Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (S5A)

Overview  2021

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 0.5 Years, up to a maximum of 2 Years

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

This course may not be available to international students. Please see the International Online Course Guide (PDF 809KB) for courses that are offered to international students

Due to the ongoing response to COVID-19, online study may replace some or all of your on-campus classes. We'll be sure to keep you informed of any changes.
The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a professionally-orientated program that aims to build and extend skills in the rapidly evolving fields of GIS and related subject areas including satellite remote sensing. The program includes two compulsory units in GIS (Schedule A), and an additional two units to be selected from a list of eligible elective units (Schedule B) that includes units in remote sensing, photogrammetry, field measurement and mapping and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems meets the needs of people who do not have prior experience in the field of GIS and are seeking to acquire knowledge, or who have some training or workplace experience with GIS and are seeking to improve and extend their knowledge and gain a formal qualification.

At the completion of the course, students will:

  • be familiar with various sources of spatial data and methods of spatial data collection, understand key data accuracy issues and understand the processes required to import and effectively manage data in a GIS;
  • understand the processes required to combine various sources of data for spatial analysis; be able to undertake data manipulation and GIS analyses of the type commonly required in their own and other disciplines; be aware of more advanced methods of spatial data analysis; and be able to present spatial data using GIS techniques; and
  • have acquired skills in the development and management of GIS-based projects; and understand key GIS implementation issues.

Career outcomes

There is substantial employer demand for people with education and training in Geographic Information Systems and related subject areas such as Remote Sensing. Employers from the private sector, local, state and commonwealth government agencies seek graduates with GIS and Spatial Science skills across a range of sectors including environmental management, resource management, forestry, planning, engineering and construction.

Course structure

To qualify for the certificate, the candidate shall pass 50% from Schedules A and B provided that:

  1. a compulsory core of 25% is completed from Schedule A; and
  2. 25% of elective units is completed from Schedule B.

Schedule A

Geographic Information Science and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are usedin a wide range of disciplines to investigate, analyse, and communicate spatialinformation. This unit covers the underlying theory/concepts of GIS, application areas,the use of commercial GIS software, and develop for students…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

This unit will give you advanced skills in the analysis and presentation of spatial data using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). There is an increasing demand for graduates with strong skills in spatial data analysis, particularly in the context of environmental…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Schedule B

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) enable autonomous global positioning using signals broadcast from various satellite constellations. With an ability to achieve accuracies ranging from metres to millimetres, GNSS provides positioning capability that underpins a host of scientific, commercial, civilian, and…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

It is becoming increasingly important for practicing engineers and scientists to understand the methods employed in spatial mapping and measurement. Global navigation systems such as GPS, airborne photography and airborne laser scanning, the increasing availability of satellite imagery, and modern…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit focuses on advanced aspects of spatial data analysis, including practical aspects of developing software scripts for GIS analysis and customisation. This unit will start with a field excursion where you will collect your own point sample data with…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit introduces you to theoretical and practical foundations of remote sensing. The unit starts with the physics of remote sensing including the concepts of electromagnetic energy and the interaction of energy with the atmosphere and the earth surface. We…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit will provide you with high-level theoretical knowledge and practical skills in image analysis techniques, such as geometric image correction, image filters, texture measures, vegetation indices, LiDAR point cloud filtering, classification algorithms, object-based image analysis, change detection, and accuracy…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

Aerial photography has recently become a technology that is widely available. The advent of drones and modern photogrammetric software has revolutionised the way in which we can collect information about the earth’s surface. Photogrammetry is the science of measurement from…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree from the University of Tasmania or a degree or other tertiary qualifications deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent. Students without the stated prerequisites but who have relevant professional experience and/or training may apply.

Students who successfully complete the requirements for the GradCertGIS at the credit level or above may apply to articulate into the Graduate Diploma in Spatial Information Science with Honours. This will require completion of the thesis component (50%) of the Diploma (see KGG532).

Potential candidates may also be interested in the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Education (S5C), and the Master of Applied Science (Environmental Management and Spatial Sciences) (K7J4).

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

Domestic students enrolled in a full fee paying place are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the fees you pay for each unit you enrol in. Full fee paying domestic students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Detailed tuition fee information for domestic students is available at the Domestic Student Fees website, including additional information in relation to a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

International students

International students should refer to the International Students course fees page to get an indicative course cost.

Scholarships

For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

How can we help?

Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

Domestic
1300 363 864
International
+61 3 6226 6200
Email
Course.Info@utas.edu.au
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