If you have been accepted to the program but need to defer your enrollment to a later term, please notify the program director before your admitted term starts. Failing to notify the program director will result in a cancellation of the admission by the Graduate School.
Know how to get to the PSU campus, the locations of major campus buildings, and the Geography Office (Cramer Hall Rm. 424).
Make a plan for the GIS courses you will take. Here is an overview of all geography GIS courses and the recommended sequences of taking them. Please note that some of the courses cannot be used toward the certificate. Before the term starts, check the postings outside the Geography office, the Geography courses webpage, or registration for course offerings.
Register for at least one credit for the term you are admitted (or call the Geography Office if you need to defer your start term).
Get an Access Badge (or student prox card) to access the geography computer lab. Here are the steps:
Go to ID Services in the Fariborz Maseeh Hall lobby and get an Access Card. Tip: avoid long lines by getting your badge before the term begins any time after you are registered. We will need the 6-digit number on the badge.
Once you have the badge and are registered for a class, your instructor will request access to the geography computer lab.
Activate your ODIN (computer) account. Contact OIT Helpdesk if you have questions. This account allows you to log in to any PSU computer on campus, including those in the geography department labs.
Learn to use campus lab computers, wireless network, library resources, etc.
Check out geography student organization - GIS Club.
If you need assistance with course planning, make an appointment with the GIS program advisor.
If you have transfer credits from another institution, full out and submit a GO-21M: Proposed Transfer Credit form to the GIS Certificate Program Coordinator (geographygrad@pdx.edu). Please also provide the syllabi of the courses that you want to transfer. Only graduate level credits can be transferred into the graduate GIS certificate program.
Take all required and elective courses for a letter grade (A-F) and achieve a cumulative PSU graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher and a cumulative program GPA of 3.0 or higher. Note that satisfactory completion of a graduate course is defined as a letter grade of B- or higher.
If you were admitted conditionally, you must notify the GIS Certificate Program Coordinator when those conditions, or prerequisites, have been satisfied. (e.g. took Geog 380 prerequisite, Grad GPA requirement met, etc.)
Apply for Graduation. You must apply the first week of the term you plan to graduate.
The Graduate School will notify the Geography Department about your application to graduate. If you have met all of the requirements, the Geography Department will submit the final paperwork for your graduation.
If you have questions about any of this process, please feel free to contact Geoffrey Duh, GIS Certificate Program Director (jduh@pdx.edu, 503-725-3159).