Graduate Certificate: Geospatial Data Science

About the Certificate

Data science is an emerging interdisciplinary field with roots in computer science, mathematics and statistics. Spatial data are common and high value, including government administrative data, remotely sensed images, smartphone and vehicle location data, and volunteered geographic information (VGI). Our courses introduce students to big data handling, data mining, geosimulation, geospatial analytics and machine learning. The Department of Geography and Urban Studies faculty have expertise in cartography, GIS, machine learning, remote sensing, spatial data science, spatial statistics and urban analytics.

This graduate certificate complements our Professional Science Master’s in Geospatial Data Science and may serve as a gateway into the program. Students in the certificate program pursue a curriculum that provides training in geospatial data science that also complements graduate programs offered in the College of Education and Human Development, College of Liberal Arts, College of Public Health, College of Science and Technology, Fox School of Business and Management, and the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication.

Time Limit for Certificate Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The graduate certificate can be completed on a part-time basis. NOTE: International students may not be eligible to apply for a student visa based on admission to the certificate program. Please contact the certificate program's administrator for more information.

Job Prospects: Combined training in GIS and data science prepares individuals to take on lead data science teams in technology-based companies, governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations who regularly work with big geospatial data and undertake projects that require geospatial skills and a spatial perspective.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Courses are available to non-matriculated graduate students with approval from the Graduate Chair or Assistant Director. Non-matriculated students may take up to 9 credits prior to matriculation, but an exception can be made to accept all 12 certificate credits for those who want to pursue the Professional Science Master’s in Geospatial Data Science. For more information, please email psmgis@temple.edu about registering as a non-matriculated student.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:
Fall and Spring: Admission is on a rolling basis. Interested students should contact psmgis@temple.edu for permission to enroll in coursework. Students are processed by the Office of Continuing Studies.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate baccalaureate degree at Temple University.

Certificate Requirements

Number of Credits Required to Complete the Certificate: 12

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
GUS 5161	Statistics for Urban Spatial Analysis	3
or GUS 5073	Geovisualization
GUS 8061	Big GeoSpatial Data	3
Electives
Select two from the following: ¹		6
GUS 5031	GIS Programming
GUS 5032	Geosimulation
GUS 5062	Fundamentals of Geographical Information Systems
GUS 5063	Remote Sensing
GUS 5065	Urban Geographical Information Systems
GUS 5066	Environmental Applications of GIS
GUS 5067	GIS and Location Analysis
GUS 5068	Census Analysis with Geographical Information Systems
GUS 5069	GIS for Health Data Analysis
GUS 5072	Advanced Remote Sensing
GUS 5162	Advanced Statistics for Urban Applications
GUS 8066	Application Development for Geographic Information Systems
GUS 8069	GIS Ethics and Professional Practice
Total Credit Hours		12