The Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems is a 36-unit program offered by the School of the Environment, within The Faculty of Science and Engineering.

It articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate Geographical Information Systems.

Admission requirements

Applicants will normally hold either The Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems or an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.  The Faculty Board may admit others who can demonstrate fitness for candidature.

The Graduate Diploma in GIS is not available to graduates of the Bachelor of Applied Geographical Information Systems or of equivalent undergraduate courses from other tertiary institutions.

Course aims

The Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and application of GIS and Remote Sensing and is intended for students with an undergraduate degree that is not related to studies in GIS.

It provides a theoretical and practical framework for graduates from a range of backgrounds, as well as those from the public sector and non-government organisations wishing to extend their choice of career path by acquiring knowledge and skills in the capture, synthesis and communication of spatially-referenced information.

Students will learn skills which are applicable to a range of areas such as urban and regional planning, infrastructure management, transportation, the environment, biological sciences, biodiversity management and archaeology. 

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete The Graduate diploma will be able to:

  • practice advanced skills in GIS analysis in a variety of areas as well as discuss and interpret more complex Spatial Information theory and methodologies
  • demonstrate an in-depth understanding of vector and raster GIS structures, relational databases, geodatabases, data input, data editing and raster interpolation methods
  • practice multispectral image interpretation and analysis through a range of geometric and radiometric enhancement techniques, image arithmetic and data fusion
  • extract useful information from remotely sensed data through a range of multispectral transformations, band ratios, and classification methodologies
  • demonstrate the practical application and analysis of GIS and remotely sensed data through the implementation of project work.

Program of study

To qualify for The Graduate Diploma in Geographical Information Systems, students must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better, from the following list of optional topics.

A student's program of study must be approved by the Course Co-ordinator.

Except with the permission of The Faculty Board, a student may not include a topic (as credit or otherwise) which repeats work previously undertaken at the undergraduate level.

Option - Year 1 topics

Select 36 units from:

 ENVS7720  Research Project Design and Conduct (4.5 units)
 ENVS9752  Airborne Remote Sensing: Planning & Preparation (4.5 units)
 ENVS9751  Remote Sensing: Sensor to Product (4.5 units)
 ENVS9790  Field Studies in Environmental Disciplines GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8700  Geographical Information Systems GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8701  Introduction to Remote Sensing GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8702  Image Analysis in Remote Sensing GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8711  Advanced Digital Image Analysis GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8731  GIS Modelling GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8732  Spatial Information Management GE  (4.5 units)
 GEOG8751  Advanced Spatial Statistics GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS9710A  Research Project (4.5/18 units) and
 ENVS9710B  Research Project (4.5/18 units) and
 ENVS9710C  Research Project (4.5/18 units) and
 ENVS9710D  Research Project (4.5/18 units)
 Or
 ENVS9870  Environmental Research Project GE  (4.5 units)
 ENVS9871  Extended Environmental Research Project GE  (4.5 units)

Note: Up to 9 units of other topics may be taken with the approval of the Course Co-ordinator.