Program Details
Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence
CertificateRadford University
The Baccalaureate Certificate in Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) prepares students to enter the geospatial intelligence field. Students will develop knowledge directly related to the core competencies of the Geospatial Technology Competency Model developed by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF). The program focuses on geospatial problem-solving skills, data fusion, geospatial technologies, and applications of these to disaster response, emergency management, infrastructure and resource management, military and policy operations, big data analysis and cyber security. Students completing the certificate program will be able to use the geospatial analysis techniques, skills and tools to derive meaningful information from geospatial data, solve geospatial intelligence problems in multiple situations and communicate their findings in a professional manner to both professional and public audiences.
Program Overview & Guidance

| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
|
| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | |
| Program Successes & Highlights |
Program Credit Requirements

Applicable Admissions Agreements

The table below lists admissions agreements between Radford University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?

| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Students who complete an approved VCCS transfer-oriented associate degree (AA, AS, AA&S, or a SCHEV-approved General Studies transfer degree) are considered to have satisfied Radford’s Core/REAL lower-division general education requirements. Students must still complete all other University, college, departmental, major-specific, prerequisite, and Radford residency requirements. |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | Students earning a transferable associate degree while in high school through dual enrollment should apply through the freshman application process and are not guaranteed admission under Radford’s VCCS Guaranteed Admission Agreement. If admitted, they receive the benefits associated with the transferable associate degree once an official college transcript showing degree completion is submitted; the degree satisfies REAL/Core general education requirements. Students must still complete all other University, college, departmental, major-specific, prerequisite, and Radford residency requirements. |
| Credit for Prior Learning | Radford awards credit for AP, CLEP, and IB when official scores meet Radford criteria; AP/CLEP scores and IB courses are evaluated like transfer credit. Dual enrollment credit requires an official college transcript. Students may also seek prior-learning credit for professional work or life experience, military training, CLEP, departmental challenge exams, and national certification exams. Students should submit official scores, transcripts, or Joint Services Transcripts, and confirm with the Registrar/transfer team or academic advisor how awarded credit applies to their degree and major requirements. |
| Did You Know That... |
|
College Level Information

| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | Radford University is a medium-sized public residential university in the city of Radford in southwest Virginia, with 7,837 students, 608 enrolled degree-seeking transfer students in Fall 2025, and an average class size of 20. Students learn across seven colleges and a growing Honors College, with 75 bachelor’s degree programs in 47 disciplines and academic options on the main Radford campus, Radford University Carilion in Roanoke, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon, and online. Incoming freshmen on the main campus are required to live on campus for two academic years unless exempt; transfer and RUC students are welcome to live on campus but are not required. Students can get involved through 200+ clubs and organizations, Division I athletics, outdoor recreation opportunities, and transfer-focused options such as Tartan Transfer. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Generally, transfer students use the catalog year in effect when they first enroll at Radford University; under the VCCS/Radford GAA, students may request the catalog from the time of first post-high-school enrollment in an eligible VCCS associate degree, subject to GAA conditions. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the academic catalog year the student enters Radford University. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | VCCS/Radford GAA: Complete an eligible transfer-oriented associate degree, earn a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher, be in good academic and disciplinary standing, follow normal transfer admission timelines, and submit official transcripts from all colleges attended plus a final official transcript showing associate-degree completion. There are no GAA testing requirements and Radford does not charge an application fee. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer

| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southside Virginia Community College | Associate of Applied Science with a major in Information Systems Technology | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid, Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Information Systems Technology (Geographic Information Systems - GIS) | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
Careers Where This Degree Applies

| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9199.11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites. | Management Occupations |
| 17-1021.00 | Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | Research, study, and prepare maps and other spatial data in digital or graphic form for one or more purposes, such as legal, social, political, educational, and design purposes. May work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). May design and evaluate algorithms, data structures, and user interfaces for GIS and mapping systems. May collect, analyze, and interpret geographic information provided by geodetic surveys, aerial photographs, and satellite data. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 11-9199.02 | Compliance Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. | Management Occupations |
| 19-3092.00 | Geographers | Study the nature and use of areas of the Earth's surface, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena. Conduct research on physical aspects of a region, including land forms, climates, soils, plants, and animals, and conduct research on the spatial implications of human activities within a given area, including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization, as well as researching interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 25-1064.00 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in geography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 11-9199.08 | Loss Prevention Managers | Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.00 | Managers, All Other | All managers not listed separately. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.01 | Regulatory Affairs Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. | Management Occupations |
| 17-3031.00 | Surveying and Mapping Technicians | Perform surveying and mapping duties, usually under the direction of an engineer, surveyor, cartographer, or photogrammetrist, to obtain data used for construction, mapmaking, boundary location, mining, or other purposes. May calculate mapmaking information and create maps from source data, such as surveying notes, aerial photography, satellite data, or other maps to show topographical features, political boundaries, and other features. May verify accuracy and completeness of maps. | Architecture and Engineering Occupations |
| 11-9199.10 | Wind Energy Development Managers | Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.09 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete

