There are many different types of GIS certificates, GIS certifications, and GIS degrees available for students today. This page includes information on the Geospatial Certificates at Tufts University, along with additional types of programs and certificates to consider when learning GIS or applying for careers in the geospatial industry.
The Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning (UEP) at Tufts University offers two multidisciplinary geospatial certificate programs for learning GIS.
Geographic Information Science (GIScience) Certificate
Tufts Geographic Information Science (GIScience) certificate focuses on principals of GIS, spatial analysis, spatial data management, and cartographic design. This certificate will help you prepare for a career in GIS technology in a variety of professional industries or research domains including environmental studies, urban studies, public health, and more. The four course certificate can be completed in 3 to 4 semesters and courses are offered in a flexible format, including in the evenings, weekends, and online, making the program accessible to working professionals. As a student in the program, you’ll also have access to Tufts’ Data Labs, full-service computing labs dedicated to geospatial technology, statistics, and data science which serve as a hub for GIS activities at Tufts and are designed to foster collaboration and innovation.
Course Requirements
The certificate requires twelve credits. Most courses are three credits.
Two required courses (6 credits)
- Introduction to GIS or approved Intro to GIS course equivalent
- Advanced GIS
Two electives from the following (3 credits)
- Qualitative GIS
- Intro to Remote Sensing
- Advanced Remote Sensing
- Spatial Statistics
- Interactive Web Mapping
- One graduate-level statistical or quantitative methods course
- Thesis or capstone with core spatial methods pending approval of GIS certificate coordinator
- Other courses may be approved by the coordinator if they have a core spatial component.
Spatial Data Analytics
Certificate
The Certificate in Spatial Data Analytics focuses on spatial statistical , modeling, and visualization techniques, web mapping, and is complimentary to broader data science applications. It includes advanced programming and statistical methods. The certificate can be completed in 3 to 4 semesters and courses are offered in a flexible format, including in the evenings, weekends, and online, making the program accessible to working professionals. As a student in the program, you’ll also have access to Tufts’ Data Labs, full-service computing labs dedicated to geospatial technology, statistics, and data science which serve as a hub for GIS activities at Tufts and are designed to foster collaboration and innovation.
Course Requirements
The certificate requires twelve-thirteen credits. Most courses are three credits.
Prerequisites: Intro to Statistics
Three required courses (9 credits)
- Introduction to GIS or approved intro GIS Course equivalent
- Advanced GIS
- Urban Analytics and Visualization OR Data Science for Urban Sustainability (both require a previous introductory course in Python or the new 1 SHU “Introduction to Programming with Python” course at Tufts, offered in both Spring and Fall)
One elective from the following (3 credits)
- Intro to Remote Sensing
- Advanced Remote Sensing
- Spatial Statistics
- Interactive Web Mapping
- Data Analytics/Data Science elective courses
- Approved advanced statistical or quantitative methods course
- Thesis or capstone with core spatial methods pending approval of GIS program coordinator
- Other courses may be approved by the coordinator if they have a core spatial or data science component
Faculty Contact
For additional information about this certificate, please contact Sumeeta Srinivasan, with the UEP Department at Tufts University.
Resources for Types of GIS Programs & Certificates
There are many different types of geospatial programs for students wanting to learn GIS or prove their skills to future employers. There are two main types of GIS education:
GIS Degrees or GIS certificates offered by accredited college, universities, or academic institutions including bachelors, masters, or certificate degrees.
GIS certifications which serve as verified credentials guaranteeing your expertise and knowledge with using GIS tools and software. These certifications are typically the GISP Certification from The GIS Certification Institute (GISCI) or ESRI certifications, offered by the industry’s leading GIS software provider.
Resources for Finding the Right Degree or Certification for you
GISDegree.org is an excellent resource for learning about different types of programs along with finding the right type of program either on-line or near you. Check out their website to see all the options available to you.
