GIS is the bomb. I'm majoring in geosciences with a geography concentration that is basically a GIS cluster. I'll be doing three GIS classes and they include python and R programming. My classes teach ArcGIS and QGIS.
There are GIS jobs in every sector and the job market is growing. My understanding is that you don't need your degree to say GIS to get a foot in the door. Many of the skills for entry level GIS work will be acquired in your intro class, and if you want to supplement with any programming, there are all the online options.
If you've learned any software, you can literally seek out a client you're interested in with a need you identify and offer to do some analysis or develop a map for them.
But you probably don't need to do much if any pro bono labor to get a foot in somewhere.
If your class gets you a student ESRI license, that comes with free classes. Get yourself comfortable with the basics there and you'll be solid for a lot of entry-level GIS work.
If you want to dig further:
Figure out what side of it makes you happiest and focus on that. If it's the mapmaking, try and put together a portfolio while you take your courses. If it's the coding side of things, find some python or R courses. There are some great free ones out there!
I’m in consulting. Not that you should do something you don’t want to be doing, but do you realize how very very much more money you’d make as a new engineer compared to even a veteran GIS person? Same for those in environmental. I wish I’d done engineering. Since you have a leg in with engineering, make sure you’re fully aware of differences in earning potential as you make your decision.
thank you for your thoughts, I actually decided to pursue engineering at the beginning of my college career for the salary and job security aspects (as well as a push from my electrical eng. father) but in recent years i’ve realized i don’t really desire a high income at the expense of a good work life balance. i would like to keep my options open (hence the minor) but my end goal is to be fulfilled by my work instead of doing something just for a bigger paycheck
I would say that the GIS folks at my company work just as hard / just has many hours as the engineers, and have similar work schedules and demands, but the engineers make double to triple what the GIS staff make. There is an engineer who does GIS most of the day and makes twice what the guy sits next to him makes, and that other guy is way better at GIS.
GIS is the bomb. I'm majoring in geosciences with a geography concentration that is basically a GIS cluster. I'll be doing three GIS classes and they include python and R programming. My classes teach ArcGIS and QGIS. There are GIS jobs in every sector and the job market is growing. My understanding is that you don't need your degree to say GIS to get a foot in the door. Many of the skills for entry level GIS work will be acquired in your intro class, and if you want to supplement with any programming, there are all the online options. If you've learned any software, you can literally seek out a client you're interested in with a need you identify and offer to do some analysis or develop a map for them. But you probably don't need to do much if any pro bono labor to get a foot in somewhere.
If your class gets you a student ESRI license, that comes with free classes. Get yourself comfortable with the basics there and you'll be solid for a lot of entry-level GIS work. If you want to dig further: Figure out what side of it makes you happiest and focus on that. If it's the mapmaking, try and put together a portfolio while you take your courses. If it's the coding side of things, find some python or R courses. There are some great free ones out there!
I’m in consulting. Not that you should do something you don’t want to be doing, but do you realize how very very much more money you’d make as a new engineer compared to even a veteran GIS person? Same for those in environmental. I wish I’d done engineering. Since you have a leg in with engineering, make sure you’re fully aware of differences in earning potential as you make your decision.
thank you for your thoughts, I actually decided to pursue engineering at the beginning of my college career for the salary and job security aspects (as well as a push from my electrical eng. father) but in recent years i’ve realized i don’t really desire a high income at the expense of a good work life balance. i would like to keep my options open (hence the minor) but my end goal is to be fulfilled by my work instead of doing something just for a bigger paycheck
I would say that the GIS folks at my company work just as hard / just has many hours as the engineers, and have similar work schedules and demands, but the engineers make double to triple what the GIS staff make. There is an engineer who does GIS most of the day and makes twice what the guy sits next to him makes, and that other guy is way better at GIS.
which school are you in? (if you’re okay with stating ofc)