GIS and Geospatial Technology Certificate

Enrolling in the certificate program for the first time involves two steps:  (1) registering for GEOG XL 7: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, which is the gateway course to the certificate program, and (2) declaring certificate candidacy.  No formal application process is required given that this program is structured as an open enrollment program.

1. Enroll in GEOG XL 7: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
   Enrollment in GEOG XL 7 can be completed fully online from the link above.  Click "Add to Cart" and proceed through the registration process.  Full payment of the course's tuition ($2,250) is required upon registration, but tuition is fully refundable until one week after the beginning of each course.  
2. Declare Certificate Candidacy (any time after enrolling)
   You may declare yourself as a certificate candidate at any time after enrolling in the Introduction to GIS course.  This entitles you to certain benefits and establishes you as a student formally seeking the certificate.  Note that this process may be completed at any time after enrolling and does not need to be completed upfront.  More information about certificate candidacy is available here.

The certificate program is an entry-level GIS certificate program designed for anyone looking to get started in the fields of GIS and geospatial technology.  No prior knowledge of GIS or practical experience with GIS is assumed or required.  Students who complete the certificate program are prepared to (1) find an entry-level GIS job and/or (2) integrate GIS into their existing professional environments.

The program is ideal for early career professionals seeking a competitive edge in a variety of fields, as well as mid-career and late-career professionals seeking to augment or update their existing competencies with highly marketable GIS techniques.

The certificate program is an open enrollment program, meaning that any interested prospective students can enroll in the program regardless of previous educational experience.

The total cost of the certificate program's tuition and fees is $9,650.

Of this total, tuition accounts for $9,450.  The courses in the program constitute 21 quarter credit hours in total, and tuition is set at $450/credit.  Tuition and fees are the same for California residents, out-of-state students, and international students.  Also included in the total is a certificate candidacy fee ($200).  Tuition is paid by course upon individual course registration, so the total cost of the program is spread out over the time in which you are enrolled in the program.

The total cost to get started in the program is $2,250 -- the total tuition for the program's gateway course, GEOG XL 7: Introduction to GIS.  Some students also choose to declare certificate candidacy upfront, which carries a fee of $200.

Five fully online courses are required for the certificate program.  All five courses are required and no other electives may be substituted in place of these required courses.  The required courses are:

• GEOG XL 7: Introduction to GIS (offered every quarter)
• GEOG XL 180: Cartography (offered every Winter and Summer quarter)
• GEOG XL 181A: Intermediate GIS (offered every Spring and Fall quarter)
• GEOG XL 181B: Advanced GIS (offered every Spring and Fall quarter)
• GEOG X 191C: GIS Databases and Enterprise GIS (offered every Winter and Summer quarter)

Introduction to GIS is a five-credit course, and all others are four credit courses.  Courses are credit-bearing and credits are transferrable to any institutions that accept transfer credit from UCLA.  Courses can be applied toward the certificate program or may be taken individually.

Yes -- all of the courses in the certificate program are accredited and approved by the UCLA Academic Senate as credit-bearing courses.  Courses carry both lower-division (Intro) and upper-division (all other courses) undergraduate credit.

All courses are online and flexibly scheduled, with weekly deadlines providing structure.  We strike the right balance between flexibility and structure:  we move through course content together as a cohort, but when you review the content and complete the required activities each week is up to you.  No synchronous online or in-person meetings are required.

Weekly activities include:

• Reviewing video lectures, technical screencasts, and readings;
• Completing practical assignments involving the use of GIS methods to address real-world scenarios;
• Self-assessment using automated non-graded quizzes; and more.

No high-stakes exams are required: all activities are project-based and centered around practical applications of GIS techniques.  Weekly practical assignments are the cornerstone of the program's structure.  These assignments are not the typical step-by-step GIS software tutorials:  they encourage critical thinking and problem solving, and completing the projects helps in the development of intuitive mastery of GIS tools and methods.

Students report spending an average of 10 hours per week, per course on completing coursework for this program -- however, this is just an average.  Those students who consider themselves to be very proficient with the professional use of computers tend to move more quickly through assignments and activities, while students with more limited computer proficiency often require more time each week.  Student workloads tend to be highest in the Intro course as well as when students choose to take multiple courses concurrently.  

We make every effort to ensure that students in the certificate program feel supported.  On-demand course content provides everything you need to successfully complete all course activities, but your instructors and the program's administration regularly hold office hours.  Office hours are provided at the UCLA campus, online, and by phone.  Students and instructors also frequently engage in stimulating conversation in discussion forums integrated within each course module.

Students are required to have access to a suitable personal computer with a reliable Internet connection that is capable of supporting streaming video.  Use of low-bandwidth Internet connections is discouraged.

Students will be provided with no-cost access to all required GIS software while enrolled in the certificate program.  This includes full access to a student version of ArcGIS Pro.  Any proprietary software provided within the scope of this program may not be used for any non-academic purposes.

Personal computers must be capable of running Windows 10 (or higher), be capable of running Intel-compatible (x86/x64) software and have at least 8GB of RAM.  We do not provide computers or require that students purchase a specific computer.

ArcGIS is a Windows-only application, but contrary to conventional wisdom, it is possible to use a Mac for GIS.  However, this requires some additional configuration:  Mac users will have to use virtualization software to run Windows and ArcGIS within a virtual machine.  Mac users may also need to purchase a Windows license.

Software installation instructions and support are provided within each course, and program advisors are happy to advise students about computer purchases or the suitability of their hardware.

No -- our courses are asynchronous, meaning that students are free to work on course-related activities at any time that is convenient and optimal for their individual schedules.  However, students are expected to meet a series of weekly deadlines.

We offer one start date per academic quarter, so there are four opportunities to start in the program each calendar year.  Each year, we offer start dates at the following approximate times:

• Winter quarter (early-mid January)
• Spring quarter (early April)
• Summer quarter (early July)
• Fall quarter (early-mid October)