Certificate Program in
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS &
APPLIED GEOGRAPHICS
 The Department of Geography and Planning at The University of Toledo offers a certificate program in Geographic Information Science and Applied Geographics. This specialized program offers a balance of theoryand technical training in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Automated Cartography, and Global Positioning System technologies to problems extending over a wide range of disciplines. Students from a variety of academic backgrounds are eligible for the program including such diverse fields as Biology, Business Administration, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Planning, and Public Administration.
This program enables students to apply these technologies to spatial problems specific to their discipline. This program is thus designed to furnish additional education and training in geographic information processing technologies to professionals in a wide range of fields while they still retain their disciplinary and/or professional identity.
 This certificate will therefore serve as an extension to students' educational experience beyond their Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Students may not earn the certificate without the minimum requirement of completion of a Bachelor's Degree. Students completing the requirements of the Certificate must complete a minimum of 12 credits in GIS/AG courses followed by a three-credit project workshop. Students enrolling in the program must also declare an "application emphasis" within their discipline or profession for the purpose of completing a final project at the end of their program.
The rapid growth of career opportunities for professionals trained in the application of geographic information processing technologies has extended into nearly every sector of the economy as seen in the table below.
Private Sector Applications:
 · insurance: hazards research, policy underwriting
· market research: location analysis, advertising, business geographics
· transportation and logistics
· intelligent vehicle systems
· real estate development
· health care: epidemiology, health care service delivery
· agriculture: precision farming
· forestry
Federal, State, and Local Government Applications:
 · infrastructure management
· emergency facility location
· community development
· crime prevention
· emergency preparedness and emergency management
· transportation planning
· enhanced 911 systems
· environmental planning
· coastal zone management
· urban and regional planning
· public health and welfare
· forestry
· wildlife ecology
· military applications
Students completing the certificate program will be competitive in today's rapidly changing market and will be equipped to assume positions in the fields listed above. The coupling of the academic degree programs (both Bachelors and Masters) with the balanced theoretical and technical emphasis of the certificate program will enable students to rapidly adapt to today's rapidly changing work environment.
It should be emphasized that this program is not based on a series of short-term workshops which provide a limited exposure to these technologies. Rather, students will enroll for graduate credit in courses that are taught in the established university curriculum; the duration of these courses extend the length of an entire semester. This approach enables students to gain greater depth of understanding of theory and gain the necessary technical competence in the use of these specialized technologies and to complement their degree programs.
Students served by this program generally fall into three categories. These include:
 Current students who have recently completed their bachelor's or
graduate degree and desire additional work in this specialized
technical field before leaving school;
Practicing professionals in the community who wish to gain
additional expertise in this specialized technical field while they
remain employed; and
Students currently enrolled in existing traditional graduate programs
who wish to concurrently complete their degree and this certificate.
Program Objectives
 The principal objective of the certificate program is to provide an extension to the bachelors and graduate degree programs offered at the University of Toledo in which students can acquire additional knowledge and skills in the area of geographic information processing technologies. This program can be completed as either a stand-alone program serving as an extension to a student's bachelor's degree, or in conjunction with a student's graduate program. Specific objectives of the GIS/AG program can be summarized as follows:
1. For students to become skilled with the acquisition, handling and
analysis of geographic data and apply these skills to problems
within their profession or discipline;
2. to familiarize students with the analytical tools and methods to
solve problems of a spatial nature;
3. for students to learn and understand the technical vocabulary in
this area of specialization;
4. for students to become familiar with communication outlets for
spatial information processing: books, monographs, journals,
internet communications, etc.; and
5. to enhance students' competitiveness in the job market.
Admission Requirements/Process
 Students applying to the GIS Certificate Program must be formally admitted to graduate study in the same manner as existing degree programs. Requirements for admission into the program are as follows:
1. A minimum requirement of a completed Bachelor's Degree;
2. A formal application into the program which includes a completed
application form, transcripts and 3 letters of recommendation;
3. A one-page statement of purpose describing the objectives for
study, how this technology relates to their individual discipline,
and how they intend to apply this technology in their course of
study; and
4. students must have completed a minimum of one course in
Computer science or have completed a course in geographic
techniques prior to enrolling in the program.
Requirements for Completion
 Students enrolled full-time can complete the requirements for this 15-credit program in one year. Students admitted into the program for the fall semester should be able to enroll in all the necessary courses within the academic year and can complete their final project by the end of the spring semester.
Specific requirements:
1. Students enrolling in the program will be required to complete a
minimum of 12 credits from the list of approved GIS technical
courses;
2. Students must complete a final three credit project workshop
based on a terminal project related to a research problem
specific to their discipline;
3. Students must maintain a minimum "B" average to complete the
certificate program.
Course selection and the sequence of courses will be agreed upon
by the student and the program coordinator to help students
complete the program and gain the necessary skills.
Course List and Descriptions:
GEPL 5490: REMOTE SENSING OF THE ENVIRONMENT [4 credits]
Introduction to theory, methods and techniques used to gather and analyze remote sensor data. Topics range from low altitude air photo interpretation through satellite image acquisition.
GEPL 5500: DIGITAL IMAGE ANALYSIS [4 credits]
Explores digital image analysis techniques such as classification and principle component analysis. Terrestrial and coastal applications of satellite image analysis are performed in intensive laboratory sessions.
Prerequisite: GEPL 4490
GEPL 5510: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS [4 credits]
Introduction to computerized methods for the capture, storage, management, analysis and display of spatially-referenced data for the solution of planning, management and research problems.
GEPL 5520: ANALYTICAL AND COMPUTER CARTOGRAPHY [4 credits]
Advanced thematic cartography emphasizing the use of computers to produce maps of publishable quality. Strong emphasis on theory and the mathematical rules for the production of maps.
Prerequisite: GEPL 4510/5510
GEPL 5180: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATIONS [4 credits]
Advanced applications in geographic information systems (GIS) with an emphasis on advanced GIS analysis techniques, Global Positioning System applications in GIS, database design, and a survey of vector-and raster-based GIS software and data bases.
Prerequisite: GEPL 4510/5510
GEPL 6190: ADVANCED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS SEMINAR
[4 credits]
Seminar in advanced GIS topics which include database design, spatial analysis and specialized application to spatial problems.
Prerequisite: GEPL 5180
GEPL 6950: APPLIED GEOGRAPHICS PROJECT WORKSHOP [3 credits]
Capstone course for GIS/Applied Geographics certificate program to provide hands-one experience in applying GIS, remote sensing and desktop mapping systems to spatially-oriented problems that are unique to individual disciplines.
Prerequisite: 12 Credits of approved GIS/AG courses
Affiliated Faculty
Dr. Peter S. Lindquist
(Director), Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Geography and Planning
Geographic Information Systems; Transportation; Location Analysis;
Business Geographics
Dr. Kevin Czajkowski
Associate Professor
Department of Geography and Planning
Remote Sensing; Physical and Environmental Applications
Dr. Patrick Lawrence
Department of Geography and Planning
Environmental Planning, Remote Sensing, Watershed Management
Contact Information
Dr. Peter S. Lindquist
Department of Geography and Planning
Voice: (419) 530-4287 or (419) 530-2545
Fax: (419) 530-7919
email: plindqu@utnet.utoledo.edu
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