[OKGIS] Getting Started

[Collier, Matthew W.]

Heathe,

Be sure to make the distinction between GI "Systems" and GI "Science."  There are a lot of systems out there, many of which are even free if you want to play with them at home.  Look at <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_GIS_software> to see some of these.  GISystems are used in many fields.  We have students from meteorology, civil and environmental engineering, interdisciplinary perspectives on the environment, business, geography (of course), and others that attend our introduction to GIS class here at OU (for which I am the TA this semester).  So, if you have some particular field that you love, you can apply GIS to it without getting into the particulars of the GIScience.

As for the science aspect of it, a geography degree is one potential way to go and should provide you with a broad education in geospatial sciences and applications (GIS, Remote Sensing, GPS, Analysis, Modeling, etc...).  However, depending on your background, computer science is another potential way to access GIScience.  I'm currently working with a computer scientist to create a new algorithm that asks relational types of questions about spatio-temporal data.

Finally, I would encourage you to go speak with professors and students at several universities.  When I was looking to go back to school a few years ago, I realized that I had been a geographer all along after I saw all of the cool stuff on their walls.  I said to myself, "These are my people."  BTW, I'm an ex-physics/astronomy type.

Matthew Collier, Grad Student
Center for Spatial Analysis
Department of Geography
University of Oklahoma


________________________________________
From: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu [okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu] On Behalf Of Heathe Kyle Yeakley [heathe at slaggle.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 14:53
To: okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu
Subject: [OKGIS] Getting Started

Hello, my name is Heathe and I am interested in changing careers into
GIS. I currently work as a Unix/Linux Systems Administrator for the US
Government. I have an Associates degree in Telecommunications from
OSU-OKC and haven't yet finished a 4 year degree. I heard about GIS a
few years back and thought it sounded interesting at the time, but I
didn't give it much thought. Recently, however, I've started thinking
about changing careers and GIS is the field I'd like to pursue.

My question is, where do I start? I've looked for GIS degree programs at
the local 4 year schools and haven't found anything. Yes, UCO and OU
have classes on GIS that are part of the curriculum for a Geography (or
related) degree, but I haven't found a course of study specifically on GIS.

What type of skills and education do prospective employers want in a GIS
Analyst? Geography, Engineering, Physics? From what I've read the field
sounds extremely diverse. I'd be happy to finish a 4-year degree if I
knew what to major in.

What about local resources? If I wanted to just volunteer somewhere to
get some hands on experience so that I'm not completely green to the
field, whom should I contact. If I'm not cut out for this line of work
I'd really like to find out now and save myself and any prospective
future employers any headaches.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

- Heathe