Geospatial Intelligence Analytics Graduate Certificate Online - Penn State World Campus (original) (raw)

This online GEOINT certificate can help jumpstart or advance your career as a geospatial intelligence or imagery analyst. Apply geospatial information science and technology (GIST), knowledge of spatial relationships, and cognitive processes to improve problem-solving and decision-making.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Application deadline

Apply by December 15 to startJanuary 7

Credits and costs

15 Credits$1,037 per credit

10-Week Terms

Finish your program faster with accelerated 10-week terms.

Make Analytic Judgements about a Broad Spectrum of Problems

• Integrate science, analytics, and the intelligence process to identify prominent threats to civil security.
• Use geospatial data to address problem scenarios faced by the geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) professional.
• Understand how GIS facilitates data analysis and communication to address common problems.
• Apply and interpret results of non-quantitative analysis and modeling techniques.

Penn State’s GEOINT analytics courses focus not just on technical skills but also on the analytical knowledge necessary to apply those skills in the real world. The program's customizable curriculum is designed to address the needs of both the experienced practitioner and the novice analyst.

Required Courses (select 15 credits)

• • The application of cultural geography in the intelligence analysis and synthesis process by identifying prominent threats to civil security.
  • or:
    Orientation to the geographic foundations of geospatial intelligence and its applications in national security, international relief work, and disaster management.
    * This course is a prerequisite for all other courses in the certificate program and must be taken before enrollment in any of the other courses.
• • Culminating Experiences in current professional and ethical problems facing the geospatial intelligence professional.
    * All other courses in the certificate program must be successfully completed prior to enrolling in this course.
  • or:
    Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.
• • Understanding remote sensing systems' operation, data products, and processing techniques to address typical problem scenarios faced by the GEOINT professional.
  • or:
    Examines the nexus of geospatial intelligence analysis with cyberspace, the geopolitics of cyber threats, the politics of censorship and hacking, public safety, disaster response, and humanitarian relief; students will utilize a range of cyber data, systems, and spatial sciences to examine human social networks of the internet.
    * GEOG 882 and (GEOG 160 or GEOG 482 or permission of program)
  • or:
    Using imagery and terrain data in typical application scenarios faced by the geospatial professional.
• • The course highlights the tradecraft of integrating spatial data science with geospatial intelligence methods; students practice this integration by preparing intelligence reports requiring GIS tools.
  • or:
    How geographic information systems facilitate data analysis and communication to address common geographic problems.
• Focuses on the science and technology of human-machine collaboration using geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) in GEOINT and the professional and ethical concerns that must be considered in this rapidly evolving field.

Course Availability

You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.

Job Titles Related to This Degree

More than 7,000 GIS and GEOINT professionals have turned to us to help them advance their careers. You can feel confident that you are adding a well-known, highly respected credential to your résumé.

Penn State's online certificate in GEOINT analytics can help start or advance your career as a:

• geospatial intelligence analyst
• midsenior-level geospatial intelligence analyst
• imagery analyst
• intelligence image analyst
• remote sensing scientist or technician
• remote sensing program manager

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by December 15 to start January 7. How to Apply

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2025–26 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 Semesters

2026–27 Academic Year Rates

Tuition Rates for the Fall 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027 Semesters

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing this certificate may be eligible for federal student aid. Find more information from the online geospatial education program office.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education.

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other eligibility requirements may qualify for financial aid.

Military Benefits

Technical Requirements

Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.

Continue Your Geospatial Education Online through Penn State World Campus

Some or all credits earned for this certificate may be applied to one of the following Penn State World Campus degree programs, should you apply and be accepted into the program:

This online GIS master’s degree program can help you uncover insights and relationships to improve strategic decision making. Learn to apply industry best practices and the latest mapping tools to integrate, visualize, and interpret geospatial data. Customize your GIS degree program with 30 online courses.

Learn more about the Master of Geographic Information Systems

Advantages of accelerated admissions:

• no GRE test, professional experience, or letters of recommendation required
• admission decisions made on a rolling basis, year-round

Who Should Apply?

