Geospatial Technology

About the Program

Have you ever wondered how Waze and Google Maps work? These apps (and countless others) use geospatial technology to display data. Geospatial technology is an information technology field of practice that acquires, manages, interprets, or otherwise uses data focusing on the geographic and spatial contexts.

• Geospatial technology is one of the top emerging industries in the 21st century according to the US Department of Labor.
• Architects, engineers, surveyors, data scientists and cartographers all use geospatial technology.
• Increasingly, public works employees need some knowledge of geospatial technology for their work.
• A certificate or degree in geospatial technology can boost your earning potential and increase employability. 
• Foothill College offers evening classes to accommodate your schedule.

The Foothill College Geographic Information Systems Certificate Program offers a flexible schedule of evening courses leading to a Certificate of Achievement for Geographic Information Systems Analyst. If you start classes in the fall you can earn your certificate in one school year! 

 

Cost

California residents pay just $31 per unit for classes at Foothill College. This means that the entire 34 unit Certificate of Achievement in GIS will cost you just $1,054 in tuition. This is a fraction of the cost of other GIS programs offered at UC, CSU or private universities. Financial aid is available for qualified students.

Broad Exposure

The Foothill College GIS Program uses three different software products: ESRI's ArcGIS 10.3, Intergraph's Geo Media Pro 6.1, QGIS and IDRISI's IDRISI 3.2

 

Degree & Program Types

Our program offers a set of certificates which scale up to an AS degree. These certificates were modeled on the GeoTech Center's model curriculum with guidance from the Foothill College GIS program advisory board and are newly approved by the State Chancellor's office for California Community Colleges. The certificates build a solid technical background in geographic information systems concepts

Check out this list for a quick view of our geographic information systems programs. For program requirements and full course listings, view degrees and certificates information.

Associate in Science Degree Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)

Certificate of Achievement Geographic Information Systems Technology I (22-24 units) Geographic Information Systems Technology II (31-33 units) Geographic Information Systems Technology III (43-46 units)

Courses Sequence

All GIS classes are offered through the GIS department. Our certificate program is designed for working professionals.

Most of our students have an associate's or higher degree and are 'upskilling.'

However, we have also had numerous students enter our program straight out of high school and step directly into GIS technician jobs or land high paying student assistantships at four year universities when they transfer in pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

View our course sequence guide to see which courses you would take depending on which quarter you enter the program.