This information is for those interested in our GIS Certificate program who are not currently enrolled at UMW
The Mary Washington Certificate in Geographic Information Science is available to non-degree-seeking students who wish to further their education, explore a new career, or complete the certificate after graduation.
To apply, complete this application for admission form.
- This program is suitable for those who have never taken any GIS coursework at the college level, or who have taken a class several years ago. Instructors use ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro software.
- All but one of our GIS courses are taught in person on the Fredericksburg campus, mostly in Monroe Hall.
- All of the courses can be taken in the evening, as they meet from 6.00-9.30 pm once a week.
What will you take?
- Four 4-credit courses, followed by a 3-credit capstone. The first course must be taken alone as it is a pre-requisite for the others. After that, students may take one course per semester, or two courses per semester. The capstone must be taken last.
- GISC 200 Introduction to GIS is offered every fall and spring with at least one evening option, 6:00-9:30 pm
- GISC 351 Spatial Analysis is required and is also offered every fall and spring semester as an evening course.
- GISC 340 Remote Sensing is usually taken as an elective as it is such a valuable skill. It is offered every fall and spring as an evening course.
- Either GISC 450 GIS Programming, which uses the Python language, or GISC 482 Web GIS Concepts and Applications are required:
- GIS Programming is taught as a synchronous online course in fall and spring semesters. Programming is incredibly valuable in the workplace (many advertisements specify a need for coding or programming). We strongly recommend taking an introduction to programming course (e.g. CPSC 110, Intro to Computer Science) before enrolling in this class.
- Web Concepts and Applications is taught in person as an evening course during the fall semester only. This class teaches students to use already-existing tools to build and enhance web-based maps and spatial data.
- The Capstone can be an internship or a directed study. In either case, students write a paper and give a presentation demonstrating spatial analysis and explaining why it is valuable.
Most commonly, GIS Certificate Only students take one course per semester while working full time, and complete over a period of two years. It is possible to complete in a shorter time period, however.
If you have other questions, please email Dr. Jackie Gallagher.