Name: Fernando RamirezMajor: GIS
Year of Graduation: 2010
Current employment status:
- Employer: University of Maryland, Department of Geographical Sciences
- Position: Systems Administrator
Did you/do you currently go to graduate school? If so:
- School: University of Maryland
- Program: Master of Professional Studies in Geographical Information Sciences
Why did you want to be a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?
Becoming a GIS major was an easy decision. It was a program that would allow me to take advantage of my technical background and apply it to my interest in environmental changes. It was also a program that allowed flexibility when choosing a career path since the technology could be applied to many fields.
What internships or independent research did you do as a GEOG/GIS/ENSP major?
As a GIS major, most of the independent research I have done consisted of tracking the effects ski resorts have on their environment. Modeling soil erosion and water use were the two major components of my research.
What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success while they are still undergraduates?
From my experience, GIS careers are increasingly becoming more dependent on programming and scripting skills. Undergraduates should take advantage of the many courses available that teach good programming foundations on campus. This will allow them to take full advantage of GIS software features as well as one day make themselves more marketable to employers.
What recommendations would you make to current GEOG/GIS/ENSP majors for career and academic success after graduation?
Post-graduation, I would recommend GIS majors to continue gaining knowledge in order to become successful in their careers. Due to the nature of technology, GIS is ever-changing, so keeping up with new features and methods is key to developing and growing.
