Advanced Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Advanced certificate programs offer post-baccalaureate students coursework leading to a specific, applied, focused goal. In order to be eligible for admission to an advanced certificate, students complete an intake form or apply through CalState Apply and submit an official transcript(s) (noting the completion of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited and/or recognized institution from a foreign country). To be admitted, students must have a minimum of 2.5 undergraduate GPA.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all advanced certificate coursework, and no course with a grade less than “C” may be counted toward the certificate. A maximum of 4 units of coursework with a grade of “C” can count toward an advanced certificate. A maximum of 4 units of coursework may be repeated. Undergraduate lower division courses are not applicable to advanced certificates.
Generally, a maximum of 33% of advanced certificate units (e.g., 3 units for a 9-unit certificate) can be completed in non-matriculated status at SJSU with approval from the department or school. In some cases, an advanced certificate may be completed entirely in non-matriculated status if the student has received approval from the department or school and the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs in the College of Graduate Studies.
A maximum of 30% of any graduate degree program units (e.g., 9 units for a 30-unit Master’s degree) can be completed from another institution and/or units from Open University (including advanced certificate courses) at SJSU with approval from the department or school.
The choice of grading requirements may have implications for transferability to degree programs (University Policy S16-17).
The advisor/director of the program is responsible for verifying a student’s satisfactory completion of the academic requirements established for the program and for forwarding a copy of the certificate audit completion form to the Office of Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations. The Office of the Registrar records the completion of the program on the student’s transcript.
Intakes
- Jan
- Aug
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
San José State University (SJSU), located in the heart of Silicon Valley, offers strong job opportunities both on and off campus. The university hires for faculty, staff, and administrative positions across various departments. Students can find on-campus part-time jobs, internships, and research assistant roles to support their studies. Through its Career Center, SJSU connects students and alumni with employers, internships, and career fairs. The university uses Handshake, a dedicated job portal, where thousands of internships and job listings are posted regularly. SJSU also has auxiliary organizations that provide additional employment options. With its location in Silicon Valley, students gain access to tech companies, start-ups, and Fortune 500 firms for internships and full-time employment. The business, engineering, and computer science programs are especially well linked with industry. Graduates benefit from strong employer demand, particularly in technology, finance, and innovation-driven roles. SJSU is known as one of the top public universities in California for career outcomes. Overall, the university provides excellent professional exposure, making it a strong launchpad for careers in the U.S. and globally.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following admission requirements.
- U.S. bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized, accredited and approved institution from a country outside of the U.S.
- A 2.5 institutional GPA (from the 0.0 - 4.0 U.S. grading scale) in the last degree completed, or a 2.5 GPA in the last two years of full-time study. Please note that individual program requirements may have a higher GPA requirement.
- Good academic standing at the last institution attended.
Minimum GPA Requirement (a-g coursework) is 3.00 or greater
Minimum proficiency score = Internet = Paper
- TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home & Paper Edition) = 80= N/A
- IELTS (Academic, Online Academic) = 6.5 = 6.5
- PTE Academic = 53 = N/A
- Duolingo English Test = 120 = N/A
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OUR PSA COUNSELOR
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Post Graduate Diploma or Certificate
- Duration: 01 Year
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Total Tuition Fee:
20920 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 70 USD