· Who should get the GISc Certificate?
· What are some of the applications of GISc, and how do I find out more about it?
· What is required to earn the GISc Certificate?
· Who is eligible to enter the GISc Certificate Program?
· How long will it take me to earn the GISc Certificate?
· Do I need to have much computer expertise to be in the GISc Certificate Program?
· What size are the classes?
· What courses are offered next term?
· Which course should I start the GISc Certificate Program with?
· How much work is involved in the courses?
· What are the GISc Lab facilities and when are they available?
· What elective courses are applicable?
· Who are my fellow students in the GISc Certificate Program likely to be?
· How do I find out about job opportunities in the GISc field?
· How do I apply to the GISc Certificate Program?
· How and when do I register for courses?

·Who should get the GISc Certificate?
It has become increasingly important for professionals in many fields to have a working knowledge of and technical abilities in GISc. People working in the fields of urban planning, the environment, real estate, public health research and administration, housing and social services, transportation, community development, and many governmental agencies find that GISc is being integrated into their organizations. The Certificate in GISc will give such professionals added credentials and skills in the cutting-edge world of geo-spatial technologies. Technical staff, analysts, and managers will find this particularly useful.
For those not already engaged in one of these professions, the GISc capabilities acquired through this program can lead to careers in the growing field of GISc technology, either as a GIS analyst, technical staff, or in GIS software development, depending on the interests and prior experience of the student.

· What are some of the applications of GISc, and how do I find out more about it?
Check out some of the projects completed here at Lehman College by students and faculty. An internet search will show how widely used GISc currently is, and this technology will continue to grow.

· What is required to earn the GISc Certificate?
The GISc Certificate consists of a sequence of four courses (14 credits) plus one 3-credit elective, totaling 17 credits for the Certificate.
· GEP 204 / GEP 504 Basic Mapping: Applications and Analysis (3 credits);
· GEP 205 / GEP 505 Principles of Geographic Information Science (GISc) (3 credits);
· GEP 350 / GEP 605 Special Projects in GISc* (4 credits);
· GEH 490 / GEP 690 Workshop in GISc (4 credits);

*Note: Recent topics in the "Special Projects in GISc" course include "Environmental Planning with GIS," and "Spatial Analytical Methods in GIS." Topics planned for the future are "GIS for Public Health," and "Using GIS in Ecology."

Undergraduates must maintain a 2.0 GPA (C average) in the program's coursework, and graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA (B average) in order to be awarded the Certificate.

· Who is eligible to enter the GISC Certificate Program?
In order to enter the GISc Certificate Program to take courses at the undergraduate level, you must have an Associates degree or have completed at least 60 college credits with a 2.0 GPA minimum (C average).
In order to enter the GISc Certificate Program to take courses at the graduate level, you must have a Bachelors Degree with a 3.0 GPA (B average).
You must be either a matriculated student at Lehman College, or have been accepted by the College as a non-matriculated (non-degree) student in order to register for GISc classes.

· How long will it take me to earn the GISc Certificate?
This depends on you and how much time you can commit to the coursework, and it also depends on which term you enter the program, and which specific courses are being offered each term. There are four required courses plus one elective needed for the GISc Certificate and most students can complete within 4 terms (2 years). In some cases, students can complete within 3 terms, if they take two courses each for two terms, and one course in the third term. If you take only one course per term, it will take five terms to finish to Certificate. Since some of the coursework is sequential, program advisement is recommended to ensure expedited completion.

· Do I need to have much computer expertise to be in the GISc Certificate Program?
You do not need to be a computer expert to enter the GISc Certificate Program, but a basic familiarity with Windows applications is helpful. Students with minimal computer experience are encouraged to apply, especially those with an interest in learning more about computer techniques. No experience with mapping software or mapping analysis is assumed for either of the two introductory courses.

· What size are the classes?
GISc classes are typically kept small, averaging 15-20 students. This allows for better than average student-faculty ratio, and considerable one-on-one instruction in the lab. The GISc Lab has 22 computer stations, ensuring a dedicated computer for each student.

· What courses are offered next term?
The courses available for next term can be found at the course finder page;
For department select: Environmental, Geographic, and Geological Sciences.

· Which course should I start the GISc Certificate Program with?
GEP 204/504: Basic Mapping Science: Applications and Analysis and GEP 205/505: Principles of GISc do not require prerequisites courses, so it is feasible to start the program with either of these. Generally, students who have some prior familiarity with basic computing can start with GEP 205/505, but we recommend that students who are not computer literate should start with GEP 204/504. If both courses are being offered in the same term, students may take both simultaneously. It is also possible to start with GEP 204/504 and an elective, or GEP 205/505 and an elective.

· How much work is involved in the courses?
GEP 204/504 and GEP 205/505 are each 3 credit, 4 hour courses. This means that you will be spending about 2 hours in the classroom and 2 hours in the lab each weekly class meeting. The Lehman term is approximately 15 weeks, so these classes meet approximately 60 hours during the term. Classes are held once per week in the evening, to accommodate people who work. There are required readings, and some research and written assignments, which are to be done during the week in preparation for class. The time required for these activities varies by student abilities and interest, but will usually require at least an additional 3 hours per week. Most students can finish the lab assignments during the class period. However, many students opt to spend extra time in the lab to further develop their skills and apply what they have learned. Thus, the amount of time (work) required for each course will depend on your interests, and obviously, the more effort you put into something, the more you will get out of it.

