We recognize that the geospatial intelligence professional is expected to understand and make analytic judgments on a broad spectrum of problems, support diverse customer sets, and cope with unprecedented types of information. Given these challenges, Penn State is committed to providing a flexible curriculum to meet the exceptionally diverse needs of the working professional.

The geospatial intelligence graduate certificate program comprises five required courses totaling 13 credits. The curriculum is designed so that all 13 credits earned in this certificate program count toward Penn State's online Master of Geographic Information Systems degree, should a student be accepted into the highly competitive master's program.

Prescribed Courses (12 credits)

• GEOG 882: Geographic Foundations of Geospatial Intelligence — 3 credits

Orientation to the geographic foundations of geospatial intelligence and its applications in national security, international relief work, and disaster management.

• GEOG 883: Remote Sensing for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional — 3 credits

Understanding remote sensing systems' operation, data products, and processing techniques to address typical problem scenarios faced by the GEOINT professional.
Prerequisite: GEOG 882

• GEOG 884: Geographic Information Systems for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional — 3 credits

How geographic information systems facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems faced by the geospatial intelligence professional.
Prerequisite: GEOG 882

• GEOG 885: Advanced Analytic Methods for Geospatial Intelligence — 3 credits

Prepares current and aspiring geospatial intelligence professionals to apply and interpret results of non-quantitative analysis and modeling techniques.
Prerequisite: GEOG 882

• GEOG 594A/596I: Culminating Experiences in Geospatial Intelligence*

*Replacing GEOG 889: Virtual Field Exercise for the Geospatial Intelligence Professional

The GEOINT certificate course content focuses not just on technical skills but also on the analytical knowledge necessary to apply those skills in the real world. In the capstone course, students apply what they have learned to complete a semester-long virtual field experience.

The above course list is a typical sequence.  Actual courses taken will vary based upon technical experience and will be determined upon consolation with your faculty adviser.

Program Flexibility

Beginning in spring 2013, the GEOINT certificate program will operate on five 10-week terms. With two sessions that partially overlap in fall and spring, and one session in the summer, you are provided with the greatest flexibility possible in completing your certificate at your preferred pace. You can choose to schedule your courses without any overlap, or take as many courses as possible to finish sooner.

Registration for most courses begins three months before the start of the course. Given the limited number of seats available in our courses, early registration is strongly encouraged.

It is strongly recommended that students take only one course during each of the five terms.