SCC Premiers Surveying Technology Program this fall

SYLVA - Southwestern Community College recently received approval to offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in land surveying technology beginning this fall.

"The local community has a strong and evident need for more land surveyors," said Dr. Gene Couch, vice-president of instructional services at Southwestern. "That need is particularly acute in the Qualla Boundary."

In addition to the current shortage of surveyors, a report released by the College earlier this year indicated there would be a 39% growth in local surveying positions over the next two years.

Roy Tucker, a land surveyor in Jackson County, expressed his approval of Southwestern's new program.

"We've got a serious shortage of qualified surveying technicians in this area, and I'm pleased to hear we're taking steps to remedy the issue," said Tucker.

The program will be offered at Southwestern's Cherokee Center, and students will have the option to earn this degree through weekend and evening courses.

The curriculum will provide hands-on training in land, route and construction surveying, photogrammetry, mapping, global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems, as well as other areas of property description and measurements.

Coursework will include the communication and computational skills required for boundary, construction, route and control surveying; photogrammetry; topography; drainage; surveying law; and subdivision design, with emphasis in applications of electronic data collection and related software, including CAD.

Graduates of the two-year program will be prepared sit for the first component of the North Carolina Surveying Examination, gain entry-level employment in the surveying profession and/or transfer to a four-year surveying program.

For additional information, contact Thom Brooks, SCC's dean of career technologies, at 586-4091 or (800) 447-4091, Ext. 202.

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