GIS Certificate and Minor Application

Welcome to the application page for WWU's GIS Certificate and GIS Minor!

WWU's Environmental Studies Department offers an undergraduate Minor in GIS and advanced Certificates in GIS open to undergraduate and graduate students. You can view the details of our degrees on our GIS Degrees website. We also offer a major in Environmental Studies with a GIS Emphasis.

When can I apply for a GIS minor or Certificate?

  • Applications for the GIS Minor are accepted once each quarter on Nov 1, Feb 1, and May 1.
  • Priority for admission to the Undergraduate GIS Certificate is given to applicants who apply by May 1. After May 1st, additional applications may be accepted on a space-available basis and will be reviewed along with the minor applications shortly after Nov 1 and Feb 1. This undergraduate-level certificate is open to students who have already completed or are already enrolled in ENVS 320 or an equivalent introductory GIS class.
  • Priority for admission to the Undergraduate GIS Certificate is given to applicants who apply by May 1. After May 1st, additional applications may be accepted on a space-available basis and will be reviewed along with the minor applications shortly after Nov 1 and Feb 1. This graduate-level certificate is open to students who have already completed a BA or BS degree, and have already completed or are enrolled in an introductory GIS class and an introductory statistics class.

Frequently asked questions: 

  • Which GIS degree(s) should you apply for? If you are serious about pursuing a career in GIS, you will have the best advantage on the job market if you apply for both the major in Environmental Studies and the GIS Certificate. If you cannot major in our GIS emphasis, the next best choice is to minor in GIS and pursue the GIS Certificate. Employers generally view degrees in the following order of significance: 1) major, 2) a certificate, 3) a minor.
  • Can you double-count classes? GIS classes used to meet the requirements of our GIS Certificate can be double-counted toward a major or minor in GIS. Note that majors and minors may have their own rules about double-counting within those degrees.
  • What is the difference in between the GIS Certificate and the GIS minor? The GIS Certificate represents a more advanced knowledge of GIS because it requires students complete the entire GIS I through GIS IV core series of classes and requires a minimum grade of B- in all Certificate classes.
  • When will I hear back after applying? Within one week of the quarterly application deadline.

 

How to apply?

To apply for a minor or one certificate, please click on each of the following three links to:

1) request to join this Canvas page

2) fill out this short application survey

3) upload a single PDF portfolio document containing:

A statement addressing the following:
-Why you are interested in completing the GIS Minor and/or GIS Certificate
-How your prior education and work experience has prepared you for the GIS Minor and/or GIS Certificate
-Your career goals

A Portfolio of your GIS analysis and cartographic work, including at least two maps with captions describing what the maps are and what went into making them (it is completely fine if these maps are from your work in ENVS 320)

A Resume outlining your education and professional history

Transcripts: Unofficial WWU transcripts plus Official Transcripts from other institutions if you previously completed relevant coursework at another institution and would like to count transfer credit toward your GIS degree