I just passed the Texas RPLS and I have my sights set on a few other states, one of those being Louisiana. However, I will need some more survey courses to have my application accepted there. I want to do only online courses. I am not necessarily looking for another degree, I just want to fulfill the requirements.
Please give me any recommendations on a college to take online survey courses.
FYI, I have a degree in GIS from The University of Texas, but that included very few "survey" courses.
Here's a link to the list of Lapels approved courses; I also attached the PDF.
http://www.lapels.com/docs/applications/ps/Approved_Courses_December_2016.pdf
One of my co-workers in a similar situation as yours used the University of Wyoming. I think most of Florida's stuff is also available online. Good luck.
I just finished and received my BAS in Land Surveying/Geomatics at Great Basin College. 100% online and program is growing and improving. Several others I know have attended and graduated too.
Doesn't Texas A & M Corpus Christi have a lot of online offerings? http://sci.tamucc.edu/CSCI/GISC/ Or are they mostly GIS oriented as well?
I was involved in their program until a few years ago. TAMUCC has two tracks: geomatics and GIS. There faculty includes licensed surveyors.
BTW, the link to the geomatics option on this page led to a quite nice Australian YouTube video on the wonderful work of surveyors. Evidently there is great demand and high pay! See:
[MEDIA=youtube]2K9WhehuxWg[/MEDIA]
Enjoy,
DMM
I've taken several courses at wyoming outreach
I took everything wyoming offered about 15 years ago, it was all excellent
I got majority of my hours from University of Wyoming online I already had a degree.
Scotland, post: 429603, member: 559 wrote: I just finished and received my BAS in Land Surveying/Geomatics at Great Basin College. 100% online and program is growing and improving. Several others I know have attended and graduated too.
that kid whose interview they link to on that page is cute. "can't wait to stamp that first survey..."
when my stamp first showed up i swore it'd take an act of congress for it to come out of its locked drawer.
I am currently taking classes towards my BAS from Great Basin. Scotland is correct, the program is growng, and looking very good. I am already licensed in multiple states, but just wanted the degree.
It is a challenging program, and you have to work. I just finished my first semester, and taking 2 more classes this summer. I was able to transfer in the vast majority of my AAS degree, so I have about 20 classes from Great Basin to take.
Right now I have started taking classes at Oklahoma State @OKC . Just a AAS program, But all online... Being in live in NJ I will need my BAS. I have heard great things about Great Basin and will finish my BAS there.
The Great Basin program may have changed recently, but their goal was to train geomatic engineers, not land surveyors. You can certainly learn a lot from the program, but If you are interested in boundary surveying try the Univerity of Wyoming, or since you don't need the degree, you could mix and match.
aliquot, post: 430125, member: 2486 wrote: The Great Basin program may have changed recently, but their goal was to train geomatic engineers, not land surveyors. You can certainly learn a lot from the program, but If you are interested in boundary surveying try the Univerity of Wyoming, or since you don't need the degree, you could mix and match.
I have to disagree. ( Not knocking U of W. I've taken their course and they are great. I recommend them too. But I don't believe they are offering a degree.) The GBC program was established to train surveyors, i.e. land geomatics /surveying. The State of Nevada requires a bachelor's degree in surveying to become licensed. GBC is the only college in Nevada providing this and accepted by Nevada and many other states for surveying. Dr Elithorpe and others developed the program and made it all online. The program struggled but has survived with a new program advisor and doing very well. Spoke with the advisor while I was there and the program has 80 people enrolled.
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So what type of cost have you experienced at Great Basin and UofW?
Will I be considered out of state? It is hard to tell from their website what I will actually be paying. Out of state tuition is ridiculous.
My bill for next semester at Great Basin is $3781.25. That is out of state tuition with the Western Undergraduate Exchange rate. I believe that is the same price they charge for an out-of-state student. Their web page is hard to deduce exactly what the cost is, but that is the amount I just paid for 15 credits of upper division classes. This includes all the fees and such. A final cost of around $250 per credit.
The Wyoming classes, from when I was looking earlier this spring were around $500 per credit, if I remember correctly. They were extremely hard to locate a price for, but if my memory serves me correctly that what it was.
I have had an excellent experience with Great Basin so far, they have worked with me and answered my questions in a timely manor. I also know several people who have gone through the Wyoming certificate as well and also have good things to say about it as well.
Scotland, post: 430165, member: 559 wrote: I have to disagree. ( Not knocking U of W. I've taken their course and they are great. I recommend them too. But I don't believe they are offering a degree.) The GBC program was established to train surveyors, i.e. land geomatics /surveying. The State of Nevada requires a bachelor's degree in surveying to become licensed. GBC is the only college in Nevada providing this and accepted by Nevada and many other states for surveying. Dr Elithorpe and others developed the program and made it all online. The program struggled but has survived with a new program advisor and doing very well. Spoke with the advisor while I was there and the program has 80 people enrolled.
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Dr. Elithorpe is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, and the program is great if you want to work for NGS or go on to geomatics graduate school, but it is seriously lacking in boundary law, just like all the ABET programs are.
I think it's great that they teach how to do least squares adjustments without a computer, but thas not really why most states licence us. I just had a conversation with a graduate of that program who was hell bent on moving a 1909 GLO brass cap 1 ft to match the record. It doesn't get any more basic than that.
aliquot, post: 431339, member: 2486 wrote: Dr. Elithorpe is very knowledgeable and a good teacher, and the program is great if you want to work for NGS or go on to geomatics graduate school, but it is seriously lacking in boundary law, just like all the ABET programs are.
I think it's great that they teach how to do least squares adjustments without a computer, but thas not really why most states licence us. I just had a conversation with a graduate of that program who was hell bent on moving a 1909 GLO brass cap 1 ft to match the record. It doesn't get any more basic than that.
I can't argue that there is a lack of boundary law, but isn't that true for everyone? I had a class that went over several court cases and we had discussions on them and then presented a research on a court case of our choosing. But as we can tell from this board, there is a lot of different views on boundary issues. I read and digest but do not argue because we only get a smidge of the information and then get all bent out of shape over being right. We can't even agree as professionals. It's my opinion vs your opinion and let the courts rule on the evidence. Sadly the missing element is great mentorship and getting away from mathematically correct positions that take precedence over actual location. Thanks Aliquot!
BrandonA, post: 430431, member: 11837 wrote: So what type of cost have you experienced at Great Basin and UofW?
Will I be considered out of state? It is hard to tell from their website what I will actually be paying. Out of state tuition is ridiculous.
I went through the GBC program at the same time as Scotland. And also as he is, I was licensed in about 8 states during schooling and am now sitting at 12 licenses and was in the Beta CFedS program. I did not NEED to get a degree, but I wanted to do it. I had a BS in Forestry from the mid 1980's and getting a degree in Surveying just appealed to me and the GBC program seemed right for me. I took 66 credits to receive my BAS in May of 2015 and it took me 4 years while working 50-60 hours per week. Here is a breakdown of costs while attending: 
I recommend GBC for any practicing surveyor whether licensed or a tech due to their work knowledge. Some high school graduates may be disciplined enough to do the program online, but I would always recommend a brick and mortar college for new freshmen.
