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Online GIS classes are important for environmental, mapping, and land use planning jobs. Universities and non-profit organizations offer comprehensive courses, but it’s important to consider the type of GIS taught and the method of instruction, including hands-on experience.
Online GIS classes can be a great way to expand your knowledge of geographic information systems. GIS skills are important for many different types of environmental, mapping, and land use planning jobs, and many employers in these areas require prospective employees. If you’re going to spend the time and money to take online GIS classes, however, you’ll want to make sure they’re useful to you. It is important to consider the source; a college or university, or a large non-profit organization, is probably the best choice for taking an online GIS course. Also, consider the methods of instruction, as GIS is virtually impossible to learn through lectures or note-taking alone, without any kind of hands-on experience.
There are several universities that offer online GIS classes at undergraduate and even graduate levels. They can be quite expensive, but they are usually very comprehensive and can last anywhere from a few weeks to the length of the semester, depending on the course. If the university is properly accredited, these credits can be transferred to a degree program at another university, in areas such as geography, natural resource management or environmental science. Be sure to check this with your college or university ahead of time if this is important to you.
Larger non-profit organizations also sometimes offer online GIS courses to members at a free or reduced fee. This may not offer college credit, but some do offer a certificate, and potential employers may be pleased with this type of experience. For personal enrichment, these types of online GIS classes can also be very beneficial. The next thing to consider when selecting online classes is the type of GIS taught. General GIS skills are important, but it may be more beneficial to learn a specific software program. Certain environmental fields typically use a certain type of software; figuring out what it is and then taking a class that teaches specific GIS for that software can be more effective.
In online GIS classes, the method of instruction is important. Lectures and examples, as well as readings, are common in almost all online classes, but it’s important to be able to ask the teacher or even other classmates questions. In an online GIS class, especially one where a fee is paid, you absolutely must have daily hands-on experience using the GIS software. If the course doesn’t offer that kind of experience, look elsewhere, as it will be incredibly difficult to learn these skills without it.
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