GPS/GIS Careers

Agri-business problem solving often necessitates a team approach involving specialists with Geographic Information from Geographic Positioning Satellites. GPS/GIS specialists Duties: Natural Resource Careers

Natural Resource Careers

• Ecologist
• Environmental Planner
• Park Management
• Re-vegetation specialist
• Soil and water engineering
• Habitat restoration specialist
• And consultants, all use GIS

Preparation for Careers

Your High School is a great place to become familiar with careers in GIS and Biotechnology. Many of your high school science and agriculture courses directly prepare you for those you will take in college. Some high school courses even count for college credit, and if you enroll in college courses while in high school tuition is free!

Ventura College

Offers programs in GIS/GPS, Water Science, Natural Resources, Plant biotechnology, and Horticulture. These courses can prepare you for direct career entry, skill upgrading or completion of a technical certificate or AA degree. Check with your counselor or www.venturacollege.edu for a complete list of certificates and degrees.

Most VC courses transfer to four-year universities. VC is a smart investment in your education, costing an average of $432 per year (for the first 2 years of college). Compare that to CSU at $3444 and UC at $6972 per year (2003-4 figures).

How do I train for
GIS or Biotechnology career?

You may enroll in college classes while in high school (Tuition is free). Talk to your high school counselor for details (or access the college of your choice on–line for details of preparation in your major).

Start at a Community College?

Ventura College can fulfill most of the freshman and sophomore requirements for ag-GIS/GPS and biotechnology majors, before transferring to a university. If you want to work in as a technician you can take courses for a technical certificate, work, and transfer to a university later. Check with your counselor or www.venturacollege.edu for certificates and degrees. Ventura College classes are $18/unit (2003 figure) for residents.

Finish at a local university?

UCSB:

Students planning to complete their undergraduate biology degrees at UCSB may pursue any of the following majors in preparation for environmental sciences: Biological Sciences BA or BS (9 distinct majors); Biochemistry; Biopsychology; Chemistry (students must add a year sequence of biology); Environmental Science BS; Geological Sciences Science , Earth Systems Emphasis, or Paleobiology Emphasis; Hydrologic Sciences; and Physics (students must add a year sequence of biology). Information about admission requirements, selection criteria, and the transferability of Ventura College course work is available at the following websites: www.ucsb.edu/admit/mainr or transfer@sa.ucsb.edu

Cal Poly SLO, CSU Fresno:

These universities have programs in Agricultural science and other majors that include GIS/GPS advanced training. Subject matter course requirements are listed in the current on-line catalog or can be obtained from your counselor. Much of the information is also available on-line at www.csufresno.edu or www.calpoly.edu, or www.csuchico.edu

Biotechnician jobs

Quality Control Tech's
Perform laboratory tests to monitor compliance with FDA or ISO requirements.

Cell Culture Assistants

Aseptically inoculate cell cultures and monitor growth under safe .

Lab Assistants

Are responsible for production, purification, lab services, or general activities requiring regulatory compliance.

• Collect field data
• Photo interpretation and remote data sensing
• Analyze and design databases
• Analyze GPS surveys
• Organize and manage total project solutions

Preparation

A biotechnology career can begin as a technician and continue at a college or university on a part-time basis (often paid for by your employer!)

Take as many high school science and math courses as possible, especially those that are laboratory oriented.

Salaries: www.bls.gov, and www.bio.org

Why choose a career in GIS/GPS?

• GIS agri-science career opportunities:

Agribusiness,City Planning, Range Managers, Soil Conservation, Farm Data Manager, Ecologist, Hydrologist, Field Sensor Monitor, Enforcement/regulation, and more

• Range of educational possibilities from high school to graduate school

• Over 198,000 jobs were filled in the U.S. in 2000!

Why choose a career in biotechnology?

Job growth will be strongest in state and local industries at entry level (over 1400 are expected to be hired by Ventura County companies in 2004!)

• Quality Control : Perform tests to determine whether products meet stringent company and regulatory demands.

• Lab Services : Provide assistance and prepare materials to support lab research and development or production

What can you do in Ventura County?

Over 29 local biotech companies will be hiring new employees in 2004!

How much will I get paid?

“Biological sciences” is the top job category listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( www. bls.gov )

Check out current salaries at www.biospace.com

GIS Agri-science and Biotechnology Programs Articulated with Ventura College This Ventura College GIS agrisience and Biotechnology Articulation Project was funded by the Chancellor's Office of the California Community Colleges, Tech Prep 03-139-176 . Linked programs in GIS/GPS were funded by USDA grant 2003-04172, for more information contact the Project Director, Bill Thieman, at bthieman@vcccd.net

Ventura College GIS and bio-science Programs

Bill Thieman
Ventura College
4667 Telegraph Rd
Ventura, CA 93003