|
|
|
|
Foothill GIS program wins $450,000 NSF grant! read more
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
Foothill GIS program wins $450,000 NSF grant! read more |
GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. A GIS is a smart map. A GIS uses a computer to stack many maps of the same area on top of each other. For example, a city planner might take a map of city parks, a map of school districts, and a map showing where the most children under the age of 5 live to predict what schools in the city will have the largest enrollment in the near future.
An example of the map layers of a GIS are shown below:
 |
In addition to simply showing spatial relationships, GIS also are used as information management systems. An example of a conventional information management system is a spread sheet. A police department may use a spreadsheet to keep track of where a particular types of crime occurred:
With a GIS, the police department could not only keep track of what district each crime occurred in, but also, where in the district the crime occurred. This would allow easy identification of 'problem areas' where crimes are concentrated within the district. In addition, the GIS would allow the police department to correlate crime locations with other factors such as gang territories.
In fact, when GIS are used as information management systems, each map layer of the GIS has an entire spreadsheet of data associated with it, and the user can 'drill down' through the map layers at a particular point to find out more about what features are associated with a particular location:
|
|
GIS are a suite of software products, just like word processors. Just like Word Perfect, Lotus Works and Microsoft Word are types of word processors that can each be used to write a paper, the many GIS software products presently on the market all can be used to create maps and manage spatial information. The Foothill College GIS program trains its students in four different software products: ESRI's Arc View, Intergraph's GeoMedia and Geo Media Pro, and IDRISI's IDRISI 3.2.
For more information on what a GIS does, visit the following sites:
US Geological Survey summary of GIS
Demystifying the Persistent Ambiguity of GIS as "Tool" Versus "Science" An article by Dawn Wright, Michael Goodchild and James Proctor from the The Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 87(2): 346-362, 1997.
GIS is widely used both in 'industry' and as a research tool by nearly every academic discipline at the university level. GIS skills are highly desirable in agriculture, cartography, city management, urban planning, law enforcement, real estate, archaeology and much, much more.
GIS is an applied discipline. A person does not simply 'do GIS.' Rather, GIS is applied to a wide variety of professions. Therefore, as a part of the Foothill College Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems students select focus area from the list below. A student with course work from another institution, or in a discipline not listed below may petition to have the focus area work considered in lieu of the listed courses below.
Agriculture/Ornamental Horticulture, Anthropology, Biology, Business, Economics, Geography, Geology, History, Political Science, Psychology, Real Estate, Sociology, Travel Careers
GIS classes at Foothill College
Foothill College offers a wide range of GIS classes which may be taken as part of the Certificate Program in Geographic Information Systems. Foothill College GIS classes take a practical, hands-on approach to learning. Our program does not simply teach students how to use a specific software. Students in our program learn how to apply GIS to their discipline and gain experience in a variety of the leading GIS software products. All classes are taught in a state-of-the-art computer laboratory and give students experience in the leading GIS software products.
GIS classes offered at Foothill College include Introduction to GIS, Advanced GIS, Spatial Analysis, Remote Sensing, and Map Presentation and Design. The two core classes in the GIS Certificate Program, Introduction to GIS and Advanced GIS will be offered Fall and Winter quarters only, so plan ahead! For more information about class offerings, click here.
For more information on Geographic Information Systems or the Foothill GIS program, please contact Allison Lenkeit Meezan by email or phone (650-949-7166)
Professionals with GIS skills are in great demand in the San Francisco Bay Area, across the country and around the world.
Local (Bay Area) Jobs
Bay Area Automated Mapping Association (BAAMA) job listings A local listing of companies looking for professionals with GIS skills
National and International Jobs
How much money will I make?
What graduates of the Foothill GIS Certificate Program are doing now
- Full or part time GIS jobs at: City of Palo Alto, City of San Jose, Santa Clara County Information Services, Santa Clara County, San Mateo County
- Graduate school at: San Jose State, UC Berkeley, NYU, University of Minnisota, University of Oregon, University of North Carolina
For more information on Geographic Information Systems or the Foothill GIS program, please contact Allison Lenkeit Meezan by email or phone (650-949-7166)
| Geography and GIS at
Foothill |
Foothill College Homepage |
Business and Social Science Division |
