Learn GIS at UC San Diego

Avenues to Learn GIS @ UC San Diego

• Official ESRI Introductory Level Training
• Self-Paced Online Courses (Virtual Campus by ESRI)
• GIS Coordinator Workshops
• One-on-One Instruction Sessions & Research Consultations
• Courses for Credit
• GIS How-To's
• GIS Coordinator Presentations

Official ESRI Introductory Level Training   
The GIS Coordinator is an Authorized Trainer for ESRI's Introduction to ArcGIS I class.  This class is taught on a quarterly basis to current UC San Diego community members for a nominal fee (usually $980 if taken through ESRI directly!).  Please email the GIS Coordinator if interested in finding out more information.

Self-Paced Online Courses (Virtual Campus by ESRI) 
Free instruction courses are offered via ESRI's Virtual Campus. These self-paced courses provide GIS skills for the beginner to advanced GIS user. There are over 90 courses to choose from. Here's more information on how to take advantage of these courses at NO cost to you.

GIS Coordinator Workshops
GIS workshops are offered periodically throughout the academic year. These workshops are often for the beginning GIS user and focus on a particular topic or task. Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified of all workshop offerings.

One-on-One Instruction Sessions & Research Consultations
The GIS Coordinator and/or GIS staff are happy to help. We are available for walk-in questions on a first-come first-served basis while during scheduled staff hours in the Lab. The GIS Coordinator is also available by appointment for research consultations for all students, faculty and staff.

Courses for Credit
At this time, UC San Diego only offers extremely limited GIS-specific courses for credit. Past UCSD GIS courses have originated from the Urban Studies and Planning Program, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Earth/Geology Program, Department of History, Anthropology and UCSD Extension.

Mesa College, San Diego State University Geography Department, Southwestern Community College, and UC San Diego Extension have excellent GIS course offerings. If you take a course from these other academic institutions, be sure to check with your academic department regarding course credit.

GIS How-To's
Seeing how something is done is a great way to learn.  Here are a few good sites to help you out, and a guide for UCSD specifically.