To earn the graduate GIS Certificate, a student must either be admitted by the MU Graduate School to a graduate degree program or be enrolled as a graduate non-degree student. All courses applied toward the certificate must have been taken following completion of the student's baccalaureate degree. Details about admission to the program may be found at the Graduate School website. Enrolled students wishing to begin the certificate programs should complete two forms and submit them to the certificate program director.

The certificate requires a minimum of 12 hours of approved coursework, and a grade of at least B (3.0) in these courses. Four courses must be successfully completed, with at least one course selected from each of three groups: Foundation courses (Group A), Theoretical breadth courses (Group B), and Technical breadth and Application courses (Group C). The fourth course may be an Independent GIS project (3 hours) completed in consultation with a GIS faculty member, or an additional class from the GIS curriculum. If a student has completed a foundation course as an undergraduate, another class from either Group B or C may be taken to fulfill the 12 hour requirement.

The Graduate School will allow all 12 hours of graduate credit to be applied to both a student's degree program and the GIS certificate. A maximum of 3 hours of transfer credit is allowed.