CAREERS IN GIS

Archive for the ‘GIS Education’ Category

Having a GIS certificate will always help when looking for a job in the GIS industry.  Unfortunately, no major magazine or online publication ranks GIS certificate programs the same way business schools, law schools, and undergraduate colleges receive ranks.  Therefore, it is up to you to decide.  However, you should not necessarily look for the “best” GIS certificate program. You should look for the “best” program that fits your needs.

There are GIS Certificates offered at colleges and universities all over the world but each of them have different curriculums, different instructors, and different requirements.  Here is a list of of GIS certificate programs maintained by the University Consortium on Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). The list is fairly comprehensive but I will let you be the judge.  I recommend using a select set of criteria to decide whether a certain GIS certificate program is for you.

1)      Cost:  Many certificate programs do not offer specific financial aid.  Some public colleges and universities may offer needs based assistance but you will likely need to qualify.  However, the rest of us will be paying out of pocket to enroll for a given number of credit hours.  Does the program fit your budget?  The most expensive programs do not necessarily mean they are the best.

2)      Online or in-person:  You need to consider how well you retain information acquired in different environments.  I have taught students in online courses and traditional courses.  Some students do well in one environment but not in another.  Everyone learned from a live person at some point in his or her lives.  However, not everyone has taken classes online.  I would definitely ask an online program administrator if you can see some examples of how classes are taught before enrolling to make sure you would not have difficulty.  Some online programs convey information very well while some others are not that good.

3)      Number/diversity of instructors:  It is usually not a good idea to learn everything you know from just one instructor.  You want to become a well-rounded student.  Look for programs that are taught/administered by at least more than one person.  The reason is to absorb different perspectives on the same subject.  I would say the more instructors, the better.

4)      Curriculum: The Geographic Information Science and Technology Body of Knowledge published by the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and the University Consortium on Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) is probably the most comprehensive document put together on what sort of curriculum you should expect from a GIS program.  However, it is extremely rare to find a certificate program that includes everything listed in the GIS&T Body of Knowledge.  Nonetheless, look at the list to see what sort of things YOU want to learn more about and then make your judgment about a program.  Personally, I would also look for a program that requires more than four classes for certificate completion.  Six to eight courses is average.  That should give you a comprehensive exposure to what is necessary for GIS proficiency.

Databases are the backbone of any GIS system.  They are the “I” in GIS.  This means that a knowledge of databases (particularly the software used to manage them) should be somewhere in your repertoire.  By knowledge, I mean the basics of a database system…how to access a table, how to make a query, how to log in is even a basic skill.  When you finally get the job you have been looking for, you will likely either need to link map files on your desktop or from the Internet to records stored in a database or need to store all of your data records, including map files, in a database management system.

Unfortunately, knowing how to operate one database platform does not mean that you automatically are familiar with all.  Regardless, knowing even one DBMS gives you two advantages.  1) It shows an employer that you are familiar with the concepts of a DBMS and that 2) you can possibly learn how to work with different database platforms.

Now the important question is “Which database system should I become familiar with?”  The question that should be asked is “Which database system CAN I become familiar with?” The reason for this is that the most heavily used database platforms out there are too expensive for an ordinary person to afford and train themselves on.  For instance, if you are not already working in an job environment utilizing “the big three” DBMS’s like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or IBM DB2, I doubt you will be able to afford the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars required to purchase a software license.  Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and IBM DB2 are usually only utilized in enterprise wide environments with numerous users.  Nevertheless, if you have the means and/or access, try to learn as much as possible.

Two other very popular database platforms that you may likely run into are MySQL and/or PostgreSQL.  What is nice about these two are that they are both open source database platforms.  Yes, free and open source!  All you need is access to a computer and the Internet in order to download and install either of these systems.  Teaching yourself is a different story.  Do a nice Google search on learning resources.  I am sure you will find plenty.

The short answer is that it can’t necessarily hurt you.  If you have just graduated from college or are just starting out in the GIS industry, I definitely encourage you to get a GIS certificate if you have not already.  It can only help your chances in finding a job.

You need to consider a few things first though….

1)  Look carefully at the different certificate programs offered by colleges and universities.  What sort of classes are in the curriculum?  How many classes are required to complete the program?  What I am trying to say is that not all GIS certificates are equal.  No all-powerful oversight committee or accreditation body decides which schools can offer certificates and which ones cannot.  That decision is usually left up to the educational institution in question.  These certificate programs are no doubt put together with the best intentions, but be wary of what you enroll for.  For this reason, the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) published the Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIS & T) Body of Knowledge.  This book was put together to give a comprehensive picture of what you should expect from different GIS programs.  The book costs $25 but you may be able to get a copy of it through your local library.  With this knowledge you can compare and contrast offerings from different schools.

2)  If you have many years of experience with GIS software and applications but never received a formal GIS certificate, will that count against you?  Once again, it can’t hurt you.  But what are you expecting to come away with from the certificate program?  I would hope that it would add to what you already know.  Paying a lot of money for a piece of paper that does not challenge your abilities or make you more knowledgeable does not necessarily make you better or more qualified for the job you want.

3)  A degree in the GIS carries a lot more weight than a certificate.  At the same time, I have met plenty of esteemed geographers who don’t have a clue about GIS.  Knowing about maps or geography does not necessarily mean you know how to apply it.  Applied geography is the essence of GIS.  GIS is not just about learning technology as many may think.  It’s about learning technology with a spatial perspective in mind.  Do not lose sight of that when diving into a GIS certificate program.