Overview
Hybrid Class
Program Dates:
October 4, 2025 – December 20, 2025
In-Person Dates:
10/4, 10/25, 11/22, & 12/20
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
This class has supported weekly online work that students are expected to complete by the set due date.
$1,095.00
Contact:
Christa Sterling
csterling@ccsu.edu
860-832-2277
GIS Essentials Certificate - Course 1 Fundamentals
GIS Essentials Certificate consists of 2 courses taught in the on-line/classroom (when possible) hybrid format. The first course is GIS Fundamentals. Each course will run for 10 weeks (20 weeks for the certificate) during the spring and fall semesters.
Details
Curriculum
Mastering the Fundamentals
The GIS Essentials Certificate is designed to equip students with the foundational skills that every GIS practitioner and professional in the field need to excel. This comprehensive program consists of two courses: “Fundamentals” and “Practical Applications.”
Laying the Groundwork
The “Fundamentals” course introduces students to the core principles of GIS, providing a solid theoretical foundation. Students will explore the initial tenets of GIS and gain a deep understanding of its underlying concepts.
Practical Applications and Real-World Scenarios
Building upon theoretical knowledge, the “Practical Applications” course takes students through hands-on software training. Students will learn how to utilize the latest version of Esri’s ArcGIS platform, ArcGIS Pro, to accomplish basic tasks and solve typical industry problems.
Through real-world scenarios and case studies, students will gain exposure to methodologies and common practices that can be directly applied to workplace projects and everyday GIS challenges. This practical approach ensures that students are well-prepared to tackle real-life situations and make informed decisions.
Includes discussion of basic geographic principles such as direction, coordinate systems, spatial relationships, and geographic thought; introduction to what GIS is and how it works in general; introduction to the ArcGIS environment and ArcMap/ArcCatalog applications. It also includes discussion regarding cartography and GIS data and data types. Students leave being able to navigate basic software tools including pan, zoom, query, identify and measure and create shapefiles and shapefile data.
Who Should Enroll
Anyone looking to add new GIS skills to their professional portfolio or supplement existing skills in GIS. It is most beneficial to entry and intermediate level GIS users who lack formal training and education in GIS.
One of the key advantages of this certificate program is that it caters to individuals with no prior GIS experience. Whether students are newcomers to the field or seeking to enhance existing skills, the GIS Essentials Certificate provides a comprehensive learning experience tailored to students’ needs.
By completing this program, students will not only gain a strong foundation in GIS but also develop the practical skills and problem-solving abilities that are highly valued in the industry. Unlock potential and embark on a rewarding career in the dynamic field of GIS.
Basic computer literacy is required.
Instructor
Mr. Thad Dymkowski
Thad J. Dymkowski is a GISCI Certified GIS Professional with almost 2 decades of GIS experience ranging from technical, to analytical, to administrative. He is a double alumnus of Central Connecticut State University, with Baccalaureate and Master’s degrees in Geography with concentrations in GIS. Thad’s experience comes from years spent in the public, private, and academic professional environments. He is fluent in ESRI ArcGIS software products, and comfortably familiar with several others. He has also been known to compose usable lines of computer programming code in several programming languages and his maps can be found on walls, in reports, and on a few web pages throughout the State of Connecticut. He has presented and spoken at conferences, meetings, and public hearings throughout the State of Connecticut and New England Region. His proudest creation, aside from his children, is the GIS Certificate Program he teaches for the CCSU Department of Professional Education and the graduates it has produced.
Location
Central Connecticut State University
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06053
Department of Geography
Ebenezer D. Bassett Hall
Room: TBA
Testimonials
I found this first course of the certificate program to be very informative and hands-on , and just the training I needed to broaden and deepen my knowledge of the science and software. Fall, 2022
The instructor is clearly very knowledgeable about GIS. They were very quick to respond to emails-which I found immensely helpful due to the online class format. I would have typically preferred in classroom experience….But due to the amount of change that occurred in my personal life at this time (I moved across the country to Nevada)…I greatly appreciated the flexibility of the online format. Fall, 2020
I wanted to thank you for being a great teacher and further developing my GIS skills in the certificate course you teach at CCSU. The program taught me a lot and opened my eyes to the power and possibilities of GIS. Especially to start getting ahead of the curve with Online GIS, which I’m finding very helpful with many projects. My GIS skills/knowledge definitely helped me to get the position at CRCOG.
Hopefully, I’ll have some opportunities to work with you down the road on Statewide/Regional GIS projects. Once I settle into my new position, I’m hoping to get more involved with CT GIS groups and CCAPA. Fall, 2020