W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Certificate in Geographic Information Systems

The Certificate in Geographic Information Systems science & technologies (the GIS Certificate) complements any major at the University of Montana and may also be earned as a post-baccalaureate credential by students who completed a bachelor’s degree at UM or any accredited university. The certificate provides the knowledge and training needed to acquire, process, analyze, and effectively communicate digital geographic data.

Step 1: Admissions, Enrollment & Advising

The GIS Certificate is designed to support both undergraduate and graduate programs. Students already admitted to the University of Montana may register for GIS classes, while students not yet enrolled at UM must apply for admission before taking coursework.

Once admitted to the University of Montana, enrollment in the GIS Certificate program is the next step. We ask all students interested in completing the certificate to email the GIS Certificate Academic Advisor, Shonna Trowbridge. Please include your full name and 790 number in your email. Formally enrolling helps us keep students informed with emails concerning important deadlines, new class offerings, scholarship opportunities, etc. Academic advisors in the Franke College can answer questions about the program requirements and registration while faculty advisors and coordinators can help you create a GIS course plan that best suits your career goals.

For questions about mentoring, career planning, and elective course options, contact Dr. Jonathan Batchelor, the GIS Faculty Coordinator. We recommend scheduling at least three meetings while in the program: one to make the initial academic plan, one in the middle to check progress, and one to file an Application for Certificate at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate.

Step 2: Complete Required Courses

To earn a GIS Certificate, students must have completed an undergraduate degree (it is often conferred at the same time as a BA or BS). Students complete 18 credits total, including 9–10 core credits and 8–9 elective credits (minimum 18 overall).Students must achieve at least an overall grade point average of 3.0 for courses within the program.

GIS course offerings vary considerably across the University, and there are often courses that may be substituted for the GIS Certificate courses listed in the UM Catalog. Please consult with the GIS Faculty Coordinators or Academic Advisors about potential substitutions. The courses listed below are pre-approved for substitutions. Additional experimental courses are offered; please see faculty for current semester offerings and information about internships. Only 4 credits total of Independent Study and Internships can count towards the Certificate, and must be pre-approved by a GIS Faculty Coordinator to count towards the GIS Certificate.

• FORS 250 -OR- GPHY 284 (required, 3 credits): Introduction to GIS (Fall/Spring/Summer, U)
• FORS 351 -OR- GPHY 487+489 (required, 3 or 4 credits): Raster GIS, Remote Sensing, and Photogrammetry (Spring, UG)
• FORS 350 -OR- GPHY 488 (required, 3 credits): Applications of GIS (Spring, UG)
• Advanced GIS Electives (choose three, 8–9 credits), FORS 250/GPHY 284 is a prerequisite to most of the advanced GIS courses:
  • CSCI 150 (3 credits): Intro to Computer Science (Fall/Spring, U)
  • GPHY 385 (3 credits): Field Techniques (Fall/Spring, U)
  • GEO 323 (3 credits): Computer Methods in Earth & Env Sciences (Spring, U)  
  • GEO 294/494: (2 credits): UASRegs, Surveying, 3DModels (Fall/Spring, UG) 
  • GPHY 481 (3 credits): Advanced Cartographic Design (Even Spring, UG)
  • GPHY 491+489 (4 credits): Programming for GIS (Spring, UG)
  • ENSC 474 / ENSC 574 (3 credits): Environmental Analytics (Spring, U or G)
  • ENSC 484 / ENSC 584 (3 credits): AI Techniques for Env Data Analysis (Fall, U or G)
  • FORS 491 (3 credits): Lasers, Drones, and Trees (Fall, UG)
  • CSCI 402 / CSCI 502 (3 credits): Geospatial Data Science (Fall, U or G) 
  • CSCI 444 (3 credits): Data Visualization (Fall, UG)
  • GPHY 587+589 (4 credits): Digital Image Analysis & Modeling (Odd Spring, G)
  • FORS 505 (3 credits): Sampling Methods (Spring, G)
  • WILD 562 (3 credits): Wildlife Habitat Modeling (varies, G)
  • WILD 591 (3 credits): Google Earth Engine (Even Spring, G)
  • WILD 591 (3 credits): Structured Decision Making (Even Spring, G)
  • PUBH 613 (3 credits): Spatial Epidemiology in GIS (Fall, G)

Internships and Independent Study credits may count toward the certificate with prior approval from the Certificate Coordinator.

Note: University of Montana policy states that courses designated with G can only be taken by graduate students. They can also be taken by undergraduate students who have senior standing, and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and with consent of the instructor. U courses are for undergraduate credit. UG courses may have additional coursework for graduate students.

Step 3: Apply for Certificate

Students must submit an Application for Certificate the semester before they plan to graduate by the dates listed on the Registrar’s website. Late applications may result in a delay of graduation.

Download this Application for Certificate and fill in all the required fields. This certificate does not have any concentrations. Check that DegreeWorks shows all your courses and that they add up to at least the 18 credits required and that you have achieved a minimum 3.0 GPA in the courses you are using to apply to the Certificate. Once the application is complete, email it to either the Academic Advisor or Faculty Coordinator and meet with them to get their signature.

The GIS Academic advisor will submit your completed application the UM Registrar on your behalf and copy you. After an administrative review, it will display as conferred in DegreeWorks, and you will be mailed your official University of Montana Certificate in Geographic Information Systems.

Congratulations!

Why GIS?

