[canrocks]

Hey everyone. . . I'm looking at doing a GIS certificate program because as most of you Ryerson grads know, A B.URPl does not prepare you to do anything in GIS. I need to top up my knowledge and am realizing that there is no shortage of options. I'm wondering if anyone out there in UrbanToronto land has any experience with any of them.

My instinct (not my brain) is telling me that Ryerson's program is better. . . because it's a university. . . and the course descriptions sound a little more professional and interesting . . . but the price difference between Ryerson and the colleges is surprisingly huge. The other disadvantage is that I can't do it by distance ed in one year; I'd have to either take some classes in person or do it in two years.

George Brown is the cheapest, and the closest of the colleges, although I suppose it doesn't matter too much because I'd be doing all the courses by distance ed.

York isn't really an option because it has classroom courses and I would have a hard time getting there.

Ryerson: http://ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce/cale...n=program&sub=cert&cert=APPDIG00&mode=program
6 courses * $645 = $3870

George Brown: http://coned.georgebrown.ca/owa_prod/cewskcrss.P_Certificate?area_code=PA0048&cert_code=CE0244
2 courses * $264 + 6 courses * $335 = $2538

Seneca: https://www2.senecacollege.ca/ce/technology/geographic-information-systems.html
8 courses * $328 = $2624

Humber: http://calendardb.humber.ca/LIS/WebCalendar/CE/ProgramOffering.do?name=31351
2 courses * $298 plus 6 courses * $390 = 2936

Centennial: http://db2.centennialcollege.ca/ce/certdetail.php?CertificateCode=7167
8 courses * $364 = $2912

York: http://www.yorku.ca/fes/students/current/bes/certificates/gis-remote-sensing.htm
Frankly, their website is awful so I can't find any information on prices or whether I can take courses by distance ed.

 

[jn_12]

I've considered looking into something similar since my Masters in Planning hasn't resulted in a job nearly 2.5 years after completing it. The price is the big factor for me as well, and I also have my doubts as to whether a certificate in GIS will pay off on its own. It wouldn't hurt, but I also wouldn't want to be stuck being a GIS technician with a Masters degree. Certainly with just a bachelors I think a GIS certificate makes sense.

I know that in my Masters program at York they had a few intensive GIS courses that you could take, so maybe it'd be worth looking into something like that, that way you get the masters degree and GIS experience?

 

[doady]

I did GIS at UTM, but that was an undergraduate degree, 4 year program.

Sorry for useless answer.

 

[bAuHaUs]

I'm a graduate of the old Applied Geography bachelor's program at RU (class of 1993), and even back then the heavy focus on GIS analyses has helped me throughout my career in real estate/retail planning. I would suggest you stick with Ryerson since they continue to trailblaze in this discipline and their GIS lab/facilities are world class. Ryerson and the Geography department faculty have always provided great support to the students when it comes to finding suitable jobs. Good luck canrocks with your selection.