| Rassilon | 24 Apr 2008 10:48 a.m. PST |
Hello, is there anyone here who was Geography and/or GIS major or is currently a Geographer / GIS specialist? I am leaning towards a degree in this area (possibly linked to Anthropology / Archeology) and looking for advice, opinions etc… Thank you very much, Adrian |
| jdpintex | 24 Apr 2008 11:56 a.m. PST |
Geology for me, but GIS is the big thing these days for a lot of environmental projects that I'm involved with. Also, big in natural resource/urban mapping and natural resource exploration and production. |
| Crow Bait | 24 Apr 2008 12:33 p.m. PST |
Geography, and work in the Intelligence contracting area. Once everything is boiled down, Intelligence Preperation of the BattleField (IPB) in all Geography. Even more esoteric things like the Frequency Spectrum is Geography. |
| Cpt Arexu | 24 Apr 2008 12:59 p.m. PST |
We use GIS in anthropology at my job (integrating USGS, tax maps, contractor maps and plans, and an extensive historic map collection). I work for a crm company in Hawaii. |
| Rassilon | 24 Apr 2008 1:04 p.m. PST |
Wow! Thanks! I would be curious to hear more about your education / career pathways? I am particularly interested in eventually finding Geography work in the Anthropology or military fields if I go this route. I would be curious as to the availability / competition for jobs? From what i've read, GIS is indeed "hot" but in other areas I am not so interested in. :) Thanks again!!! |
| Rassilon | 24 Apr 2008 4:02 p.m. PST |
Whoops, I just read that this was for industry related jobs… sorry! |
79thPA  | 25 Apr 2008 6:15 a.m. PST |
Doesn't seem to matter, as people post all sorts of jobs. Will a BS suffice or do you need an advanced degree for what you want to do? A BS in archeology will get you a 10-12 dollar an hour job as a shovel bum. |
| Rassilon | 25 Apr 2008 9:55 a.m. PST |
I want job options with a BA but intend/hope to get a masters… Understood on he Archeology degree… BA grads are dig monkeys. :) Hence my interest in Geography/GIS in combination… |
| mandt2 | 26 Apr 2008 6:24 a.m. PST |
First of all, it's archaeology. ;) Like Cpt, I work in Cultural Resources. Here in Arizona it's a pretty big business. Basically, if you throw a rock, you'll hit a prehistoric site. One of the things we use GPS for is to create site maps. Once archaeological features are excavated and fully exposed, our GPS guys come in and map the feature by plotting points all around it. These points are then downloaded to the computer, and the site maps are produced using that data and CAD. Now, one thing I have to tell you. No one ever got rich in Archaeology. It's about as over-degreed and underpaid a field as you can get into. If that's the way you want to go, do it because you love it. Otherwise, major in accounting or something. ;) |
| Rassilon | 27 Apr 2008 10:14 p.m. PST |
Archaeology. :P :) Thanks. ;) :) Definitely not looking to get rich in any career I end up in… just comfortable and happy. :) What I am trying to figure out is what is the path into GIS, mapping and cartography in Archaeology. Is it it via Geography (Anthro minor) or within Anthropology? I know if I studied GIS/mapping via Geography there is a world of job opportunities but is there a way into Archaeology or is it limited to those studying the field from within? |
| Smoke3 | 26 Nov 2008 3:23 p.m. PST |
If you are looking to be comfortable and happy in your career then definitely get into GIS. Archs can make an ok living with a BS/BA if you are in just the right place at just the right time. Hell, with Obama talking about funding the alternative energy business and hiring more federal employees this is a most excellent time to be in resource management. One tip of advice, when you apply for a job at a CRM firm or wherever, make sure they know upfront you are looking for a GIS job. If you just apply as a arch tech they will likely never give you the opportunity to show you can run GIS, I know that from experience. Where are you going to school? Do you work for anybody now? |
The G Dog  | 23 Jan 2009 2:26 p.m. PST |
Educated in Geography and GIS, currently working as an IT project manager for a major retailer. Pick a good school – mine were 'okay' but not 'great'. Did a stint in coastal North Carolina working with a commercial surveying company doing a combination of field work and GIS. Good work if you enjoy a mix of outdoors and office and enjoy producing maps with balky HP pen plotters. Not so good if you don't like quality time spent in wetlands. The Association of American Geographers (AAG) re-established the Military Geography specialty group about 10 years back. Check out the AAG website at aag.org for more information on careers in geography. |
