Spatial Analysis in QGIS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introductory course for students interested in applying GIS as a tool to help answer important questions in the natural sciences, or for those with ArcGIS experience looking to transition to an Open-Source platform. This course presents the concepts upon which GIS technology is based including the following fundamentals: cartography, geodesy, coordinate systems, and projections. Conceptual overview and hand-on experience of vector data analyses and table queries are introduced. Students will use QGIS to classify data, query tables, analyze spatial relationships, set map projections, build spatial databases, edit data, and create map layouts. Lectures are followed by hands-on activities to develop and reinforce methodologies for GIS analyses.
This is a 1-credit equivalent academic course (16 contact hrs + additional work) where you learn at your own pace.
PREREQUISITES
No experience using a Geographical Information System (GIS) is required. QGIS is free, open-source, and runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows. QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU General Public License and supports many common spatial data formats (e.g., ESRI ShapeFile, geotiff).
PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR
COURSE FORMATS, CREDITS, DATES, & PRICING
FORMAT: Learn at your own pace over 3 months as you work through prerecorded lectures and exercises.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: This course has been pre-approved for continuing education by (1) the Ecological Society of America for 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Category I(a): Scientific Education and Training, and (2) The Wildlife Society for 16 CEUs in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program. Participants must complete all exercises to pass the course (P/F) and receive a CWS Certificate of Course Completion, which can be submitted to ESA and TWS for CEUs. See our Continuing Education Page for more details about CEUs with ESA and TWS.
*** This version of the course can NOT be used to earn academic credit from your college or university or certify as a Professional Ecologist with ESA or a Wildlife Biologist® with TWS. ***
DATES & PRICES:
Fall: Sept 3 - Nov 24 (early bird* ends Aug 12th): $350 professional / $250 student
*Early bird saves $50
FORMAT: Reach out to your instructor over a 1-month period to get help as you work through prerecorded lectures, problem sets, and your own personal work. Instructor support includes emailing your instructor, accessing live discussion threads, attending group meetings, and scheduling one-on-one appointments (Zoom or phone) about course materials, your research, datasets from work, etc. You will have access to the course for the 3-month term. Completing all exercises and course surveys are required to pass the course and receive a CWS certificate of course completion, which can be submitted for continuing education with ESA and TWS.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: This course has been pre-approved for continuing education by (1) the Ecological Society of America for 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Category I(a): Scientific Education and Training, and (2) The Wildlife Society for 16 CEUs in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program. Participants must complete all exercises to pass the course (P/F) and receive a CWS certificate of course completion, which can be submitted to ESA and TWS for CEUs. See our Continuing Education Page for more details about CEUs with ESA and TWS.
ESA & TWS CERTIFICATION: Participants that earn a B- or better can use this 1-credit course to help meet the minimum education requirements (in Chemistry, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics) to certify as a Professional Ecologist with ESA. Participants that earn a D or better can use this 1-credit course in their application to certify as a Wildlife Biologist® with TWS. See our Professional Certification Page for more details about ESA and TWS certification.
*** This version of the course can NOT be used to earn academic credit from your college or university. See the PREMIUM format below ***
DATES & PRICES:
Fall: Sept 3 - Nov 24 (early bird* ends Aug 12th): $500 professional / $400 student
*Early bird saves $50
FORMAT: Reach out to your instructor for help with course materials as you work through prerecorded lectures and exercises. Instructor support includes emailing your instructor, accessing live discussion threads, attending group meetings, and scheduling one-on-one appointments (Zoom or phone) about course materials, your research, datasets from work, etc. You will have access to course materials for 1 year. After working through 8 modules, set up an optional meeting with the instructor to discuss your own personal project from work or school.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: This course has been pre-approved for continuing education by (1) the Ecological Society of America for 4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Category I(a): Scientific Education and Training, and (2) The Wildlife Society for 16 CEUs in Category I of the Certified Wildlife Biologist® Renewal/Professional Development Certificate Program. Participants must complete all exercises to pass the course (P/F) and receive a CWS certificate of course completion, which can be submitted to ESA and TWS for CEUs. See our Continuing Education Page for more details about CEUs with ESA and TWS.
ESA & TWS CERTIFICATION: Participants that earn a B- or better can use this 1-credit course to help meet the minimum education requirements (in Chemistry, Physical Sciences, and Mathematics) to certify as a Professional Ecologist with ESA. Participants that earn a D or better can use this 1-credit course in their application to certify as a Wildlife Biologist® with TWS. See our Professional Certification Page for more details about ESA and TWS certification.
ACADEMIC CREDIT: This 1-credit course can be taken with pre-approval from an administrator at a your college or university. For an additional fee, students also have the option to complete an Applied Project for an additional 1-2 academic credits (earning up to 2-3 academic credits in total). See our Academic Credit Page for details.
DATES & PRICES:
Fall: Sept 3 - Nov 24 (early bird* ends Aug 12th): $600 professional / $500 student
*Early bird saves $50
Intro to QGIS
Downloading GIS data online (Maine Geolibrary)
Preparing Spatial Data in Excel
Creating Vector Data (points)
Digitizing Vector Data (polygon)
Raster Data Basics
Projections and transformations (Coordinate systems)
Extracting values to points
Exporting data from QGIS
Map design
Publishing maps online
“What I liked most was the structure of learning a skill or two with a tutorial and then practicing with new questions, challenging our new knowledge. The recorded lectures gave the necessary background and the video solutions and tutorials were a necessary resource. Very hands-on, which was perfect.”
-from course survey
“Kathleen is very calming and reassuring. She promptly answered students' questions and gave us the tools to continue our learning after the class ended. Really helpful!”
-from course survey
SCHOLARSHIPS
Full scholarships are available to participants from countries designated as “lower income” and “lower middle income” in the World Bank List of Economies. Please see our CWS World Scholars Program page for details.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations 30 days or more before the start date are not subject to cancellation fees. Cancellations <30 days before the start date are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. No refunds once the course begins.