Whether you’re an experienced GEOINT practitioner looking to advance in your current role, an intelligence professional serving abroad, or a novice hoping to launch a career as a GEOINT or imagery analyst, this program is for you.

The GEOINT certificate program operates on five 10-week terms. With two terms that partially overlap in fall and spring, and one term in the summer, you are provided with the greatest flexibility possible in completing your degree at your preferred pace.

Earn Your Certificate in One Year

Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

Information for Military and Veterans

Apply by December 15 to start January 7

Application Instructions

Deadlines and Important Dates

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

• Spring Deadline

Apply by December 15 to start January 7

• Summer Deadline

Apply by April 15 to start May 18

• Fall Deadline

Apply by August 1, 2026, to start August 19, 2026

Steps to Apply

For admission to the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.
To pursue the certificate in geospatial intelligence analytics, you must be admitted by two Penn State organizations:

1. Penn State Fox Graduate School
2. Penn State Department of Geography

You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
Official transcripts from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are a Penn State alum, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Fox Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Test Scores — GRE test scores are NOT required. 3. ####
To begin the online application, you will need a Penn State account.
Create a New Penn State Account
If you have any problems during this process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].
Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application or create a new Penn State account. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions. 4. ####
You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.

• Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
• Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
  Checking Your Status
  You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.

1. 5. Complete the application.

Admissions Help

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected].

The Graduate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence Analytics is offered in partnership with Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Penn State's online geospatial education program has been a trusted leader in online education since 1998.

Faculty

• Anthony C. Robinson, Ph.D.

  • Ph.D., Geography, Penn State
  • M.S., Geography, Penn State
  • B.S., Applied Geography, East Carolina University
    Dr. Anthony C. Robinson, professor of geography, serves as the director of online geospatial education at Penn State. He is also the faculty director for the GeoGraphics Lab in the Department of Geography and former president of the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS). Dr. Robinson is a cartographer who designs and evaluates geovisualization tools to improve geographic information utility and usability. He has worked in epidemiology, crisis management, national security, and education domains to develop and evaluate new methods for visualizing spatial data.

• James Detwiler

  • M.S., Geography, University of Delaware
  • B.S., Earth Science, Penn State
    James Detwiler is in a 100% teaching appointment and specializes in GIS programming. He teaches GEOG 485: GIS Programming and Automation; GEOG 863: Web Application Development; and GEOG 868: Spatial Database Management. His research interests are in the areas of applied GIS and climatology.

• Fritz Kessler

  • Ph.D., Geography, University of Kansas
  • M.S., Geography, Penn State
  • B.S., Geography, Ohio University
    Dr. Fritz Kessler's teaching interests include cartography, geographic visualization, map projections, spatial analysis, land surveying, geography of health, and statistics. His research interests include map projections, geographic visualization, history of cartography, and cognitive cartography.

• Karen Schuckman

  • M.S., Geographic Information Systems, Penn State
  • B.A., Liberal Arts, Penn State
  • B.S., Meteorology, Penn State
    Karen Schuckman's teaching and research interests include applications of airborne and spaceborne remote sensing to topographic mapping, land-use/land-cover analysis, positional accuracy assessment of remotely sensed base map data products, and other geospatial applications.

• Gregory Thomas

  • Ph.D., Administration and Leadership Studies, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
  • B.S., Criminal Justice, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
    Dr. Gregory Thomas has experience developing intelligence for decision-makers, supervising the analytical process, and providing team guidance. He also has experience teaching intelligence and analytical techniques to college students as well as intelligence analysts and law enforcement personnel. He has developed operational intelligence to support criminal investigations and anti-terrorism activities, and has selected, trained, and supervised analysts in a criminal intelligence center. His teaching and research focus on geospatial intelligence analysis, homeland security, and criminal intelligence.

Ready to take the next step toward your Penn State graduate certificate?

Apply by December 15 to start January 7. How to Apply