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Arctic Studies Certificate

Overview

The Department of Geography offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate certificate in arctic studies, in collaboration with the Program in Nordic Studies (SCAN), the Program in Russian Studies (RUSS), the International Affairs Program (IAFS), the Department of Environmental Studies (ENVS), the Department of Anthropology (ANTH), the Department of Ethnic Studies (ETHN) and the research entities of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR).

Certificate Intent

This certificate prepares students to address pressing environmental, political and cultural issues in the far north. A laboratory for studying the effects of global climate change, the arctic region spans three continents, with territories in Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the United States. Its population exhibits considerable ethnic, linguistic, and sociopolitical diversity, and contains numerous indigenous peoples. Issues as critical as nationalism, territorial rights and law, security, economic development and resource technology place the arctic at the center of global, regional and national interests. Further, the region’s natural and social characteristics have inspired influential and enduring expressive culture—produced by locals and outsiders—from antiquity to the present.

These features make study of the arctic ideal for students pursuing careers in international politics and diplomacy, indigenous rights, environmental science and climate change, humanistic scholarship or creative work.  Students pursuing the Arctic Studies certificate may be eligible for a paid internship at the CIRES National Snow and Ice Data Center.  Contact Mistia Zuckerman if interested.

The primary contact for the Arctic Studies certificate is Distinguished Professor Mark Serreze. 

For more information, see Program Requirements and Contact Info.

GIS Certificate

Overview

Geographic Information Scientists (GIScientists) have an ongoing concern with the collection, analysis and display of high precision spatial data. The Department of Geography (GEOG) and the Department of Computer Science (CSCI) are offering a joint undergraduate certificate in GIS and Computational Science. The program draws upon faculty expertise in both departments, providing interdisciplinary training in spatial data analysis and computation, both of which characterize GIS in most career paths.  Computational geospatial skills are in high demand on campus and in local, regional and national job markets such as government employment, industry or consulting careers, and graduate school. The certificate is available for all majors and may be of particular interest for students in other earth science disciplines and social science disciplines.  Non-matriculated students may enroll at CU through Continuing Education and once admitted, may apply for the certificate.

Certificate Intent

The undergraduate certificate in GIS and Computational Science will teach students to identify, analyze and understand spatial patterns, with an emphasis on computation and analytical problem solving.  Required coursework in GIS, basic statistics, and basic programming, coupled with advanced electives in GIScience will give students the computational knowledge and skills to tackle society’s important and pressing environmental problems. The interdisciplinary nature of the certificate introduces students to the special characteristics (scale dependence, spatial autocorrelation) that complicate spatial data analysis, and offers additional programming skills relative to the basic GIS concentration. The computational emphasis will also increase students’ competitive edge in the job market and when applying to graduate school. 

The primary contact for the GIS Certificate is Sarah Schlosser.

For more information, see: Program Requirements and Contact Info

Hydrology Certificate

Overview

The primary contacts for the Hydrology certificate are Peter Blanken, Katherine Lininger, and Elizabeth Pike.

For more information, see: Program Requirements and Contact Info