I suggest that if something is free or under $100, it would be better just to go to ESRI and take some of their training. ESRI training is good, I've used it to refresh myself when I have not used GIS in a while. The good thing about the Coursera class is that I think it was using one of the open access GIS platforms. That is a great thing to know. However, for employment purposes, ESRI is the gold standard for GIS and a home version is only $100 itself. The courses are generally more than that, however, if you have a friend who can hold your hand with ArcGIS and the few tools you might require, I bet you can get the basics in a couple of hours time, and learn the technicalities you need for your unique subject in the process. However, if you are looking for the certification for the purposes of employment, I would go with ESRI, if not a certificate program through a university. I don't know if online certification programs are recognized or not, but last I checked, the ESRI cert program required you to be in a classroom. That may have changed. In any case, certification will be costly, but the job opps it opens will more than pay for it.
I learned on the old ArcInfo many many years ago, and everything was in script, and program writing was in avenue. Now, almost everything is windows based and if you know visual basic, you can write tools and programs in it. This is one place where the open source software has often lagged behind the commercial product. M On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 11:53 AM, Jason Welborn <[email protected]> wrote: > Matthew, > > Penn State offers a free online course through Coursera: > https://www.coursera.org/#course/maps > To earn a certificate there is a fee of $49. > > The University of Arizona offers an online GIS Master's degree and a > professional certificate: > http://geography.arizona.edu/gis-masters > > These are two of the top geography departments in the nation - good luck! > > Jason Welborn > The Nature Conservancy > > > > On Wednesday, March 26, 2014 10:54 AM, Ziga Malek <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Dear Matthew and Ted, > > The Faculty of Geo-Information and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University > of Twente, Enschede from the Netherlands offers a variety of GIS distance > education courses, that finish in a certificate. I followed a course, > receiving a Certificate in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. The > prices vary, I believe they are around 1000 EUR (and more) if you are from a > industrialized country. The courses are listed at > http://www.itc.nl/CourseFinder > > Otherwise, coursera offers some geospatial related course (free), where you > can receive a certificate. https://www.coursera.org/ > > Hope this helps. > > Best, > > Žiga Malek > > ------------------------- > Research Assistant > International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) > Risk, Policy and Vulnerability Programme > Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria > > www.iiasa.ac.at > www.changes-itn.eu > > > > On 26 Mar 2014, at 16:15, Matthew Brousil <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hi everyone, >> >> I'm in a similar situation. I will be finishing undergrad this year with one >> introductory GIS course completed, but would like more training. If anyone >> can help I would also appreciate some suggestions on which online courses >> are most worth the effort. >> >> Thanks. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Mar 25, 2014, at 10:25 AM, Ted Turluck <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> I'm interested in getting certified in GIS through an online program. There >>> seem to be a lot of avenues towards certification. >>> >>> Can anyone recommend one program over the others? Is there one that is more >>> respected/legitimate? >>> >>> I'm just trying to narrow down my search. >>> >>> Thanks in advance. -- Malcolm L. McCallum Department of Environmental Studies University of Illinois at Springfield Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi) Wealth w/o work Pleasure w/o conscience Knowledge w/o character Commerce w/o morality Science w/o humanity Worship w/o sacrifice Politics w/o principle Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
