My advice would be to finish. You seem to be interested in advancing your surveying career, and you will eventually reach a wall if you don't have your degree. With so many states going to the 4-year degree requirement, you'll need it to be licensed, and that is the way to keep advancing. You may suffer for it at first, but eventually it will pay off.
I was fortunate enough to obtain licensure without a degree, but i still regret that i did not complete mine. I have considered returning for it.
Chris Billingsley
How Can our Final Year Not Include Surveying Classes?
I, and probably others, are not quite following your academic path.
Generally the courses get more degree specific as college progresses.
What college and what is transferable?
Have you been going part time and are now forced to finish up within one year?
Gen Ed courses are more easily attainable anywhere and most publically sponsored colleges are more or less obliged to accept non core courses from other institutions.
Paul in PA
How Can our Final Year Not Include Surveying Classes?
The program he is enrolled in requires you to get an Associates Degree in surveying and then transfer to another college to finish your four year degree. The two colleges currently work together to offer reciprocity/in-state tuition rates (they're in two different states, but just accross the Ohio River from each other) to help the students get a degree that will be acceptable to the three boards most potential surveyors have to deal with in this area (Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana). Most of your core surveying courses are taken within the first three years of your education while the remaining courses tend to be your humanities courses. There are four different professional surveying chapters (2 in Ohio, 1 in KY, and 1 in Indiana) in this area that have come together to work with the colleges to help with cirriculum as well as mentoring the students. I haven't personally heard anything about the two colleges discussing discontinuing this agreement/partnership, but then again I am not always in the know on this. I do know enrollment in the program is not what it probably should be in order to justify maintaining the program. This is a great option if a career in surveying is what you want to pursue in this area, unfortunately as we all know the economy is not helping the future of surveying. On top of that there are many universities within each state offering engineering degrees. With an engineering degree and 12 credit hours of surveying specific courses in two of the states (not sure about IN) you qualify to sit for the LSIT. All you need after that is to meet the experience qualifications.
The best part about this program is it can be completed as a full-time student or by taking night classes. I worked full time for all four years I was in the program and went to class in the evenings. It was rough at times, but it was well worth it in the end. As far as I know those classes he has remaining (non-surveying specific/humanities) should be offered online, they just don't offer them every semester because they cycle them. You have to stay on track and if you miss a semester then you have to wait for them to come back around and be offered again. Usually the counselors set you up on a schedule and as long as you stick to it you don't have to attend the school in person during the final years.
Brent, It Appears You Know Which College?
I have done a lot of following of Surveying degrees, but have not seen this before?
Please, what colleges?
Paul in PA
Finish school!!
I was in the same boat in the '80's. It was only a two year AA program, but we were required to spend the summer at a surveying job. I got one, ended up on the slope, and never went back. I then procrastinated when they ended the "work experience= school" for licensure and didn't sit when I was qualified. Now I need to go back to school for a 4 year degree and that is a hard one for me, sitting on a 6 figure a year job. I never want to go back to the "stariving student" gig ever again.
my $0.02 worth anyhoots!
-JD-
It Does Not Appear To Be ETSU?
East Tennessee State University which has a BS in Surveying. Also of interest is ETSU's program to fill out class size, the "Academic Common Market".
"Academic Common Market:
The Academic Common Market is an interstate agreement among southern states for sharing academically uncommon programs. Because ETSU's Surveying & Mapping Science program is so unique, students from the following states may apply for Academic Common Market status and qualify for in-state tuition rates:
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia (as approved for the 2008/09 academic year)."
I took advantage of a similar program at NJIT. The New Jersey Insitute of Technology allow students from the New York metropolitan area to qualify for in state tuition rates. I knew of one student commuting by subway/train from NYC. When I indicated to Professor Grenfeld that after one year of reducing my working hours to take all available courses that tuition was becoming a problem he suggested I apply for the reduced rates. I submitted a letter making my case that numerous Easton, PA area residents commuted to New York for jobs. The school accepted that and I expected to see the reduced rates for the upcoming semesters, but they went one better. They refunded some of the tuition I had paid for courses in hand. I had them hold the money against my new balance.
Penn State has a similar program for any high school student in any of the NY border counties along the PA state line. Most counties on both sides are very rural and sometimes the nearest high is in the next state. My sister lives in Eldred, PA, her son attended a NY high school.
So I definitely agree it is a good idea.
Paul in PA
Finish school!!
Depends on your goals, also take into consideration that surveying demands are changing and the economy will never return to the blind growth times of the past, at least unlikely in out lifetime. You have much invested so it would pay to complete, but while doing so, look around and go for a minor in something else that is likely to continue to be in demand and somewhat free of the economy.
jud
I'm truly sorry if you are at a place where you pay for a piece of paper. At our institution one must earn the degree, whether they pay or not.
All of the courses we require are most certainly related to functions of a professional surveyor. Many of them are probably not necessary for a surveying technician. And we only offer an associate degree.
The courses I took that seemed the most worthless when I was in your shoes have proved to be the most beneficial in the long run. But I do remember the day, so can't hold it against you.
