Do I need GIS College Training?

As you embark into the world of GIS, you may ask yourself, “Do I need GIS training?” And if so, what type of training do I need? I’m sure that this is a question that we all have asked at some point. And I have found that it is all up to the individual evaluating their current situation with these few questions:

1. Where do I want to go with GIS?
2. What previous education do I have?
3. What is my learning style?

Where do I want to go with GIS?

I am sure most of us are not in the original career that we had planned on being in when we started out. There are some who originally set out for a career in GIS; however, most were in a different industry to begin with. As we each were introduced to GIS in different ways, we have learned that GIS applies to about every industry out there. But no matter where we were, there is a focus set on where we would like to be in five, ten, or fifteen years. Do you want to be the resident expert our just the casual user? The resident expert will take a combination of education and pure experience. Also, are you looking to earn the GIS Professional Certification? The requirements within this certification look for so many hours of education. While we set our own career goals, our jobs also push us to achieve more. Our employer has a certain place where they would like us to be. And as we all want to move up the ladder and make more money; we usually submit to their desires or go somewhere else. So we must determine where we want to go in the future, and through that we can accomplish those goals by seeking the required training.

What previous education do I have?

The training you get is dependent upon your previous education. Are you looking for an addition to your non-GIS education? Earning a GIS certificate can provide you with the knowledge to combine GIS with your current skills. And it looks good on your resume. There are even a number of colleges that provide this certificate online (see colleges). A certificate can usually be earned with only 4-6 classes.

Maybe you are looking for a little more than just a certificate. There is the GIS Diploma option. This can be earned with about 36 credit hours.

Another good option is the Associate in Applied Science Degree. It can be earned in about two years. The courses within this type of program provide a heaver load of GIS classes than the traditional Associates Degree. The Applied Science Degree can provide you with enough skills to put you into a GIS job with no further education. Those who are trying to jump from high school to the workplace find this improves their hiring chances without have to take a full four years of college. This is also true to those who want to switch career but are a little further in life and can’t start completely over with college.

CAUTION: If you choose to work towards an Associate in Applied Science Degree and are thinking about transferring to a four year college, you will find lot of your classes will not transfer. Since the program requires few general education courses with a heavy load of GIS specific courses; the general education courses will usually transfer but most of the GIS course will not. Four Year colleges feel that their GIS courses are not equivalent to that of a two year college. Please check with advisors from both schools before you waste a lot of time and money.

And then there are the Bachelor’s Degree in Geography/GIS and the Master’s Degree in GIS. These pretty much speak for themselves. The Bachelor’s Degree pretty much sets you up for a great career and those who are looking to get into a Master Degree Program are probably not reading this post and already have their plan laid out.

What is your learning style?

Are you the “learn on your own by trial and error” type, do you need some simple instructions that you can follow on your own, or do you need someone in person to show you step by step how do something? Whether you one of these or a combination of all, knowing how you learn best will help you prepare for the proper training.

First of all, I am the “learn by trial and error” type. The way I way I was introduced to GIS was my being set in front of a computer with ArcGIS software and told to have fun. I was told they had registered me for an Intro to GIS class but it was six weeks away. Boy was I overwhelmed at first. I quickly set a few goals and tried to find a way to achieve them. Although it was a steep learning curve, my employer had me on GIS 8 hours a day, five days a week. GIS was all I did. By the time I attended the class, I knew 95% of what they were teaching. The time given to me to “play” with the software was essential.

If you only need some slight motivation to learn, there are a few options. You can take an online class through a college or even ESRI. There are many courses on the ESRI website that are free. The ESRI courses are usually comprised of instructional videos and step by step guides that enable you to complete each step with data provided. Another way for learning is the old-fashion reading a book way. There are many good GIS books that cover a variety of topics on my book page.

For those of you that need step by step instruction, then I would recommend taking an in person instructor led training course. This can be a semester long class at the local college or a three day course provided by a certified instructor. See ESRI for more information on their instructor led classes.

No matter what avenue you take to learn GIS, it is critical that you integrate the things you learn into your work flow. What you do not use, you loose. Using GIS everyday will be the main factor to expanding your knowledge in the world of GIS.