The Geospatial Revolution is Here!

Whether we realize it or not, our society generates more geolocation data today than at any point in history. Every smartphone photo, social media post, navigation app route, and location-enabled device—from cars to watches—creates a stream of spatial information. We are, in many ways, a population that is rarely “lost.”

All of this data is collected, organized, and analyzed by GIS professionals working in government, non-profits, and private industry. At the same time, satellites, aircraft, and drones provide an ever-expanding volume of remotely sensed imagery that supports scientific research and applied problem-solving.

Almost every NGO, municipality, government agency, and business now relies on GIS to meet daily challenges. Whether your interests are in natural resource management, environmental or community planning, business analytics, scientific research, or any number of related fields, GIS skills are highly marketable and widely in demand.

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the discipline behind today’s most powerful mapping and spatial analysis technologies. It focuses on how we capture, store, analyze, and communicate digital information about the world around us—from environmental change to human activity.

GIScience brings together tools such as geographic information systems (GIS), global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), and remote sensing (RS), along with a growing suite of emerging geospatial technologies. Together, these tools empower us to understand patterns, solve problems, and make informed decisions at local and global scales.

Careers

The job market for geospatial professionals is strong both nationally and regionally, with demand expected to continue growing in the coming years. The U.S. Department of Labor identifies geospatial analysis as one of the leading areas of employment growth.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

These figures represent only a small part of the broader geospatial workforce. A quick search of job listings shows that GIS skills are increasingly required across many professions—including architecture, engineering, forestry, geography, geoscience, planning, and numerous environmental and data-focused careers. GIS expertise is highly marketable and valued across both public and private sectors.

What you'll Learn

The GIS Certificate provides a strong foundation in geospatial technology and applied spatial analysis. All students learn to create professional-quality maps and visualizations using industry-standard GIS software, work with remotely sensed data such as satellite imagery and aerial photography, and manage, analyze, and interpret spatial datasets for real-world applications.

Beyond the core curriculum, the program offers multiple pathways that allow you to focus on the areas that align with your interests and career goals. Depending on the electives you choose, you can concentrate on:

• UAV (drone) imagery and advanced remote sensing
• GPS/GNSS field data collection
• Programming and workflow automation, including Python
• Cartographic design and advanced mapping techniques
• Environmental analytics, community and regional analysis, or other applied geospatial topics

This flexibility lets you shape the certificate to fit your direction—whether you’re interested in drones, remote sensing, natural resources, planning, spatial analysis, or geospatial data science.

Graduates complete the program with practical, job-ready skills and a portfolio that reflects their individual focus within the geospatial field.

Strong Tradition

The University of Montana has been a leader in GIS education in the Mountain West for decades. Our faculty are nationally recognized for innovative teaching and are actively engaged in cutting-edge geospatial research. Students learn using modern labs, current software, and hands-on projects that bring classroom concepts to life.

Close collaboration with faculty, service-learning opportunities, and local internships give students valuable real-world experience. As demand for GIS expertise continues to grow, graduates of UM’s GIS Certificate program enjoy strong job placement and rewarding career paths across a wide range of industries.

History

The University of Montana has a long and distinguished history in geospatial education. The program began in 1957 when Dr. Jacquelyn Beyer taught cartography in the newly founded Geography Department. In the decades that followed, Dr. Paul Wilson led instruction in traditional hand-drafted cartography, while Dr. Steve Running introduced digital satellite imagery analysis in the early 1980s. By the 1990s, digital cartography and GIS were rapidly replacing analog methods, with Dr. Wilson guiding the transition until his retirement in 2010.

As GIS grew across campus, additional faculty expanded the curriculum and strengthened UM’s reputation for innovative geospatial training. At the same time, the College of Forestry and Conservation was developing a parallel GIS program for natural resource applications. In 2007, the two colleges collaborated to create the Certificate in Geographic Information Systems Science and Technologies, establishing a unified program serving students across disciplines.

In 2011, UM hired its first intra-college lecturer to coordinate the certificate and teach GIS and cartography courses. Kevin McManigal held that role for more than a decade, building on the legacy of Steven Holloway and Lois Knapp, and developing a robust digital cartography program until his retirement in 2023.

Today, the program continues to evolve. Dr. Jonathan Batchelor directs the GIS Certificate and brings expertise in geospatial analysis and applied remote sensing. As geospatial technologies continue to expand and diversify, UM’s GIS program remains committed to updating its curriculum, tools, and learning experiences to meet the needs of future GIS professionals.

Facilities and Resources

Students taking GIS courses at UM have access to several dedicated geospatial computer labs across campus, all equipped with current software and modern computing resources. Stone Hall houses the College of Forestry and Conservation’s GIS teaching labs, while the Social Science Research Laboratory (SSRL) provides additional GIS software and research support. In 2014, the Cobell Institute for Land and Culture opened a GIS lab in the Payne Family Native American Center. Students should check with individual departments regarding lab access and hours. UM regularly updates lab software so students gain experience with the tools most commonly used in professional geospatial careers. Large-format printing is also available at the Mansfield Library.

The Autonomous Aerial Systems Office (AASO) coordinates UM’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) operations and offers courses, internships, and training opportunities for students, staff, and faculty interested in drone-based data collection.

The Mansfield Library hosts a collection of over 35,000 scanned historical aerial images captured by the U.S. Forest Service from the 1930s onward—an invaluable resource for geospatial research in the region.