Academic programs will lag and are also esri-loaded so skip the masters and get 
a job/co-op + CS classes and you'll lean much more/faster. We've hired people 
that way.
Ian White :: Urban Mapping Inc
690 Fifth Street Suite 200 :: San Francisco CA 94107
T.415.946.8170 :: F.866.385.8266 :: urbanmapping.com/blog

________________________________
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Sun Jun 20 12:27:00 2010
Subject: [Geowanking] Well-balanced, leading edge GIS grad programs?

Greetings,
I've noticed many grad programs in GIS/Geography, etc are a bit stuck... in 
like 2003. (I'm no expert, just holding a GIS Certificate)

With perhaps only ONE "webGIS" course offered, I write off many programs as 
ineligible to fulfill my learning needs for programming and open source webGIS 
tools, in addition to the standard ESRI fare which seems like yesterday's 
required knowledge. ESRI rocks on many levels, and should be included... but 
let's not debate that, PLEASE.

Focus: Does anyone know of an MA grad program that balances cutting edge webGIS 
programming exposure with vanilla desktop analysis curriculum? Am I making 
sense?  It seems to be one of those cases where the slow-to-adapt university 
Directors need to bring in some of you all as adjuncts to teach what is wanted 
in the marketplace...

I think throwing in some CS classes may be a cheap shortcut for what is really 
needed by GIS grads - open source coding ecology... or some such. You all know 
better than I do. Besides a mashup of education in the Bay Area, which may well 
round out my needs.... is there a MA program out there that is up to date in 
webGIS curriculum?

If you were directing a MA in Geography/Neogeography, what would your course 
descriptions sound like to produce a graduate who could go equally in either 
direction: backend programming or desktop analysis? The job descriptions I see 
out there require more programming knowledge than I see listed in many 
GIS-related MA program's coursework.

At your leisure, offlist responses, if you need to.
Thanks so much for your time,
D
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