Thanks for the responses everyone. Just trying to gauge at what level PLSS is taught in college curriculums. And whether it is a cursory knowledge of the Manual or a higher level introduction. Also, whether the depth varies depending on the location of the school.
Ric,
In the '70s, Roy Minnick utilized the then brand new 1973 Manual in every class he taught at Sacramento City College - whether writing descriptions using aliquot parts, retracing the same, or as a guide for respecting bone fide rights.
In my tenure at OIT, PLSS was weaved into nearly any and all classes dealing with boundaries, law, legal descriptions. One class was literally to retrace lost or obliterated corners within the Winema-Fremont national forest and provide a solution for the reestablished corner location using different methods to compare, pacing, Chain and compass, Traverse and GPS if possible from GLO notes and prior replacements if they existed. Good times!
I can't speak for the typical college survey curriculum, as my undergrad coursework was in engineering with the surveying coursework somewhat of an afterthought. Actually there was no "land surveying" major; the next closest were GIS or Forestry.
I took both of the public lands courses by Mouland at UWYO Outreach program. The courses are excellent. In fact, I'm wading through CFeds right now, and I haven't come across much new information (except for indian stuff). Dennis' classes are very comprehensive. It's worth noting that the initial cost of CFeds is less than these 2 classes combined though...
Fresno State - yes, the curriculum included a course dedicated to the PLSS, distinct from other boundary subjects. The PLSS course also included a fieldwork component.
I also took all of U of Wyoming outreach programs by Mouland. Recommend them highly. I still refer back to the books on a needed basis.
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I took Land Survey Systems (I think that is what it was called, at least that is what the book was titled) with John McEntyre (he was the author of the book) at Purdue in the mid 80's. We also used the 1973 Manual of Instructions.
I have not done any boundary work in a PLSS state since then.
I audited the only land surveying course available (there were other surveying-related courses) while completing my masters' degree in engineering in 1982. Audited because it didn't apply to my major and if the workload got too intense I could ignore it. But it was quite interesting to me and I did complete all the homework.
I was already conversant with aliquot part descriptions because Dad and I always figured out who was selling what to whom when the county newspaper listed real estate sales along with the birth, death, and traffic ticket listings. I had read much of Davis, Foote, and Kelly, had played with a transit, and had read some history including the field notes for Burt's work on the 5th Principal Meridian. So I knew at least as much as the other students about most aspects of land surveying.
That course also used McEntyre's book. The course was mostly a first-pass introduction to the PLSS. It did not get into case law in any detail. The homework was basic traverse computation around lots or sections. We had a couple field trips to participate in actual measurements the instructor was doing for his private practice, but I got assigned to guard the target from traffic on the gravel roads and didn't get to fondle the instrument, much to my disappointment.
I tried looking up that course recently, and I get the impression it is only offered in alternate years, with nothing beyond it at that school.
No degree in surveying, I didn't figure on being a surveyor until after getting a degree in business. But took a class in legal descriptions at Riverside Ca. JC in the late 80's and the ex county surveyor teaching the class(I think his name was Stafford) said if you don't know where the original descriptions came from and how the plss was originally surveyed you could never understand legal descriptions. So he gave a fairly lengthily overview of the plss that I always remembered and was the basis of my knowledge. I refined that knowledge with Paul Cuomos classes from Jc classes in Santa Anna California a few years later all while going through the Operating Engineers apprenticeship program. Not a bad education now that I look back on it, should qualify as a minor at least :). Jp
bene1, John Hamilton, and others...thanks for the additional responses confirming that some curriculums did/do have classes dedicated solely to the PLSS. I believe it's a mix between that and integrated into the boundary/description-related courses as others have said and highly dependent upon where in the country those programs are located.
JP7191 - I think that was Chuck Safford if I'm not mistaken...
Ric, It was Gerald Stayner.... not Stafford. Great guy. Jp
Oh right Jerry Staynor. I believe he was a former Riverside County Surveyor if I recall correctly.