Remote sensing (satellite and ground-based) is increasingly being used as a technique to probe the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces. Probing of other planets is accomplished largely by satellite remote sensing. Given national priorities in such areas as climate and global change, the interest in remote sensing will only increase with time. Graduate students, research staff and faculty work on a wide variety of topics ranging from the theory of remote sensing, to instrument development and application. 

This certificate is available to graduate degree-seeking and non-matriculated students. Additional certificate information can be found on the department's Remote Sensing Certificate webpage.

Distance Education Option

Students can take individual courses toward a master's degree or graduate certificate through distance education (online). For more information, connect with the individual graduate program directly.

Requirements

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed undergraduate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or its equivalent.
  • Undergraduate courses in calculus, linear algebra and differential equations; two semesters of undergraduate calculus-based physics; and at least two semesters of upper-division undergraduate courses in engineering or physics.
  • Ability to program at a level that will enable successful completion of graduate course assignments.

For more information, degree-seeking students may visit the AES Certificates webpage; nondegree and non-matriculated students may visit the AES Certificates & Continuing Education webpage.

Certificate Requirements

Four courses are required totaling at least 12 credit hours. 

  • Two courses from one of the following topical areas (6 credit hours):
    • Data analysis
    • Instrumentation and measurement techniques
    • Remote sensing theory
  • One course in each of the two remaining topical areas (6 credit hours).

Note that MS students using the Remote Sensing Certificate for their degree requirements in lieu of an MS thesis or two semester graduate projects may count a maximum of 2 of the 4 required RSESS Focus Area courses toward the certificate requirement. 

Grades of B or higher are required for fulfillment of requirements and certificate award. Students also pursuing other graduate certificates may not use the same courses to count for both certificates. 

Data Analysis Courses
ASEN 5307Engineering Data Analysis Methods3
ASEN 6337Remote Sensing Data Analysis3
ASTR 5550Observations, Data Analysis and Statistics3
ECEN 5244Stochastic / Environmental Signal Processing3
ECEN 5254Remote Sensing Signals and Systems3
ECEN 5612Random Processes for Engineers3
ECEN 5652Detection and Extraction of Signals from Noise3
GEOG 5103Geographic Information Science: Spatial Analytics4
GEOG 5203Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling4
GEOG 5303Geographic Information Science: Spatial Programming4
Instrumentation & Measurement Techniques Courses
ASEN 51683
ASEN 5245Radar and Remote Sensing3
ASEN 6050Space Instrumentation3
ASEN 6091Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver Architecture3
ASEN 6365Lidar Remote Sensing3
ASTR 5760Astrophysical Instrumentation3
ECEN 5134Electromagnetic Radiation and Antennas3
GEOG 5100Special Topics: Geography (Topic needs to be relevant to instrumentation/measurement)1-4
PHYS 5160Fundamentals of Optics and Lasers3
Remote Sensing Theory Courses
ASEN 6265Fundamentals of Spectroscopy for Optical Remote Sensing3
ATOC 5235Introduction to Atmospheric Radiative Transfer and Remote Sensing3
ATOC 5560Radiative Processes in Planetary Atmospheres3
ECEN 5264Electromagnetic Absorption, Scattering, and Propagation3
GEOG 5093Remote Sensing of the Environment4
GEOG 5100Special Topics: Geography (Advanced Remote Sensing)1-4
PHYS 5150Introductory Plasma Physics3