Geospatial Intelligence Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Aug 28, 2024

An online graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence prepares students for careers in a wide range of industries, including humanitarian, military, national disaster response and management, and more. Within the intelligence community, geospatial intelligence is described as analyzing and using geospatial information to assess geographical activities on Earth. While new technologies allow professionals to do so much more, geospatial intelligence was once instrumental in helping to resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis.

What Are the Online Geospatial Intelligence Graduate Certificate Requirements?

It isn't necessary for applicants to the geospatial intelligence graduate certificate program to have jobs in the GEOINT field prior to enrolling, though it is certainly an attractive choice for professionals working in the industry. It is often better to have completed a degree in a related field or have work experience within the industry before entering this particular certification program.

Students who complete at least three courses in the graduate certificate program for geospatial intelligence with a GPA of 3.67 or higher may enter the MGIS program through the Penn State World Campus without the usual requirements of a GRE test, experience in the field, and letters of recommendation.

What Type of Classes Are Included in the Online Geospatial Intelligence Graduate Certificate Curriculum?

In order to obtain an online graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence, students must complete certain core and elective coursework. While the coursework is different from one university to the next, they all involve similar classes. Around 18-22 credits are typically needed.

Core courses may include:

Introductions to Remote Sensing
Introduction to GIS
Earth Image Processing
Selected Topics in Geospatial Intelligence
Capstone Course in Geoinformatics

Electives may include:

Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Spatial Agent-based Models of Human-Environment Interactions
Terrain Mapping
Introduction to GIS Algorithms and Programming
Spatial Data Structures
Algorithms and Modeling in GIS

What Type of Career Can I Pursue with an Online Geospatial Intelligence Graduate Certificate?

Students who complete their online graduate certificate program are qualified for careers in a variety of fields including work for various agencies. Many career opportunities await you with a graduate certificate in geospatial intelligence such as the following:

Analyst for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Various private sector positions
Intelligence Image Analyst
Remote Sensing Technician
Analyst for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

You can be instrumental in the policy-making process, in responding to emergencies and pandemics, and contribute intelligence for critical military actions.