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| GeoCommunity Mailing List |
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| Subject: | Re: [gislist] RE: GIS education/degree |
| Date: |
02/12/2005 06:35:01 PM |
| From: |
Carl Reed |
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Interesting discussion. As a past executive at several GIS software
organizations, I interviewed and hired many GIS professionals over the
years. Based on my experiences, I would like to share a few anecdotes:
1. The best system administrator I ever hired never went to college. He did
require consistent management to keep him focused :-)
2. One of the best software engineers I ever hired never finished college.
3. One of most creative and brilliant GIS applications people I ever hired
had his degree in paleo-botany.
4. One of the best software quality control people I ever hired was a high
school student.
In every case there were common personality characteristics that had nothing
to do with education - and these characteristics are the same for extremely
successful professionals who have completed college or graduate studies:
motivated, strong aptitude to learn new things, and a great attitude.
Also, I would look at something called the East Program. This program
started in Arkansas and was about teaching at risk high school students
technical skills such as GIS and civil engineering. This program has been
very successful. Many of the projects these students have completed are
comparable to what they would have to do as a GIS professional in the "real
world"
My two cents.
Regards
Carl Reed
long time GIS geek
----- Original Message -----
From: "hvp" <hvp@regiononepdc.org>
To: <gislist@lists.thinkburst.com>
Sent: Saturday, February 12, 2005 3:48 PM
Subject: Re: [gislist] RE: GIS education/degree
>
> "The "unofficial" reason is that GIS can be learned
> without a 4-year degree but universities need the revenue."
> :: I think that locking-up skilled labor for 2 extra years would not be
> something that the industry would want. And the industry gets what it
> wants more than the academia.
>
> Anyway, the main thrust of good education is not to memorize superfluous
> details or get a "paper degree", but rather to encourage "plurality of
> thoughts". Think of college as an "sand box for the mind" where you can
> test your ideas W/O all the constrains of professional life. In that I
> agree with Margaret.
>
> In any case, it is very likely that most of the technical skills you are
> using right now expire in the next 10 years. Given that, the ability to
> adapt and practice "multi-linear problem solving" assume greater
> importance. I have met quite a few GIS professionals who started-off in
> non-traditional branches, but have shown necessary adaptability in
> switching to GIS.
>
> And hopefully, when the various certification programs like
> [http://www.gisci.org] pick-up momentum, we would have more structure in
> our professional field. We all know of the few professionals who can't
> perform basic scripting/programming but continue to masquerade as GIS
> "Specialists".
>
> Harsh Prakash
> PS: Strawman Report
> [http://www.ucgis.org/priorities/education/strawmanreport.htm]
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: Margaret Gooding <mgooding@adelphia.net>
> Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2005 10:28:20 -0800
>
> I have a GIS certificate (16 semester units) from a local community
> college
> (this did not require even a high school diploma). I also have a BS in
> Geology (earned before the certificate) and am currently working towards a
> MS in GIS through the UniGIS program (I hope to teach at a community
> college). I would not have gotten my GIS positions (both current and
> previous) without some sort of 4 year degree. Most employers who require
> one believe that a degree shows that you have the perseverance to make it
> through 4 years (though in my case it was more than 25 years) and finish
> something. A degree also makes you a more well-rounded person. You should
> probably be able to get a technician position with just a certificate, but
> for anything more, you need something more. Universities that require a
> degree before attempting a post-baccalaureate GIS program assume that you
> will have learned a certain number of things while obtaining your
> bachelor's - such as how to write, how to study, and similar. I don't
> think
> it is just revenue enhancement since they don't require the degree from
> their university.
>
> Margaret
>
> At 09:17 AM 2/11/2005, Barb Wallner wrote:
>>I'm sure there are enough people on this listserv who are working in some
>>compacity in GIS without a university degree, and who do not have the time
>>or
>>the money to pursue a 4-year degree to move into the graduate program were
>>it seems that universities like to offer it. I'm sure
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