Graduate Certificate In Remote Sensing (Rs)

Remote Sensing (RS) technologies are applied to a wide-range of fields, such as environmental/ resource management, marketing, facility management, agriculture, planning, homeland security and intelligence. In addition, the synergistic linkages between RS technologies and Geographic Information Science (GIS) are increasing. The need for qualified individuals in these fields is growing rapidly. The RS certificate program has been designed to meet this demand.

The Office of the President has approved this program, and it will appear on the official Texas A&M University transcript. There will also be a paper certificate. This certificate is administered through the department of Geography.

Certificate Guidelines

• Students must be admitted to Texas A&M University as a G6 (non-degree seeking), G7 (master’s) or G8 (doctoral) student. (See the TAMU admissions website at: admissions.tamu.edu.)

• The program consists of 12 credit hours, including three foundation courses and one elective. Students must choose courses from the approved list on page 2. Students who have previously taken an introductory GIS course can petition to substitute one of the specialized GIS courses.

• Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA for all applicable course work.

• Students should apply for the certificate in the first semester of beginning the GIS Certificate (Exceptions apply, as long as the form is submitted prior to the graduation semester).

• Classes taken for the RS certificate cannot be used in lieu of courses required for GIS certificate or vice versa.

• Course substitutions/exceptions: Must be submitted to the GIS/RS Graduate Certificate Committee for consideration and acceptance. The letter of petition must include:

  • GIS or RS classes taken or in progress;

  • a syllabus for each course to be considered for substitution;

  • the corresponding required course for which substitution is requested; and

  • detailed work experience in applicable field

For a petition to be considered, it must be completed and returned to the Geography Academic Advisor at geog-advisor@geog.tamu.edu, once the course has been completed, prior to the graduation semester.

Certificate application

To add the certificate to your curriculum, you must contact the Geography Academic Advisor at geog-advisor@geog.tamu.edu. The advisor will give instructions on how to add the certificate to your curriculum. This should occur as early as the first semester you take a course for this certificate, and as late as the 5th class day of the semester in which you plan to graduate.

Approved course options

Introductory level (one of the following is required) - 3 hours

• ESSM 655 Remote Sensing of the Environment

• GEOG 651 Remote Sensing for Geographical Analysis

Intermediate level (both are required) - 6 hours

• ESSM 656 Advanced Remote Sensing

• GEOG 661 Digital Image Processing and Analysis

Specialized GIS courses (one of the following is required) - 3 hours

• ATMO 655 Satellite Data in Meteorology

• ECEN 642 Digital Image Processing

• ECEN 649 Pattern Recognition

• GEOG 696 Geomorphology and Remote Sensing

• INTA 653 Technical Collection Systems for Int’l Security