A Masters in GIS? is it needed

Question

I'm looking for some advice from anyone who have either considered or obtained a masters in GIS.

For those who have received their MSGIS, I'm wondering whether you have found your masters of be of great use in your roles and how so?

For those who decided against a MSGIS degree, did you do any other trainings or preparations that helped you get into your role without a degree?

For those with other industry-specific masters degree, how difficult did you find it to incorporate GIS into the coursework, if at all?

I'm about 6 years into GIS career and I'm really trying to figure out whether my next course of action should be a masters in GIS, I want to pursue more senior/lead roles in GIS on the technical side.

my current role is a Geospatial Specialist

Ibrahimishag · Answer

I think pursuing a master’s can definitely be useful, depending on your career goals. Personally, I sometimes regret not following through with an opportunity I once had to join the Marine Science Association at Benghazi University in Libya (if I recall the name correctly). They were collaborating with Mediterranean organizations on a specialized study of the angelshark. That experience could have been a great stepping stone, and it still crosses my mind to this day.

From my perspective, it’s not only about the degree itself but also the unique projects, networks, and collaborations you gain access to through it. Those opportunities can shape your career path in ways that go beyond just the academic qualification.

ZavierWilliams1906 · Answer

Thank you everyone for your insight! over the last month I've been researching programs and training classes, and I have found my preferred route.

Natdiasc · Answer

As someone who had the same question a few years ago, I’ll tell you what I think now that I’ve completed my master’s. I finished my master’s in oceanography, and it was pretty simple to integrate GIS since oceanography is very broad, and almost all of my analyses were done through GIS. I decided to pursue my master's right after completing my undergraduate degree because, at that point, I hadn’t decided whether I would stay in academia or not. A master's degree gives me a significant edge in this area, and I believe it was worth it.

On the other hand, if I had been sure that I wanted to stay in the technical or private sector, I believe I would have opted for at most a professional master's or a course more focused on the technical side and data management. Not necessarily an academic degree, you know? I hope I’ve helped in some way!