· What are the GISc Lab facilities and when are they available?
    The GISc Lab at Lehman College is a fully equipped teaching lab. The lab features twenty-four Dell Optiplex 760 computers for student use, and one for instructional use. The instructor's computer has access to an overhead projector for lectures, presentations, and other multimedia materials.  

    All computers are equipped with full version ArcGIS software from ESRI. Also installed in all lab stations are Google Earth, ColorPic, R statistical computing, GeoDa, and ScapeToad. ENVI remote sensing software is available in the lab, as are HDF Explorer, Trimble GPS Pathfinder, and TerraSync. Several Trimble GPS units are also available for use during appropriate coursework.

    A wide range of data is available to students, including ESRI datasets, the Americas Basemap, NYC regional orthophotos, as well as data used for more specific projects. A color laser printer is available for printing student lab work, and a large format plotter is also located in the lab area for the production of posters for student and faculty research projects.

    The GISc Lab is open Monday through Friday during school semesters, excepting holidays and other schedule modifications. The hours of operation change each semester and are tailored to meet the needs of the current course offerings. Lab tutoring is generally available between two and four days per week, again depending on the semester. The lab manager is also able to offer assistance when time permits.

· What elective courses are applicable?
The GISc Certificate requires one three-credit elective, to be selected from the following geography courses and to be determined by the student's objectives in consultation with a geography advisor:

Other geography courses may be substituted for the elective requirement with department permission, and students may also elect to take three additional credits in GEH 490/GEP 690 Workshop in GISc Research, to fulfill the elective requirement.

· Who are my fellow students in the GISc Certificate Program likely to be?
The GISc courses are open to matriculated Lehman College students, as well as non-matriculated students in the GISc Certificate Program. Current students in the GISc Certificate Program include professionals in the fields of health administration, real estate, architecture, urban planning, epidemiology, statistics, transportation, film production, web design, marketing, community economic development, secondary school teaching, ecology, and environmental planning. The GISc program has also attracted people considering a mid-career change, as well as those returning to the workforce, or who would like to augment their current credentials with additional skills.
Your fellow students are also likely to be graduate students in science education, anthropology, botany, ecology, and math. Undergraduate majors in geography, computer science, anthropology, political science, health services, geology, biology, and just about any other major offered at Lehman also enroll in these courses.

·How do I find out about job opportunities in the GISc field?
The Department of Environmental, Geographic, and Geological Sciences keeps an active posting board of local job opportunities as part of our GISc Internship Program. These include positions available as part- and full-time interns, entry level, and other full-time opportunities. Once in the program, you are encouraged to discuss specific career options with faculty, based on your abilities and interests. You may also visit GIS careers web sites, such as: GIS Jobs Clearinghouse and U.S. Geogical Survey.

· How do I apply to the GISc Certificate Program?
Contact the Admissions Department at (718)960-8713 (undergrad), or (718)960-8777 (graduate). The application forms (undergraduate and graduate) are the same as the standard ones for all non-matriculated (non-degree) students. If the application deadline is approaching (July 15 for Fall term admissions, January 3 for Spring term admissions) you may also pick up an application package in person at the Admissions Department offices, Shuster Hall, Room 161 (undergraduate) or 150 (graduate). Let them know when you call or arrive whether you are interested in the graduate level or the undergraduate level GISc Certificate program, so they can give you the appropriate application.
After you submit an application, it takes approximately two to three weeks to be processed. If you do not hear from the admissions office within three weeks after you submit your paperwork, you may call them to check the status of your acceptance:
At the time of your application, please also send an e-mail to Dr. Maantay, GISc Program Director, advising of your application, and include your name, address, and contact data. E-mail to Juliana.Maantay@lehman.cuny.edu.
If the deadlines are approaching (or past) you may want to expedite the admissions process by completing the application on the campus, and submitting it the same day. To do so, you will need to bring a check for the application fee and a copy of your transcript or degree. Go directly with your completed application and other documents to either Undergraduate Admissions (Shuster Hall, Room 161) or Graduate Admissions (Shuster Hall, Room 150). Laurie Austin is the Director of Admissions. (718) 960-8706.
If you are unable to register for classes on time because of admissions status or any other reason, please contact Dr. Juliana Maantay at (718) 960-8574 before the registration period.

· How and when do I register for courses?
Registration for the GISc Certificate courses follows the same schedule as registration in the regular Lehman College degree programs, which is NOT held at the same time as the Continuing Ed courses. In-coming students (new to Lehman) can register once they are admitted to Lehman. Please call the Registrar's office for information on your individual registration day. (718) 960-8255.
    In order to take courses in the GISc Program, you must first be admitted to Lehman College as a non-matriculated graduate OR undergraduate student, unless you are already a matriculated student (in a degree program) at Lehman. The courses are regular, credit-bearing courses, NOT Continuing Ed courses. You MUST be accepted by the Office of Graduate or Undergraduate Admissions before you will be allowed to register for these classes. There is a non-refundable application fee, and you will need a student (unofficial) copy of your transcript, or a copy of your highest degree.