Book Recommendations & Online Learning Resources for GIS (Beginner)

[SamDevan]

Hello,

I’m completely new to GIS and ArcGIS and have no formal education in this field. My interest in GIS grew after visiting an urban planning department at my workplace, and I’m now eager to teach myself GIS, starting with the basics and eventually learning tools like ArcGIS.

I came across degree programs like this one: Foothill GIS Degree Catalog, but I’m more interested in online courses that don’t necessarily offer certificates. Are there any online resources that could help me build a solid foundation in GIS, similar to what the degree would cover?

Also, would reading a few books be enough to get a deep understanding of GIS before moving to more specialized resources like Esri Press books? Any book recommendations for beginners would be greatly appreciated!

[SamDevan]

https://catalog.foothill.edu/degrees-certificates/geographic-information-systems-technology/

[SamDevan]

https://catalog.foothill.edu/degrees-certificates/geographic-information-systems-technology/

[StephanieOliver]

Hi @SamDevan,

There are a couple free courses online that could help you..
- GIS Basics 
- GIS Fundamentals Learning Plan

Also, there are MOOCs - Massive Open Online Courses that are free and give you access to the software: www.esri.com/training/Bookmark/FKFTGCV7KJ

Hope this helps! Happy Mapping!
Stephanie

[Craig_Carpenter]

Hi Sam,

Welcome to GIS! The best resources for learning may depend a bit on your learning style, personally I prefer a "learn-by-doing" approach, so if that works for you too, I say jump in and just start using the software, (I recommend starting with ArcGIS Online) you'll figure out the underlying concepts as you go. I second the MOOCs and online courses that Stephanie mentioned, several of the Esri Press Books come with codes that give you software access and are geared for new users, so check those out too.