. A diverse range of GIS skills are covered including data capture, spatial & statistical analysis, modeling and cartography.
The GIS courses take a practical, hands-on approach. Students will not only learn how to use a specific software – they will apply GIS using a variety of projects and methodologies. With a combination of lab exercises, individual projects, and a community-based, collaborative long-term project, students will learn how to plan, design, and execute GIS projects.
GIS Job Market
The Bureau of Labor Statistics have categorized GIS related jobs as an emerging industry and one that should experience higher than average employment growth over the next 10 years. Geographers with GIS experience or knowledge have the strongest job outlook, especially with government, business, local municipalities, real estate developers, utilities, and environmental consulting. There will also be an increase in job opportunities to apply GIS skills and technologies in areas such as emergency assistance and other non-traditional areas. Oregon has the 2nd highest concentration of people employed in the geography field, with a mean annual wage of $61,420.
Below is a chart of the Projection Data for Surveyors, Cartographers, Photogrammetrists, and Survey & Mapping Technicians, Environmental Scientists, Urban/Regional Planners, and Geographers – all industries with a strong GIS focus. (The data below comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
| Occupational Title | Employment 2008 | Projected Employment 2018 | Mean Annual Wage, 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cartographer & Photogrammetrists | 12,300 | 15,600 | $51,180 |
| Surveyors | 57,600 | 66,200 | $52,980 |
| Surveying & Mapping Technicians | 77,000 | 92,700 | $35,120 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, including Health |
85,900 | 109,800 | $59,750 |
| Urban & Regional Planner | 38,400 | 45,700 | $59,810 |
| Geographer | 1,300 | 1,600 | $66,000 |
Transferability
Oregon Universities that have 4-year degree in Geography and / or GIS: Portland State University, Oregon State University, University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology,Western Oregon University, Southern Oregon University
What's Next?
- Apply for admission to PCC.
- Talk with an academic advisor.