Certificates and Programs

The U.S. Department of Labor has identified geospatial technologies as one of major areas of job growth in the coming decade. Geospatial technologies are becoming central skills in an array of fields, including environmental management, energy development, agribusiness, marketing and store location, and logistics. Expertise in geospatial technologies also enhances research in fields like anthropology, archaeology, architecture, biology, business, computer science, engineering, history, sociology, and more.

CAST specializes in serving the academic community through its emphasis on high quality university courses in geospatial theory and method, in partnership with the Department of Geosciences and the University of Arkansas Global Campus. These include courses in GIS, GPS, cartography, remote sensing, image interpretation, photogrammetry, high-density surveying, and spatial statistics that provide students with a range of career options and research opportunities.

University of Arkansas faculty use the U.S. Department of Labor’s Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM) to define the objectives of classes and overall programs. The GTCM identifies the expertise that distinguishes successful geospatial professionals of all kinds, whether you are currently in the workforce or a student planning to enter it.


Department of Geosciences

The Department of Geosciences offers degree programs at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels.  These programs draw on faculty expertise in physical, environmental, human, and regional studies in geography as well as in cartography, remote sensing, photogrammetry, and computational aspects of geographic information science (GIS) or geoinformatics.

For more information, visit the University of Arkansas Department of Geosciences website


Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Technologies

The Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Technologies is designed for working professionals with undergraduate degrees in related fields who wish to develop technical skills in the emerging field of geospatial technologies.  The curriculum addresses specific skills that are vital for today's geospatial workforce, including programming and spatial databases, as well as core geospatial skills.  Courses are offered entirely online through the University of Arkansas Global Campus. 

For more information, visit the program page on the University of Arkansas Global Campus website 


Online Certificate of Proficiency in Geospatial Technologies

The Certificate of Proficiency in Geospatial Technologies is designed for working professionals and for those who wish to join the field of geospatial technology.  Courses are designed to impart key skills in demand in an enormous and rapidly growing range of jobs. Courses are offered entirely online through the University of Arkansas Global Campus, and may be taken individually.

For more information, visit the program page on the University of Arkansas Global Campus website


External Certifications

In addition to the University of Arkansas certificate, the curriculum of these programs also prepares the student for three external certifications: