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This 12-credit certificate explores the science of acquiring information about the Earth from images and sensor networks. Using remote sensing technologies to collect data, you will learn how to analyze images to provide spatial insights for improved decision making in domains like business, crisis management, ecology, and the energy sector.

To earn your remote sensing certificate, it is recommended that you take courses in the following order:
GEOG 480: Exploring Imagery and Elevation Data in GIS Applications
GEOG 481: Topographic Mapping with Lidar
GEOG 883: Remote Sensing Analysis and Applications

You will then select one elective:
GEOG 589: Emerging Trends in Remote Sensing or GEOG 592: Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems

Program Flexibility

The Remote Sensing Certificate program is offered via five 10-week terms a year. With two terms that partially overlap in fall and spring, and one term in the summer, you have the flexibility to complete your certificate at your preferred pace. You can schedule your courses without any overlap, take as many courses as possible to finish sooner, or set your own pace allowing you to start and stop when the time is right for you.

Description of fall, spring and summer semesters

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.

Course List - Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing and Earth Observation 

Students who enroll in the Remote Sensing and Earth Observation Certificate program are expected to have working knowledge of geospatial concepts and prior experience with ArcGIS at an introductory level.

If you are a GIS novice, we encourage you to complete our Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems prior to applying to the Remote Sensing Certificate program.

Required Courses (9 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Exploring Imagery and Elevation Data in GIS Applications GEOG 480 Using imagery and terrain data in typical application scenarios faced by the geospatial professional.

Prerequisite: GEOG 482* or equivalent professional experience		 3 credits
Topographic Mapping with Lidar GEOG 481 Using airborne topographic lidar to create elevation models for GIS applications.

Prerequisite: GEOG 362* or GEOG 480; GEOG 160* or GEOG 482*; or equivalent professional experience		 3 credits
Remote Sensing Analysis and Applications GEOG 883 Understanding remote sensing systems' operation, data products, and processing techniques to address typical problem scenarios faced by the GEOINT professional.

Prerequisite: GEOG 480		 3 credits

*For individuals with professional experience in GIS, these prerequisites may be waived as part of the application review process.

Select one course from the following list or from other electives (at the discretion of the program director).

Electives (3 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Emerging Trends in Remote Sensing GEOG 589 Highlights emerging theoretical and methodological trends in high-performance remote sensing for geospatial analysis through discussion and laboratory experiences.

Prerequisite: GEOG 480 and GEOG 883		 3 credits
Geospatial Applications of Unmanned Aerial Systems GEOG 892 Introduces theory and methods for operating an unmanned aerial system for geospatial data acquisition and analysis.

Prerequisite: GEOG 480		 3 credits

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.