Competence in remote sensing technologies, combined with 15 hours of credit applicable to a graduate degree.

Remote sensing is the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting imagery and digital representation of energy patterns derived from non-contact sensor systems (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing).  It provides a reliable and cost-effective means of studying the natural and human environment for protection, natural resources management and planning. This certificate program provides training in this exciting technology, while also granting university credit which can be applied toward a graduate degree. Government and non-government organizations continuously seek qualified professionals to use remote sensing for a wide range of applications.  

Classes are offered through the state of the art  facilities housed within the  NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences and the Bruton Center in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences. The certification requires 15 graduate hours (5 classes) detailed below. All courses taken as part of the RS Certificate  also count toward the Master of Science in Geosciences degree and the Master of Science in Geospatial Information Sciences degree, and can also be taken in conjunction with the Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Graduate Certificate in Remote Sensing is to provide students with a thorough grounding in the theories, concepts and skills needed in the field of Remote Sensing, the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting imagery and digital representation of energy patterns derived from non-contact sensor systems. UT Dallas certificate recipients will have the skills necessary to successfully accomplish Remote Sensing projects and support Remote Sensing operations using industry standard software in a variety of areas in the government and non-government sectors such as geospatial intelligence, emergency management, environmental protection, natural resource exploration and management, and urban and regional planning.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking the RS certificate must have completed an undergraduate degree and should apply as "non-degree seeking" students. Admissions paperwork requires only:

• an application to UTD Graduate School
• an undergraduate transcript

You may complete and submit an application for admission online. You should apply as a "non-degree" student to the MGIS program. You do not need a GRE (graduate record examination) score or letters of reference for admission to the certification course sequence. Competence in microcomputer use and familiarity with MS Windows and file management (directories, copying, etc.) is expected. Admissions requirements are the same for students who would simply like to take one or more  courses, without pursuing certification. Up to 15 hours of course work taken as a non-degree seeking student can be applied later to a graduate degree should you desire.

Registration by Current UTD Students

Graduate students in any degree program may register for GIS courses using standard registration procedures. Undergraduate students eligible for the Fast Track program may also enroll. See your program adviser regarding degree-plan credit assignment. Courses are listed under Geosciences (GEOS)  with additional offerings under Geospatial Information Sciences (GISC) in the UTD Class Schedule.

Required Courses

The Five courses required to earn the remote sensing certificate are:

I. GEOS 5325 Introduction to Remote Sensing: Understanding moder techniques of imaging the Earth's surface with passive and active remot sensing systems.

II. GISC 6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals: PC-based hands-on introduction to GIS concepts, technologies and their applications.

III. GEOS 5326 or GISC 7365 Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing: Techniques in remote sensing digital image processing such as extractions of initial statistics extraction of thematic information, an change detection. Prerequisite: GEOS 5325

IV. GEOS 7327 or GISC 7367 Remote Sensing Workshop: Student-professor discussion on implementation o remote sensing techniques which focuses on on on completing a 3-credit hour project. Prerequisite: GEOS 5325 & 5326.

V. One of the following:

• GEOS 5329 Applied Remote Sensing: Application of remote sensing to studying the environment including vegetation, water, urban landscape and geology.
• OR
• GEOS 5328 Radar Remote Sensing: Principles and applications of radar remote sensing, including synthetic aperture radar, radargrammetry and single-path and repeat-path interferometry.

Courses for the Certificate must be completed within a 3-year period.

Costs

The total cost per semester for Texas residents, including tuition and all fees, is approximately (Fall 2007):

• $1,558 for one course
• $2,512 for two courses

Consequently, the total cost for the five course certificate sequence is approximately $6,600 for in-state students. Text books would normally be an additional $75-$125 per course.

Additional information on fees is available here. Inquiries about financial aid should be directed to the University's financial aid office.

Course Planning

The usual course sequencing is such that the Introductory course and the Management and Implementation course are offered in the Fall. The Applied GIS is offered in the Spring and the workshop in the Summer. Courses from the topics are offered on a rotating basis. Students can complete the certificate in one calendar year starting in the Fall.

Facilities

Classes are offered through state-of-the-art GIS facilities housed at the Bruton Center in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and at the NASA Center for Excellence in Remote Sensing in the Department of Geosciences. These include  PC labs  for GIS  instruction,  advanced PC, UNIX  and MAC systems for more specialized GIS research,  and input/ output devices for handling high resolution and large scale GIS materials. The University's extensive instructional computing facilities are also available. Facilities are open extended hours including evenings and weekends. Enrollment in hands-on courses is controlled to ensure access to computer resources.

Information

For further information, contact:

Dr. Fang Qiu Director, Certificate in Remote Sensing
University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Rd
Richardson, TX  75080-3021
972-883-2401
E-mail: ffqiu@utdallas.edu

or Dr Ronald Briggs Director, Programs in GI Science 
School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
800 West Campbell Rd
Richardson, TX  75080-3021 
Phone: (972) 883-2720 
E-mail: briggs@utdallas.edu