Map your future with spatial science

A professor working with student at a computer with GIS

At Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, the GIS Certificate program equips you with the tools to map landscapes, analyze environmental data, and develop web-based solutions. Located where the Rocky Mountains meet the desert Southwest, FLC offers a unique learning environment that combines rigorous coursework with hands-on training.

Through courses like Introduction to GIS and Remote Sensing, you’ll master industry-standard tools like ArcGIS Pro, GPS mapping equipment, and remote sensing technology. Field-based learning in the Four Corners region and real-world projects prepare you to tackle challenges in environmental science, urban planning, and more. The program culminates in a capstone project, where you’ll showcase your GIS expertise to future employers or graduate programs.

Whether you’re pursuing a degree or enhancing your professional skills, the GIS Certificate at FLC offers a pathway to high-demand fields. By integrating spatial science into disciplines like geology, public health, and business analytics, this program empowers you to transform data into meaningful insights and make an impact.

  • GIS Certificate requirements
GIS Certificate requirements

What you’ll gain

  • Hands-on learning: Use industry-standard tools like ArcGIS Pro and GPS units while participating in real-world mapping projects.
  • Specialized skills: Build expertise in surveying, remote sensing, digital mapping, and web-based GIS applications.
  • Interdisciplinary applications: Apply GIS to fields like geology, public health, business analytics, and environmental science.
  • Career preparation: Complete a capstone project that demonstrates your GIS proficiency to future employers or graduate programs.

Program highlights

  • Core courses: Introduction to GIS, Remote Sensing, Web Mapping.
  • Practical tools: Gain proficiency in ArcGIS Pro, GPS mapping equipment, and open-source GIS software.
  • Field-based learning: Apply GIS concepts to projects in the Four Corners region, exploring its unique geographic and cultural landscapes.
  • Capstone experience: Showcase your skills with a hands-on project tailored to your career interests, from environmental mapping to urban planning.
Ari Lakshin

"I am pursuing a geology degree and GIS certificate here at Fort Lewis. I am originally from Golden, Colorado, and despite being surrounded by geologists my whole life, I had never even considered it before coming to Durango! I took an introductory geology course during my first year, which changed my life. I have had so many incredible opportunities with this department in the field and in the classroom with some incredible professors. Learning about the Four Corners region's geology has been a unique experience. I am super stoked about this program. I was an officer for the Geology Club during the 2023-24 school year, and I'm super excited to get more students excited about geology! "

Your career, your impact

FLC student standing in front a map like that which can be produced using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

With an FLC GIS certificate, you’ll gain the expertise to thrive in high-demand fields that rely on spatial science. Whether you’re mapping urban growth, analyzing environmental data, or developing web-based tools for spatial visualization, your career opportunities are endless. Imagine yourself as a:

  • GIS analyst
  • Cartographer
  • Natural resources scientist
  • Public health geographer
  • Web mapping developer
  • Forester
  • Software engineer