Summary
Highlights
Students can learn GIS through a traditional degree, a GIS certificate program, or self-study. A certificate program, taking five to six classes in six to nine months, is a faster way to gain technical skills. Self-study involves finding classes and practicing independently, but requires demonstrating practical skills.
There are about 100 GIS certificate programs, with only 10% online. Many teach general classes like cartography, remote sensing, and GIS databases, which may lead to a skills gap. It's crucial to find programs that offer applied skills relevant to industry, such as processing UAV imagery or developing web applications in AWS, and to examine the instructors' industry experience.
Beyond skills, students should look for programs with real-time accessibility, allowing them to start immediately, unlike traditional higher education which can have long waiting periods. Additionally, evaluating the instructors' applied experience is vital to ensure the curriculum is relevant to industry practices.
Career advice is critical. Students should start building their professional profile, such as a strong LinkedIn presence, from their freshman year. They need to articulate their skills and passions, network with professionals, and tailor their experiences to industry needs to stand out in a competitive global job market.
Andres Abeyta's company, Bootcamp GIS (bootcampgis.com), offers project-based learning. It's encouraged to check out their website for more information, which will also be linked in the video description.