College Suggestions for Masters

ARFlyer

ARFlyer

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I have been pondering the last few days on getting my masters in GIS. I have several days off in-between trips and a backup degree would be useful.

I will have to complete the degree online so my choices are very very limited. So far its a three way between John Hopkins, USC, and Penn State. Any suggestions or tips on what to look for to find the best choice?
 
I never understood the point of a GIS major, especially at a masters level.

It's basically geography plus a whole lot of statistics.

In a nutshell, you're going to be writing a masters thesis, so pick a university where some interesting data may be accessible.

I tried to talk my wife into astronomical observation planning when she went through that, but she didn't bite. We have a rather unique correlated observation problem, that is solved by brute force and a lot of effort now. In a nutshell, observing an object changes the location of our observatory, depending on what we observe. If we want to get back where we started, observations have to be "well distributed" around the sky. Unfortunately, some parts of the sky are much more interesting than others (the galactic center and Orion nebula account for most of our time, for instance), hence the "GIS" problem.

My wife did hers at some online school I'd never heard of in Missouri. Never visited the campus, but she got the ID card. It seemed like a good program, but I really don't have much to compare it to. I don't care for the online format, but this particular topic is just done in Arc GIS all the time, so it's fairly straightforward.
 
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ARFlyer said:
I have been pondering the last few days on getting my masters in GIS. I have several days off in-between trips and a backup degree would be useful.

I will have to complete the degree online so my choices are very very limited. So far its a three way between John Hopkins, USC, and Penn State. Any suggestions or tips on what to look for to find the best choice?
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What to look for? Accreditation. I have no clue who accredits GIS but don't spend money on a degree that isn't accredited. There is one "out" on this and it is a reputable program that leads in the industry. Some departments get a little "high and mighty" and were in place before accreditation came along so they never *lower* themselves (means put in the work) to gain accreditation for their graduate programs.

My advise for a backup degree would be an MBA.
 
MAKG1 said:
I never understood the point of a GIS major, especially at a masters level.

It's basically geography plus a whole lot of statistics.

In a nutshell, you're going to be writing a masters thesis, so pick a university where some interesting data may be accessible.

I tried to talk my wife into astronomical observation planning when she went through that, but she didn't bite. We have a rather unique correlated observation problem, that is solved by brute force and a lot of effort now. In a nutshell, observing an object changes the location of our observatory, depending on what we observe. If we want to get back where we started, observations have to be "well distributed" around the sky. Unfortunately, some parts of the sky are much more interesting than others (the galactic center and Orion nebula account for most of our time, for instance), hence the "GIS" problem.
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Well both areas I like! :rofl:

I was looking into GIS since I already have some good experience from my high school years. I would have actually done a degree in Geography GIS, while doing my flying certs on the side, if I hadn't ended up at the aviation school I went too.

What got me interested again was a job posting a friend sent me. ForeFlight was looking for a GIS Engineer for their mapping. I would have applied in a heart beat if I hadn't just gotten an airline job. Only downside was that I had not done GIS since high school. I think I would have not looked that competitive with any of the other applicants.
 
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MAKG1 said:
My wife did hers at some online school I'd never heard of in Missouri. Never visited the campus, but she got the ID card. It seemed like a good program, but I really don't have much to compare it to. I don't care for the online format, but this particular topic is just done in Arc GIS all the time, so it's fairly straightforward.
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So is her MS in GIS?
 
Clark1961 said:
What to look for? Accreditation. I have no clue who accredits GIS but don't spend money on a degree that isn't accredited. There is one "out" on this and it is a reputable program that leads in the industry. Some departments get a little "high and mighty" and were in place before accreditation came along so they never *lower* themselves (means put in the work) to gain accreditation for their graduate programs.

My advise for a backup degree would be an MBA.
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I actually could get a MBA knocked out in a year if I went back to my university. I did business as a minor so I already have most of the needed classes. The issue is that I just started at my airline gig so I want to see how it goes for awhile.

If you've seen my other thread this isn't about not liking my airline job. I just got talking to a friend who suggested it would be a helpful benefit if anything every happened. Plus I'm only 24 so why the hell not go and do this while I'm still young.
 
While your getting established flying, can you do online university classes and have them count toward your final choice?
 
Really don't think it'll be worth the money since you'll have absolutely no experience in the field. Just my opinion...money better spent on saving for the future.
 
jesse said:
Really don't think it'll be worth the money since you'll have absolutely no experience in the field. Just my opinion...money better spent on saving for the future.
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I have a little and still have contacts in the local industry. Most of my experience was doing 501 projects for people in high school. I also taught a few classes at our yearly national program conference. But I get what your saying. :thumbsup:

AggieMike88 said:
While your getting established flying, can you do online university classes and have them count toward your final choice?
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What do you mean?
 
Phoenix University is one example. shsu.edu is another
 
ARFlyer said:
I actually could get a MBA knocked out in a year if I went back to my university. I did business as a minor so I already have most of the needed classes. The issue is that I just started at my airline gig so I want to see how it goes for awhile.

If you've seen my other thread this isn't about not liking my airline job. I just got talking to a friend who suggested it would be a helpful benefit if anything every happened. Plus I'm only 24 so why the hell not go and do this while I'm still young.
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GIS is pretty specialized field. If you don't actually practice for a long time the degree will be stale if/when you "need" it.

