Applicants for the graduate certification in Geographic Information Science and Technology will be permitted to enroll for one semester of graduate coursework (only after degree posted transcripts have been received) while completing all other general application procedure requirements.
Applications Deadlines
Deadline dates for applications:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 1 | Fall Admission |
| November 1 | Spring Admission |
| April 1 | Summer Admission |
The graduate program chair and the Department Chair must grant any exceptions to these deadlines.
Application Materials required for the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science & Technology
All applicants must submit the following documentation to Graduate Admissions to be considered for admission:
Graduate Admissions
Jacksonville State University
700 Pelham Road North
Jacksonville, Alabama 36265-1602
- Completed JSU Graduate Applications for Admission.
- Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee.
- Official transcripts from the baccalaureate degree awarding institution and all transcripts from institutions where post-baccalaureate work has been completed. To be considered for admission, applicants must hold a degree from an institutionally accredited institution or its foreign equivalent. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.)
- Three Graduate References Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application.
- International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology
Applicants to the graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology must meet both the Graduate School requirements and the Geosciences Departmental requirements.
Applicants to the graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology are not required to have an undergraduate major in Geography or Geospatial Technology. Without a foundation in GIS or Geospatial Technology, additional courses may be suggested as foundational courses. These courses may not count for credit toward the MS GIST. Applicants with no GIS background will be required to take GIS 5510 Introduction to Spatial Analysis (3) as an introductory foundational course.
Unconditional Admission
To obtain unconditional admission into the graduate certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology program applicants must meet the following requirement
- A minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.50 including a minimum GPA of 3.00 in their major.
Conditional Admission
An applicant may be conditionally admitted with the recommendation of a graduate faculty sponsor(s) and the approval of the graduate program committee and the department head.
Applicants who are granted conditional admission must meet immediately with Dr. Joe Morgan, the Chemistry and Geosciences Department Head, to discuss program benchmarks and timelines. The student must also achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 on the first 12 graduate hours attempted. Failure to meet these conditions will result in the student being dropped from graduate studies.
Minimum Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Science and Technology
An overall 3.00 GPA is required on all coursework attempted for this master’s degree. Transfer credit cannot be used to raise the GPA to the required 3.00.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GIS 5510 | Introduction to Spatial Analysis | 3 |
| GIS 5520 | Spatial Data Collection and Management | 3 |
| GIS 5530 | Spatial Data, Layout, and Design | 3 |
| Select three semester hours of a graduate course in GIS | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Graduation and Comprehensive Exam
No comprehensive exam is required for this Graduate Certificate. All students must apply for certificate completion by the given deadline of the semester in which they plan to complete. Please see the Graduation and Comprehensive Exam section of this catalog for more information.