Geographic Information Systems Certificate
Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences

GIS Certificate courses are now part of Saturdays in Schaumburg! The entire certificate program can be completed entirely on the weekends.

The GIS certificate at RU is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed for immediate success in GIS-related research and employment.

Required Courses:

Five courses are required to earn the GIS certificate. Courses can be taken for undergraduate credit (Geography/Environmental Science) or graduate credit (Public Administration). The student must also develop a GIS project portfolio while completing these courses:

I. GEOG 314 / ENVS 314/414/ PADM 435 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems: PC-based hands-on introduction to GIS concepts, technologies and their applications. Collection, use and display of geographic data, emphasizing hands-on instruction. Focus on applications, input and manipulation of data, conversion of data into usable databases, data analysis, and generation of map output and reports. Prerequisite: PC computing experience, CST 150 or consent of instructor. (3 sh)

II. GEOG 316 / ENVS 316/416 /PADM 416 Advanced Geographic Information Systems: Provides the opportunity to further develop and apply hands-on GIS skills for application in a variety of disciplines including environmental science, site selection and the social sciences. Prerequisite: GEOG 314 / ENVS 314. (3 sh)

III. and IV. Topics Courses: Chose two courses from the following list, with the approval of the GIS certificate coordinator. Course projects should incorporate a GIS component, if possible, and be added to the student's GIS project portfolio.

Environmental Science

• BIOL 315 Ecology
• BIOL 330/PADM 433 Wetlands Delineation
• BIOL 335/PADM 434 Great Lakes
• BIOL 361/461 Information Technology for the Sciences
• CHEM 373/473 Environmental Chemistry
• ENVS 201 Hazardous Materials Management
• ENVS 202 Pollution Control
• GEOL 205 Environmental Geology
• GEOG 321 Climatology
• GEOG 344 World Resource Management

Business

• BADM 360 Survey of International Business
• FNSV 350 Risk Management
• MKTG 344 Marketing Strategy and Planning

Computer Science

• CST 333 Database Design
• CST 263 Visual BASIC Programming-I
• CST 290 Telecommunication Systems
• CST 365 Web programming
• CST 367 Web Database Applications

Social Sciences and Environmental Policy

• ECON 322 Environmental Economics
• ECON 352 Urban Economic Development
• GEOG 305 Urban Geography
• GEOG 350 Problems of the Urban Environment
• SOC 349 Environmental Sociology
• SOC 331 Criminology
• SOC 345 The Study of Population

V. GEOG 380 / ENVS 380/480 / PADM 496 GIS Capstone Project: Students work on an independent project in the field of interest with faculty supervision and guidance. Prerequisite: GEOG 314 / ENVS 314/414 / PADM 435 and GEOG 316 / ENVS 316/416. (3 sh)

Request Further Information

• Email Dr. Shiva Achet or telephone at 312-341-6354 or 847-619-8930
• Request a university catalog, information packet, or application for admission

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