Something more generic (MBA) might be a better long term strategy. If you don't go to one of the top ten schools it really doesn't matter where you go, but some employers like AACSB accredited programs. If you plan on living in a particular area for life, go to one of the local schools where HR departments draw their management candidates.
 
paflyer said:
GIS is pretty specialized field. If you don't actually practice for a long time the degree will be stale if/when you "need" it.
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+1. And it doesn't take long before much of what you've learned is outdated. The basics are there, but the current skillset is outdated quickly.

I never thought I'd be advocating against education, but I think Jesse is right about this. Set the funds aside for now and focus on your current career.
 
I'm in the same camp with going for an MBA, or maybe an engineering degree if you have enough qualifying undergrad coursework. An MSCE would be a good compliment to have in the GIS field.
 
jesse said:
Really don't think it'll be worth the money since you'll have absolutely no experience in the field. Just my opinion...money better spent on saving for the future.
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Unless the OP is certain he will be able to stay at the airline, I think it's a great idea. Also, its very difficult to get experience in the field without a degree. AFAIK GIS is a very in demand career so even if it is a "stale" degree it would still be useful.

If the OP enjoys learning about it then why the heck not?

To the OP not sure if CSU (Colorado state) offers GIS as a masters but there is an accredited online program called CSU global which might be worth checking out.

Good luck!



EDIT:
I also agree with what Sac said.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
Unless the OP is certain he will be able to stay at the airline, I think it's a great idea. Also, its very difficult to get experience in the field without a degree. AFAIK GIS is a very in demand career so even if it is a "stale" degree it would still be useful.

If the OP enjoys learning about it then why the heck not?

To the OP not sure if CSU (Colorado state) offers GIS as a masters but there is an accredited online program called CSU global which might be worth checking out.

Good luck!



EDIT:
I also agree with what Sac said.
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10 years down the line I don't think it'll have much of any value. Any employer is going to be quite hesitant to hire since the applicant will have absolutely zero experience in the field and will have forgotten the vast majority of what was learned.

However, 10 years down the line, that same money spent will have made a very measurable difference in the OP's assets if that same money were properly invested.

Money invested generating a profit versus money owed on another student loan racking up interest.

10 years goes very very fast. Make the financial system work for you not against you.
 
jesse said:
10 years down the line I don't think it'll have much of any value. Any employer is going to be quite hesitant to hire since the applicant will have absolutely zero experience in the field and will have forgotten the vast majority of what was learned.



However, 10 years down the line, that same money spent will have made a very measurable difference in the OP's assets if that same money were properly invested.



Money invested generating a profit versus money owed on another student loan racking up interest.



10 years goes very very fast. Make the financial system work for you not against you.
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Disagree.

20+ years down the road from my MBA, a new venture is being put together. And, besides $$$$, one of the items I bring to the table is an MBA and experience. The other investors are successful, but business organization, strategy, and plans are not their skill sets. They know their weak areas, just as I know mine.




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jesse said:
10 years down the line I don't think it'll have much of any value. Any employer is going to be quite hesitant to hire since the applicant will have absolutely zero experience in the field and will have forgotten the vast majority of what was learned.
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Definitely agree with this.
 
JoseCuervo said:
Disagree.

20+ years down the road from my MBA, a new venture is being put together. And, besides $$$$, one of the items I bring to the table is an MBA and experience. The other investors are successful, but business organization, strategy, and plans are not their skill sets. They know their weak areas, just as I know mine.
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That's the thing. You have experience working in the field.

Now imagine the OP with a masters in GIS but he has spent the past 10-20 years as a pilot, not working in GIS.
 
Everskyward said:
That's the thing. You have experience working in the field.

Now imagine the OP with a masters in GIS but he has spent the past 10-20 years as a pilot, not working in GIS.
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If it's a recent masters, he's written a thesis and does have experience in the field.

You seem to be confusing a masters with a baccalaureate. The point of a masters is a form of apprenticeship.
 
MAKG1 said:
If it's a recent masters, he's written a thesis and does have experience in the field.

You seem to be confusing a masters with a baccalaureate. The point of a masters is a form of apprenticeship.
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He said in his first post he's using it as a backup degree which, to me, means that his first choice of careers is as a pilot. Who knows how long it will be before he either wants to, or needs to, use his backup degree? It could be a long ways down the road. If I'm wrong about what he intends, maybe he will correct me.
 
Everskyward said:
He said in his first post he's using it as a backup degree which, to me, means that his first choice of careers is as a pilot. Who knows how long it will be before he either wants to, or needs to, use his backup degree? It could be a long ways down the road. If I'm wrong about what he intends, maybe he will correct me.
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It's a bit of both. The degree will at least take 3 years. So I will keep working as a pilot until then to help pay off my flying loans. After I get the degree I'll either choose to stay as a pilot or go into GIS. I could do both if I found the right company. I never know, I might not like this airline gig. It doesn't help that my degree is in Aviation. I just finished college three months ago, so this will also help to defer my federal loans. I feel like I need an actual real world degree. GIS was my first thought since I've always enjoyed doing the work in high school.
 
ARFlyer said:
It's a bit of both. The degree will at least take 3 years. So I will keep working as a pilot until then to help pay off my flying loans. After I get the degree I'll either choose to stay as a pilot or go into GIS. I could do both if I found the right company. I never know, I might not like this airline gig. It doesn't help that my degree is in Aviation. I just finished college three months ago, so this will also help to defer my federal loans. I feel like I need an actual real world degree. GIS was my first thought since I've always enjoyed doing the work in high school.
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Won't you need more loans if you go to graduate school?

Doing it because you are interested in it and can afford it is a good idea. Getting further into debt, maybe not. But everyone's gotta do what they gotta do.
 
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