Master's Degree in Geospatial Engineering?

boy- I think this is going to get good:-). I won't and can't answer your question about staying is school - will your license be better if you have your master's? - I would say no - your time in the field will make you a better surveyor - thats only my opinion coming from someone who has a degree..

I second that opinion Mr RAGOODWIN. The real learning comes after the degree (also a BS'r).

As far as masters programs, I'd think one in business would be more valuable than geospatial engineering. But that's just me. Unless of course the desired career path is academia, then just have at it and go towards a phd.

Good luck

Well, let's speak of (2) scenarios:

One(Me): SIT, 15 years experience, AAS (Geomatics), BAS (Digital Mapping), Minor (GISystems)

Two(Colleague): BS (Geomatics), Minimal Field experience, very book and tech savy. Testing for SIT in October.

Just can't justify it per practicing in our profession other than education.

james, I believe in education for surveyors or geospatial engineering- I guess my comment was directed at your comment asking if getting a Masters would "propel" him over a RPLS without a Masters degree - I know of a surveyor who recently got his RPLS and had a Masters in Business Administration and is extremely intelligent and book smart but in my opinion is not a good surveyor - he hasn't had the field experience..

Right now, I would do it, depending on what type of job you want. If you plan to get a job at a "mom and pop" operation, or a some job where you'll be doing microstation road work all day, it probably won't help.

But, there's really no reason to rush out of school these days, because no one is hiring or willing pay top wages right now anyway ... Having a Masters will only broaden your base when it comes to job opens. Any government job will rate your application higher for having more education. One lady I went to school with stayed for he Masters and got hired by the CIA right out of college, doing some "top secret" satellite interpretation type work. I even saw a job opening for an Adjunct professors at that only required a Masters.

Go for it. You'll have more opportunities.

Get a law degree.

If you have a desire to teach in the future go for it. If Not, a masters probably wouldn't get you ahead of someone with experience for about 95 percent of the surveying positions out there. My 0.02c

A person cannot every get enough book learning, regardless of the topic.

Whether it is Geospatial or just simple Surveying, be sure to mix that with equal parts of field experience to round the education needs. This is not anything to do with requirements for approval to test, I mean experiences that are needed to understand what someone is expressing in by deed intent and description, by notes or by word of mouth.

Law, business, book keeping, filing systems, computer skills, writing skills, reading and oh yeah math. Surveyors need to be well rounded background in and out of the office.

It may take a lifetime to learn what you need to know for the next time the phone rings.

Good Luck 😉

More school.

Our profession should be requiring masters degrees for all registrants. Plus go for your JD.

Be sure to give yourself enough time in the field for adequate knowledge.

Go for it, even if you do it at night. Times are changing and so is this profession.

I don't think you'll ever regret it. You can get the onion skin at any time as soon as you meet the experience requirement.

Ralph

Go for it. That's one thing they can never take from you ... your education. The direct benefits on your first job out of school may be zilch; but will indeed enhance a lifetime career.

For Boundary Surveying, there is no substitute for experience. However, most practical experience will provide little to no theory. The best place to learn the theory is in higher education.

I don’t know if a masters will help you get a job, but it certainly won’t hurt you either. If you can afford the time and money—do it. It will likely not help you get your license but education is always worthwhile. By the time you finish your masters in a couple of years the economy might be better and there might be more jobs available. Trust me now is not a good time to look for a job.

Thanks All.

I have failed to mention that the graduate program is within TAMUCC and the undergrad degree would transfer seamless within the curriculim. This grad degree is my only concern. I have no interest in any others, although they would have more of a direct impact on my career.

I am not worried about a job(knock on wood) as I have had many offers and more specifically, 3 in the last week. And, they all are local.

The question being:
Will the graduate degree get me further in the profession?
Will I get a bid just because I have a Master's?

From my years of experience, I see that: reputation,
business/client skills, continuing education, umderstanding the profession(legalities, technology, techniques), knowing the threshold of services that I am licensed to provide, and BST(blood,sweat,tears) will set me apart from others, not necessarily an additional degree.

> All:
> I am contemplating on continuing my education in Geospatial Engineering (Survey, GISystems, Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry etc.) I will have a BS (Geomatics) in May and wondering if graduate school would provide more opportunities other than self-gratitude in the Surveying industry.
>
> In Texas, only a bachelors (education aspect) is required for the RPLS examination. I understand that a graduate degree will allow me to teach and opens the door to a Doctorate, but neither interest me. Ultimately at the end of the day, I want to be registered and practice professionally and I can do that with a 4-year degree.
>
> So, the questions are:
> Do I spend 2 more years in school?
> Will a Masters propel me over any other registered surveyor as we have equal license?
>
> Again, I would like to have a Masters but is it worth money, effort, and time when I can practice without it?

James,

A masters in Geospatial won't really help your career, IMO. An MBA will, depending on if you plan to be a manager and responsible for financial performance or maybe in starting your own company. Your license and your personal drive is what will determine your career path more than anything. If you don't get your license, you can't run a surveying business (in CA anyways, not sure of TX laws about offering land surveying services). If that is what your ultimate goal is, then head for an MBA program.

But, like others have said, your education is not unimportant and I don't discourage it.

Good luck,

Ryan.

Master's Degree In Surveying Is Worth 1 Years Experience...

...toward the PLS in some states. But I believe in some other states the BS allows you to sit with no experience.

An MBA counts for zero surveying experience.

The GIS education will open different doors for you, so it is not a waste as some are saying.

As far as teaching surveying, after the MS go for a Juris Doctorate, even if you never site for the bar it is a good qualification for teaching.

Paul in PA

James,

I did a bachelor's degree at UMaine and a master's at Wisconsin, both in geospatial engineering, and started my own surveying practice a couple years ago after getting licensed. If your goal is to stay strictly in surveying, I would say it depends on whether they offer you any kind of assistantship or fellowship. I'm glad I did it, partly because it didn't cost me anything as I worked as a teaching assistant and research assistant. Teaching a surveying course was great experience and forced my to really learn my stuff. On the other hand, most grad programs are oriented towards research and you're not going to gain much practical surveying or business knowledge. If you're going to be paying for it on your own, you have to consider all the extra debt you'll be taking on. Your career will also be delayed a couple years, but then there's plenty of time for that. Good luck!

If all you want to do is self-practice boundary or construction, call it good. If you actually want to be considered for options in photogrammetry, remote sensing, GIS - from such employers as USGS, NGS, NGA, state DOTs, etc, the masters degree will be invaluable. At that point, its more about doing what you're truly passionate about.

Go for it! You need a Master's to teach at the Bachelors' level. Worth it for that alone, not just for yourself but for surveying as a whole. If you can transfer right in without re-applying or packing up and moving, you are blessed.

In the small company world, it will be a harmless curiousity to some and unfortunately the mark of an unhireable egghead to others. Don't let that stop you.

DITTO What Cliff Said