Admissions | GIS Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems provides introductory and in-depth study into the design and application of geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Students enrolled in this program will complete 20 credits of coursework at Portland State University. Courses in the program will be taken by students admitted solely to the certificate program, or concurrently enrolled as Masters and Doctoral students in a degree program at PSU.

The PSU GIS certificate and the individual courses offered as part of the PSU GIS certificate will count towards the national GIS certification programs. These programs include the GISP (Certified GIS Professional) certification administered by the GIS Certification Institute and the ASPRS Certification programs by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS).

Admissions Requirements

  • Meet PSU's minimum requirements
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (if your GPA is between 2.75-3.0, you can be admitted conditionally)
  • Current PSU graduate students must be in good academic standing

Deadlines

GIS certificate students can be admitted in the fall, winter or spring terms.

  • Fall Term: May 1
  • Winter Term: October 15
  • Spring Term: January 15

How to Apply

New Students

New students who have not yet applied to PSU must first apply to PSU.

 

Current Students

If you are currently enrolled in a PSU graduate program, you do not need to submit the online university application. Instead, fill out a GO-19 Request for Change of Program Form and submit it with the departmental application materials.

Application Materials

Below is the list of the materials and information you will need to provide as part of your application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

  • Statement of Purpose: Explain your reasons for choosing to undertake the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and, if applicable, state your background in geography, cartography, or other GIS-related fields.
  • References: Submit contact information for at least one individual who can comment on your academic performance or attest to your skills as they pertain to your selected program of study. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms.
  • Copies of transcripts from the institution where your bachelor’s degree was awarded and if applicable, where any graduate credits were completed. You can submit an unofficial transcript if it is from Portland State University. We also encourage you to submit the transcripts from any other institutions where you took GIS courses.
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency (if applicable)

Contact

If you have questions, contact Geoffrey Duh at jduh@pdx.edu.