# Geographic Information Systems for Business (Certificate of Completion)

College of the Desert · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Natural Resources

Source: https://catalog.collegeofthedesert.edu/programs/natural-resources/gis-for-business-noncredit/

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are software systems that allow users to integrate spatially related information from spreadsheets with smart mapping capabilities. In the Geographic Information Systems for Business Certificate of Completion, students work with ESRI ArcGIS software to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tasks including: identification and acquisition of GIS data; assessment of vector and raster systems, scale, resolution, map projection, coordinate systems; spatial analysis; geoprocessing; georeferencing and Global Positioning Systems; creation of online and interactive maps for the resolution of business problems and identification of business opportunities.

### Learning Outcomes

#### Learning Outcomes

Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:

1.  Demonstrate competence in using ArcGIS online products to create online and interactive maps to resolve business problems and identify opportunities.
2.  Evaluate how GIS impacts business decisions.
3.  Using critical thinking skills, evaluate accuracy and effectiveness of different map projections and data management scales.

### Program Requirements

#### Program Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NR 321A | Map Layout & Presentation | 0 |
| **or** | |  |
| GIS 321A | Map Layout & Presentation | 0 |
| NR 321B | Editing & Analyzing Map Data | 0 |
| **or** | |  |
| GIS 321B | Editing & Analyzing Map Data | 0 |
| GIS 324 | Geographic Information Systems for Business | 0 |