Map your future with spatial science

FLC student standing in front a map like that which can be produced using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

At Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, the GIS Certificate program equips you with the tools to map landscapes, analyze environmental data, and develop web-based solutions. Located where the Rocky Mountains meet the desert Southwest, FLC offers a unique learning environment that combines rigorous coursework with hands-on training.

You’ll master industry-standard tools like ArcGIS Pro, GPS mapping equipment, and remote sensing technology. Field-based learning in the Four Corners region and real-world projects prepare you to tackle challenges in environmental science, urban planning, and more.

Whether you’re pursuing a degree or enhancing your professional skills, the GIS Certificate at FLC offers a pathway to high-demand fields. By integrating spatial science into disciplines like geology, public health, and business analytics, this program empowers you to transform data into meaningful insights and make an impact.

  • GIS Certificate
GIS Certificate

What you’ll gain

  • Hands-on learning: Use industry-standard tools like ArcGIS Pro and GPS units while participating in real-world mapping projects.
  • Specialized skills: Build expertise in surveying, remote sensing, digital mapping, and web-based GIS applications.
  • Interdisciplinary applications: Apply GIS to fields like geology, public health, business analytics, and environmental science.
  • Career preparation: Exposure to real-world problems throughout the program prepare you to launch into a variety of GIS career paths

Program highlights

  • Core courses: Introduction to GIS, Intermediate and Advanced Analysis, Remote Sensing, and GIS Programming
  • Practical tools: Gain proficiency in ArcGIS Pro, GPS mapping equipment, and open-source GIS software.
  • Field-based learning: Apply GIS concepts to projects in the Four Corners region, exploring its unique geographic and cultural landscapes.

Learn the full course requirements for a GIS certificate

Ari Lakshin

"I am pursuing a geology degree and GIS certificate here at Fort Lewis. I am originally from Golden, Colorado, and despite being surrounded by geologists my whole life, I had never even considered it before coming to Durango! I took an introductory geology course during my first year, which changed my life. I have had so many incredible opportunities with this department in the field and in the classroom with some incredible professors. Learning about the Four Corners region's geology has been a unique experience. I am super stoked about this program. I was an officer for the Geology Club during the 2023-24 school year, and I'm super excited to get more students excited about geology! "

Ari Lakshin
Class of 2026

Your career, your impact

With an FLC GIS certificate, you’ll gain the expertise to thrive in high-demand fields that rely on spatial science. Whether you’re mapping urban growth, analyzing environmental data, or developing web-based tools for spatial visualization, your career opportunities are endless. Imagine yourself as a:

  • GIS analyst
  • Cartographer
  • Natural resources scientist
  • Public health geographer
  • Web mapping developer
  • Forester
  • Software engineer