Penn College Surveying

Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

This curriculum is designed to equip graduates to face the challenge of modern Surveying practice. The major also provides an overview of the surveying field and prepares students for advanced study and for the Surveying Fundamentals exam which is the first step in the process for registration as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). The major emphasizes applications-based studies involving the analysis of surveying projects. Modern approaches to the analysis of highways, structures, hydraulic systems and site development will be emphasized.

This technical instruction with modern instrumentation, hardware and software will be reinforced with foundation courses emphasizing written and oral communication, physics, fluid mechanics and calculus. All the instruction is presented with problem solving in mind and strong emphasis on applications and critical thinking.

Career Opportunities:  Graduates may be employed by the Department of Transportation, surveying firms, government agencies, land-use planners, and similar employers.

Recommended High School Subjects:  A strong preparation in math, science, and computer technology is recommended but not required. Drafting and CAD also would be helpful.

Remediation Strategies:  Students should remediate any deficiencies prior to enrollment. It is recommended that students remediate deficiencies in the following order of priority: mathematics, English, reading. Students testing below MTH 180 are not permitted to take Civil Engineering Technology (CET) courses except for CET 113 until all math deficiencies below MTH 006 have been cleared.

Transfer Procedures:  This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits.htm ). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.

Program Goals:  A graduate of this major should be able to:

• distinguish among various types of surveys and select and use the proper instruments and methods for each type of survey. These will include boundary, control, construction, topographic and geodetic surveys.
• construct cartographic and topographic maps using recognized mapping procedures.
• use aerial photographs in making engineering measurements and topographic maps.
• apply basic criteria used to design and locate highways and estimate earthwork quantities for highway construction.
• demonstrate a working knowledge of the mechanics of compressible and incompressible fluid flow and their applications in piping systems, pumps, open channels and reservoirs.
• predict the effects of rainfall runoff on engineering systems; design inlets, gutters, retention/detention basins and sedimentation control devices using accepted procedures.
• understand surveying law and sources of information needed for the location and relocation of land boundaries.
• understand and use the procedures for the development of land.
• demonstrate fundamental skills and knowledge in the use of Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), and perform basic drawing functions with CAD equipment to create surveying drawings.
• use algebra, trigonometry, analytic geometry, statistics and applied calculus to solve problems related to surveying.
• apply scientific procedures learned in physics in solving surveying problems.
• prepare and use computer programs needed to solve surveying problems.