If you finish you will not regret it. If you don't finish, you will regret it. Yes, I have a crystal ball; it's called experience.
Is It Vincennes?
It is in Indiana, they have an AS program, completion option for BS at University of Southern Indiana, but I do not see the reduced tuition option.
Paul in PA
Could Be Columbus State?
In Ohio, AS in Civil Engineering Technology - Survey Track.
Paul in PA
Finish school - period
With that much time & money invested in college, it would be unwise to not complete it. That is a no brainer IMO, and as pointed out by many others. But by questioning the validity of the degree makes it almost seem like it is more of a question about your desire to become a surveyor. Assuming you've already considered switching majors, is surveying what you really want to do. That is the question.
Most career surveyors do it because they love it. Yea, the money is good, but not great (in some circles). But by all means finish up school since you've gone that far. Even if it means an extra semester
If the last year not having any surveying classes bothers you, just take as many business classes as you can. As boring as they may seem at the time, they will benefit you the most in years ahead. And if you do stay in surveying, they will teach you more than you'll learn in any geodetic class - about making money.
good luck grasshopper...;-)
Cincinnati State?
In Ohio, AS in Surveying, Graduates can pursue a Bachelor of Science degree that will make them eligible to sit for surveying licensure examinations.
Articulation Agreements/ Strong Transfer History
Northern Kentucky University (as part of a 3+1 articulation agreement Bachelor of Science degree leading to registration as a Professional Surveyor in Ohio, Indiana, or Kentucky)
That is the end of my resources for that area.
Paul in PA
Brent, It Appears You Know Which College?
Associate Degree-Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
Bachelor Degree-Northern Kentucky University
Basically you get the two year degree from CSTCC and then take a few additional, more advanced surveying courses such as advanced calculations and least squares. You then transfer to NKU to finish the four year degree. I have since learned there has been a changing of the guards at NKU and the four year portion may be in jeopardy.
I suppose I gave the program more of a sucker punch than intended. It really is a good program. (Though I do worry about the future enrollment and requirements, but that's another discussion.) The final year is mostly business classes, which I agree will be very valuable to me, especially as I intend to one day go into business for myself. I am mostly upset that the Capstone class for surveying is no longer available, which I would expect to be my last great wrap-up before sitting for an exam. Instead I will have to take the capstone for commercial and residential construction, of which maybe 15% will pertain to me and will be something that I have knowledge of (making the class more difficult for me, as opposed to actually knowing what the subject matter). Not that it will be all bad having this experience.
Paul, you finally nailed it. It is the program that finishes at NKU. The first three years are at Cincinnati State, where the majority of the more technical surveying classes are taken.
Wayne, I am definitely committed to the profession, and have no intention of doing anything else as long as I can control it. I love the work that I do, the problem solving that goes with it, the aspect of "make it work", the research, the drafting, the teamwork, and the technology. It keeps it interesting as the work is constantly changing, or at least the weather, terrain, and scenery.
I greatly appreciate all the comments. They have certainly helped me clarify my thoughts in my head and cement my decision.
> ... as long as I can control it...
You just answered your own question right there. Seems like you'll make a fine surveyor. Keep with it and get your BS. After that it really does get fun.
PS - serious biz about the business classes.... just sayin'
FINISH NOW - ditto Brad
Go on with it and finish. Otherwise you won't likely go back.
Be thankful you are focussed on a single degree.
I am convinced that was my mistake back in the day about 30 years ago.
I was carrying 4 majors and 2 minors and had started on some Masters degree work.
Then I burned out and became a carpenter. Remember that the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. In the end, I never finished the degree work for a single one. At least I did get my high school diploma. That's all I have.
I have looked into getting at least one of my degrees several times. I guess I can forget going for a PhD now. My problem then was I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. Now in my 50s I still don't. Fortunately I studied physics, mathematics and computer science then. Since then the jobs I have had overlap all these things - especially math and computer science. My supervisor two jobs ago had a degree in physics and he was going for his LS license. He loved having me there with my background. His background was a physics major and math minor. I was a math major and physics minor. We had great conversations on a rain day about particle physics. Lord knows what the others thought of us when they saw the "white board" after one of our debates.
Anyway... go finish it now as Brad already has said.
Best of luck to you.
E.
>The final year is mostly business classes, which I agree will be very valuable to me, especially as I intend to one day go into business for myself.
You just nailed my problem back then. "mostly business classes" is exactly why I never finished any degree. I just refused to take those courses. My thinking then, as now, is "why does such a technical guy need to take finance and marketing courses".
Which Academic Program At Northern Kentucky?
I did not see a specific reference on the Cincinnati Surveying website.
What this shows is that Surveying is a hard curriculum for most colleges to commit the typical Major Program effort to. That so many are going outside the box may be the result of surveying professionals in all states pushing as hard as possible in any direction that appears headed for the right goal line.
Paul in PA
Which Academic Program At Northern Kentucky?
Check the NKU link I posted above. There are more links there tht show the curriculum at both Cincy State and NKU.
Bachelor of Science in Construction Management - Surveying
OK, I found it.
Wow, plus 27 credits, not a quick step.
Paul in PA