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How to Apply for GSP Certificates
GEOSPATIAL CERTIFICATES | STUDENT & ADVISOR GUIDE
Use this guide to apply for a certificate, confirm your coursework, and track your application through the Registrar’s review.
Start the Certificate of Study Application →
Important: Two documents are required
The online Certificate of Study Application is only the first step. The Registrar must also receive a signed certificate course list submitted by your advisor.
The application process
Students complete the application and course list. The certificate advisor reviews and submits the list. The Registrar then creates and checks the certificate record.
01 | Student steps
Submit the Certificate of Study Application
Complete the online application.
Complete the course list for your certificate
Complete the course-list form for the certificate you are pursuing:
List the semester for each course
Indicate when each course was completed or is in progress. Discuss course substitutions or coursework from another college or university with your certificate advisor before submitting the form.
Save the course list as a PDF
Use this file-naming format:
[Certificate_Name]_[LastName].pdf
Example: Remote_Sensing_Certificate_Perdue.pdf
Email the course list to your certificate advisor
Send the completed course list to your advisor for review and signature. Refer to the University Catalog to identify your advisor, or contact Dr. Perdue or Dr. Graham for assistance.
02 | Advisor review and submission
Review and sign the course list
The certificate advisor will:
- Review the course list.
- Confirm that the listed courses meet certificate requirements.
- Note and approve any applicable substitutions.
- Sign the form.
Submit the signed course list
Email the signed course list to the Office of the Registrar at records@humboldt.edu and copy Casey Dobbins at cld386@humboldt.edu.
03 | Registrar review and certificate check
The Registrar receives both required documents
The Office of the Registrar must receive:
- The student’s online Certificate of Study Application.
- The signed certificate course list submitted by the department.
The Registrar creates a certificate record and check
After receiving both documents, the Registrar will create and track the certificate record and issue a certificate check identifying:
- Requirements already completed.
- Requirements currently in progress.
- Requirements that remain unmet.
Retain records and update as needed
Students and advisors should retain a copy of the signed course list. The certificate advisor should also retain the Registrar’s certificate check so the department can track participation and follow up with students as needed.
If a student’s planned coursework changes after submission, the student should contact their certificate advisor to determine whether an updated course list or additional approval is required.
Key points
- Certificate processing is not yet fully automated.
- The online Certificate of Study Application alone is not sufficient.
- A signed certificate course list must be submitted by the certificate advisor.
- The Registrar needs both documents to create, track, and ultimately award the certificate.
- The Registrar will issue a certificate check showing completed, in-progress, and unmet requirements.
- Until the certificates are fully incorporated into DARS, advisors and the department should retain copies of forms and confirmation notices.
Frequently asked questions
Can students count courses completed before the Geospatial Certificate Program began in Fall 2026?
Yes. Students may count one, two, or all three required courses completed before Fall 2026, provided they have maintained enrollment and have not yet graduated.
Are post-baccalaureate and graduate students eligible for the certificates?
Yes. Post-baccalaureate and graduate students can pursue any of the four Geospatial Certificates, though the basic may not make sense for most graduate students. We are currently working on a graduate certificate.
Can post-baccalaureate or graduate students use coursework completed while they were undergraduates at Cal Poly Humboldt?
Yes. Coursework completed at Cal Poly Humboldt may be used to meet certificate requirements. For example, a student who completed one certificate course as an undergraduate may complete the remaining requirements as a post-baccalaureate student.
Can transfer coursework from another college or university count toward a certificate for post-baccalaureate students?
Yes. Transfer coursework may be used when it is transferable from an accredited institution and is equivalent to the relevant certificate requirement. Advisors should identify the course and institution on the approved course list.
Residency note: Non-matriculated students who have not been admitted to the University must meet a 50% residency requirement.
Can undergraduate transfer students use articulated community-college coursework toward a certificate?
Yes. Matriculated undergraduate students earning a certificate while pursuing a bachelor’s degree are not subject to a residency requirement. For example, a student who transfers with equivalents to GSP 101 and GSP 270 may complete GSP 216 at Cal Poly Humboldt to earn the Geospatial Basic Certificate, assuming the student meets all certificate requirements.
Document transfer-course substitutions on the approved course list.
What should an advisor do if a student has an unusual or unclear situation?
Please send Dr. Perdue or Dr. Graham the student’s ID number and a brief description of the situation, and cc the student. GSP faculty will review and respond to the student and advisor, detailing next steps.