Geoscience, Physical Geography
Geoscience, Physical Geography
Making data come alive on a map can reveal patterns and trends that are key to making better decisions in government, business, and industry.
From climatology to urban planning, disaster management to public health, gaming to real estate, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data has a wide range of applications across disciplines.
UFV’s 31-credit Geographic Information Systems certificate provides you with the knowledge needed to work with geospatial data and technologies. The program equips you with essential software and database skills and the ability to capture, manage, and map information for display, analysis, and problem-solving.
You can complete a GIS certificate as part of a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, or take the credential on its own to enhance your employment opportunities in a variety of fields.
The growing use of GIS technology in government, industry, and academia has resulted in an increase in the number of employment opportunities for qualified GIS technicians. A GIS certificate can lead to work in environmental management, land use planning, engineering, natural resource management, transportation, logistics, insurance, health, social sciences, utilities, business, and more.
According to Statistics Canada, the number of job openings for people who gather, analyze, interpret and use geospatial information is expected to outnumber the number of job seekers in these fields by 2024.
A wide variety of sectors are using GIS to manage geographic information and incorporate location into decision-making. Some GIS jobs are discipline-specific — for example, jobs in environmental science, municipal planning, or forestry — with GIS skills only one part of the job qualifications needed to land the position. Other jobs require GIS users who are skilled in computer programming and database management.