You want to attend a college that stands out from the rest. At COD, you'll discover:

• Skilled faculty who will help you develop critical thinking skills, all while bringing geographic facts and concepts to life. Many faculty members are award winning and have publishing experience.
• A college that utilizes top-notch facilities, equipment and resources, including our Map Lab, located inside the Berg Instructional Center.
• Affordable classes that help you achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining a savings account.
• Small class sizes that ensure you receive personalized attention.

Watch a video to learn more about the program.

Geographic Information Systems, Certificate

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate is intended to provide formal GIS training to students interested in this field. The five technical classes cover a broad range of GIS topics including terminology, data management, map design, geodatabases, spatial queries, spatial analysis, project development and design and problem solving. The program emphasizes a real world approach to the GIS sciences with the purpose of attaining employment and careers in the field of GIS. A sixth topical course provides a context for application of these GIS skills. This certificate requires 18 credits.

Geography Transfer Pathway, A.A.

What is a Transfer Pathway?

A transfer pathway represents a typical course schedule/sequence for a student planning to complete the A.A. degree within two years, then transfer and major in a specific discipline. A transfer pathway is not institution-specific.

It is important to understand that the pathway provided in the adjacent tab is just one possible combination of classes by which to complete an A.A. and prepare for transfer in your chosen area of study. Other course combinations and sequences can work, too. It is strongly recommended that students work directly and frequently with a COD academic counselor/advisor, a COD faculty advisor, and academic counselors/advisors at potential transfer schools, to develop and execute a plan that works best for them.

Academic and Career Pathways provides students a roadmap to achieving their academic and career goals. Follow an academic timeline that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you can gain knowledge, graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.

• Geographic Information Systems, Certificate
• Geography Transfer Pathway, Associate in Arts 

Students who complete courses in geography will:

• Understand the concept of region.
• Know the location of important physical and cultural features in a particular region or set of regions, and understand the importance that relative location plays in shaping particular places.
• Understand the physical and human characteristics that shape the geography of particular places.
• Understand the relationships between humans and their environment.
• Understand how the movement of people, goods, money, and ideas affects particular places.

Geographic Information Systems Program Learning Outcomes

Learning objectives and outcomes will be directly related to basic geographic and cartographic principles.  Students will be expected to have a working knowledge of geographic and spatial concepts, to include basic and advanced GIS terminology, coordinate systems, field and object based views of geographic space and other spatially based concepts.  

Additionally, students will be required to apply these concepts to “desktop” and “web based” analytical environments.  These expected outcomes and objectives will enable the student to interact professionally with members of the GIS community.  Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to:

• Apply and interpret fundamental spatial statistics and visualization techniques.
• Collect and analyze various spatial datasets.
• Create a reference dataset and an address locator.
• Build a transportation network and apply analytical solutions.
• Implement, modify and apply Python scripting.
• Perform advanced vector and raster analysis.
• Perform fundamentals of geodatabase design and operation.
• Perform surface modeling and analysis.
• Utilize standard modeling techniques.
• Identify and resolve common workflow problems.
• Author a mosaic dataset based on remotely sensed datasets.
• Demonstrate proficiency in geospatial user interfaces and environment configurations.
• Determine and define an appropriate coordinate system.
• Manipulate data with advanced modeling techniques.
• Author and publish to a web GIS portal.
• Implement and apply web content or services to perform analyses.
• Configure web app templates and widgets.

The technical component of the GIS program will have very specific learning objectives and outcomes.  Upon completion of the program, the student will have a firm technical grasp of the GIS concepts listed above.

 The student will fully comprehend all GIS related spatial data types, understand the acquisition and storage of geospatial data and have the ability to analyze, manipulate and present this data.  

Additionally, students will have a solid foundation of the latest GIS technologies in order to bolster the students’ marketability within professional GIS environments. The student will create a portfolio appropriate for job and/or college transfer interviews highlighting these learning objectives.

College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in geography. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.

For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.

Articulation Agreements

College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or Advising Services to stay on track.

• Eastern Illinois University, AA to BS Geography
• Eastern Illinois University, AA with GIC certificate to BS Geography 
• Illinois State University, AA to Major in Geography (BA or BS)

Transfer Guides

Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.

• Southern Illinois University, AA to BS Geography & Environmental Resources, Environmental Geography & Sustainability Specialization
• Southern Illinois University, AA to BS Geography & Environmental Resources, Geographic Information Science Specialization

Geography is a very broad discipline. Students who decide on a career path in geography should be curious about a variety of topics. An interest in a variety of cultures is useful. Successful geography students will want to answer three main questions:

1. Where? Geographers understand the importance of location.
2. What? Geographers examine the characteristics of places.
3. How? Geographers seek to understand how characteristics of a location affect what happens at that location. 

If you have an interest in maps and computers, you may be interested in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Certificate. GIS uses computers to create maps that illustrate reality, address problems and suggest solutions.

As with other fields of study, successful geography students need to motivated to learn and focus on their schoolwork despite the distractions from every day life.

Few geography jobs have the title "geographer." A geography degree can help you in business, education and the environment. Many geography majors find positions in for-profit and non-profit corporations.