About
The Online Graduate GIScience Certificate Program is a fully online, graduate-level program designed for professionals and students seeking to advance their skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Whether you are starting your journey in geospatial technology or looking to deepen your expertise, this program offers the flexibility, affordability, and personalized support to help you succeed.
As one of only two online graduate GIS certificate programs in North Carolina, our program stands out for its practical, hands-on curriculum and direct access to expert faculty. Students receive weekly one-on-one guidance while mastering essential and advanced geospatial techniques.
Through this program, you will:
Gain proficiency in both foundational and advanced GIS software tools
Learn key skills in spatial analysis, cartography, and remote sensing
Acquire and generate original geospatial data from local, national, and global sources
Work with real-time data feeds, virtual feature services, ground-penetrating radar, and sUAV (drone) platforms
Automate GIS workflows using model building and scripting
Conduct advanced analysis across multiple GIS platforms, both proprietary and open-source
Plan, execute, and manage comprehensive geospatial projects
Apply GIS solutions to real-world challenges using multidisciplinary modeling approaches
People
Dr. Song Shu
Dr. Shu specializes in remote sensing applications related to water resources, lake hydrology, Arctic snow, and cryospheric processes. His research agenda focuses on the application of remote sensing, UAV, and GIS techniques to the monitoring of lake water level, water resources, snow accumulation, and soil erosion, and to understand rapid environmental changes in the hydrosphere and cryosphere in the context of global climate change.
Dr. William Wang
Dr. Wang focuses on understanding the complex interactions between environmental change and human activities across multiple spatial and temporal scales. He applies interdisciplinary methods, combining GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial statistics to analyze these dynamics and support data-driven solutions for sustainable environmental management.
Dr. Johnathan Sugg ’08 ’13
Dr. Sugg specializes in map design, climate science, and the communication of geographic information. His research focuses on the user-centered design of maps, specifically in the context of climate change, emphasizing how user perceptions and values influence the interpretation of policy-relevant data. He enjoys mentoring students and taking on freelance mapping projects alongside his teaching and research at App State.
Dr. Zhiyuan Yao
Dr. Yao’s research explores how urban transportation systems influence accessibility and shape daily life in cities. She uses geocomputing and spatial analysis to evaluate and improve transport services with a focus on accessibility, safety, affordability, and efficiency. Dr. Yao serves as the certificate director, and questions can be directed to her via email at yaoz@appstate.edu.
Courses
Our structured online, asynchronous course sequence of four (4) courses in eight months (8) is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of key GIS concepts and tools:
Fall Semester
GHY 5812 - GIS Analysis and Modeling (3)
GHY 5815 - Web Mapping (3)
Spring Semester
GHY 5810 - Satellites, Drones, and Spatial Analysis (3)
...and choose one elective:
GHY 5815 - GIS Programming and Databases (3) or
Transportation GIS (3)
Why Appalachian?
100% Online & Asynchronous
Fully-online courses allow you to work at your own pace, wherever you are!
Expert Faculty
Learn from highly-qualified, experienced geospatial teaching experts who offer personalized guidance throughout the program.
1-on-1 Faculty Support
Optional weekly online office hours allow you to connect directly with faculty for additional help.
Affordable *
At $327 per credit hour, total program cost is less than $4,000 (for state residents). We offer the most cost-effective Graduate GIS Online Certificate in North Carolina. * Out-of-state rates are also available.
Apply
Application Essentials
Bachelor Degree
GPA >= 2.75
Application Deadlines
Fall 2026 Application Deadline: July 1, 2026
Contact
Dr. Zhiyuan Yao
Director, Online Graduate GIScience Certificate
Email: yaoz@appstate.edu