Certificate
Part-Time or Full-Time
Fall, Spring
On-Campus
About the GIS Certificate at Loyola
Geographic information systems (GIS) use sophisticated software and tools to capture, store, analyze, manage, and present geospatial data.
Offered through Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), the GIS certificate provides essential training in contemporary geographic mapping technology needed to solve complex geospatial problems in environmental sciences, urban planning, social sciences, public health, business, agriculture, and engineering.
Program Structure
The graduate certificate is offered on-campus and can be completed within a single academic year through weekly evening courses.
Classes are held at Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on Chicago's North Side, just a train ride from downtown and Loyola's Water Tower Campus.
Why Choose Loyola for a Geographic Information Systems Certificate?
Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability is committed to developing solutions to crucial environmental and ecological challenges, promoting environmental justice, and developing leaders in ethical sustainability. SES certificate programs provide practical skills for professionals who want to improve or add environmental sustainability credentials to advance their careers or enter new professional fields.
- Acquire in-demand skills for your resume
- Flexible options for working professionals
- Apply your GIS certificate credits toward a graduate degree
The problem-solving, spatial thinking, and technical skills leveraged through the use of GIS technology are in high demand across fields and industries, from government to nonprofit organizations, business, education, and the military.
Evening classes allow you to conveniently fit your certificate studies into your schedule.
If you are interested in earning a graduate degree, you can apply the GIS certificate credits toward completing the SES master’s degree program in environmental science and sustainability.
Meet the Faculty
Loyola is proud to have talented and nationally-recognized scholar-teachers as part of our diverse community of exceptional faculty, students and staff. Loyola faculty are known for their commitment to teaching, the dissemination of knowledge through innovative and interdisciplinary scholarly research, and a commitment to social justice and cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Visit the School of Environmental Sustainability faculty and staff directory to learn more about the teachers and mentors involved with the Geographic Information Systems Certificate program.
Faculty and StaffGeographic Information Systems: Career Connections
When you complete the GIS certificate program you will have the skills to be a GIS Technician or GIS Analyst, with the potential to become a GIS Manager.
The highly useful skills developed in the program are relevant to many jobs and disciplines beyond environmental sustainability.
Specific job options include:
- Mapping technician
- Urban planning
- Environmental impact analysis
- Agriculture
- Disaster management and accident analysis
- Transportation planning
- Surveyor
- Cartographer
Because Loyola is a member of the Jesuit network of 27 colleges and universities nationwide, our graduates can access career advising services, resume and interviewing assistance, career fairs and events, and employment listings in our Career Services center, as well as at career centers at other U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook is a good place to start exploring the job outlook and pay potential for specific careers and fields that interest you.
Loyola Stories
Curriculum and Program Outcomes
While courses for the Geographic Information Systems Certificate program may vary from semester to semester, Loyola’s extensive Academic Catalog will always house the official listing of courses, programs of study, academic policies, degree requirements, and specialization or concentration options.
Additionally, this resource will provide Geographic Information Systems Certificate learning outcomes, showcasing the commitment to specific skills and growth graduates can expect to achieve following completion of the program.
2023-2024 Catalog
Browse Academic CatalogGIS Certificate: Results and Skills
GIS technology and skills are used to improve decision making, reduce costs, provide better services, and respond to critical challenges, making the certificate a valuable asset to use in almost every field.
Specific skills developed include:
- Spatial analysis
- Mapping and cartography
- Data management and analysis
- Data collection
- Use of GIS technology and software
Costs, Scholarships, and Aid
Loyola University Chicago is committed to making your graduate and professional studies a reality. Our Cost & Financial Aid page can help better inform you about the costs and potential funding opportunities through scholarships, loans, and aid for graduate and professional education.
If you are a current Loyola undergraduate or recent alum, you may be eligible for a Returning Rambler discount. Learn more and see if you qualify on our Returning Rambler Scholarship page.
Tuition and Costs
The estimated tuition and fees for the Geographic Information Systems Certificate totals $10395.00, or 9 credit hours at a cost of $1,155.00 per credit hour. Please note that tuition and fees for all of Loyola's academic programs are subject to change.
For more detailed information about tuition and fees, and a breakdown of how these costs are calculated on a yearly basis, please visit Tuition and Fees from the Office of the Bursar.
School of Environmental Sustainability Financial Aid & Scholarships
The School of Environmental Sustainability offers partial scholarships, limited external research grants, and work opportunities to SES graduate students. If you wish to be considered for internal partial tuition scholarships, you must complete your application by March 1. Scholarship decisions are based on your complete student file, including statements of research/interest, GPA, and letters of recommendation.
More information about financial aid opportunities can be found on the Financial Aid Office website.
Appointments and Events
Whether you’re just beginning your search, in the midst of the application process, or eager to explore our graduate and professional programs, our admissions staff is here to assist you every step of the way.
Schedule an AppointmentThe School of Environmental Sustainability offers graduate open houses, information sessions, individual appointments, open Zoom and text sessions, and a multitude of other ways to get to know us better.
View all EventsVisit and Connect With Us
With our visit opportunities, you can tour our beautiful Chicago campuses and learn more about Loyola's ties to one of the most prestigious cities in the world.
Application Process
Application Deadlines
The available start terms and corresponding application deadlines for the Geographic Information Systems Certificate are listed below. Please keep in mind that both the application and the required materials must be submitted by the specified deadline.
Fall and Spring: Rolling admissions
Application Requirements
Application requirements for the Geographic Information Systems Certificate include:
Official Transcripts
3.0 Minimum GPA
Statement of Purpose
Statement of Purpose Details
Please write a statement describing your academic interest for the program as well as your professional goals. The minimum is 250 words and the maximum is 500 words.
Official Documents
Official transcripts are those that are sent directly by the college/university to Loyola University Chicago. Transcripts sent by the student to Loyola are considered unofficial documents, and while they may be utilized for initial review of your application, official transcripts are still required. Official documents should be sent by the institution to gradapp@luc.edu.
International Applicant Requirements
An official English language proficiency exam is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. If you have non-U.S. educational credentials, you are required to submit an official transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation cannot be waived.
Please visit our International Applicant Requirements page for specific information regarding the application process for international students.
Start Your Application
Applying online to the Geographic Information Systems Certificate program is a swift, uncomplicated, and cost-free process. After submission, you can proceed to send and upload any additional requirements.
APPLY TODAY