Engineering Technology - Civil

Engineering Technology - Civil - AAS

This program will prepare you for a career as a civil engineering technician, computer aided drafter, construction manager, transportation technician, or GIS technician. You’ll learn valuable skills like civil drawing, design, geographic information systems (GIS) and field engineering.

If you’re looking for a program that will put you on a solid career track with employers such as high-tech industries, civil engineering and surveying firms, the Department of Transportation, or civil construction companies, then look into Civil Engineering at BTC.

 

Employment Information

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

86% BTC graduate placement rate1

$53,792 starting annual wage2
$66,096 average annual wage2
$76,287 potential annual wage2

  • Employment and Wage Data Sources

    1Employment data come from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) and reflect WA/OR employment for students enrolled at BTC between 2017-18 and 2019-20. Students are included in the employment rate if they left with a credential. Rates are not shown for programs with fewer than 10 students meeting the above criteria.

    2Whatcom County and WA State wage data come from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) 2021 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates and reflect 2018-21 employment. Wage data represent occupations that BTC faculty have identified as the most relevant career paths for program graduates. Note that these wages reflect employees with varying educational levels/credentials. For cases in which multiple occupations have been identified by faculty, a weighted percentile is calculated using each occupation’s percentile wage and employment size estimate. Wages are not shown for programs for which occupations do not meet the ESD’s minimum thresholds for publishing. If the program has wage data from the Washington SBCTC that involves shift work, these ESD wages reflect the same number of hours used in the annual wage calculation. Starting wage = 25th percentile, median wage = 50th percentile, wage potential = 75th percentile.

Estimated Program Costs

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

Students may begin working toward this degree quarterly.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 107

  • Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

  • Academic Core

  • AMATH 111Applied Technical Math5 CR
  • (Can substitute MATH& 141 for AMATH 111)
  • CMST& 220Public Speaking5 CR
  • (Can substitute CMST& 210 for CMST& 220)
  • Applied English5 CR

  • TOTAL Academic Core Course Credits
    		15 CR

  • Engineering Core

  • ENGR 100Engineering Orientation2 CR
  • ENGR& 104Introduction To Engineering & Design5 CR
  • ENGR 115Graphics5 CR
  • ENGT 134AutoCAD I5 CR
  • ENGT 135AutoCAD II5 CR
  • ENGT 215Applied Statics5 CR
  • ENGT 216Applied Mechanics Of Materials5 CR

  • TOTAL Engineering Core Course Credits
    		32 CR

  • Civil Core

  • CET 102Fundamentals Of Surveying I5 CR
  • CET 110Construction And Highway Surveys5 CR
  • CET 141Fundamentals Of GIS & GPS5 CR
  • CET 142Intermediate GIS5 CR
  • CET 230Estimating And Scheduling5 CR
  • CET 235Construction Materials5 CR
  • CET 240Earthmoving Fundamentals5 CR
  • CET 251AutoCAD Civil 3D I5 CR
  • CET 252AutoCAD Civil 3D II5 CR
  • ENGT 132Engineering Applications Using MS Office5 CR

  • TOTAL Civil Core Course Credits
    		50 CR

  • Engineering Electives

  • CAP 101 - Microsoft Computer Applications
  • Any ENGR, ENGT, ENET, CENG, or CET course 100 level or higher
  • Any Chemistry course 100 level or higher
  • Any Physics course 100 level or higher
  • Any Math course MATH& 141 or higher (cannot be used for both general education core and elective)

  • TOTAL Engineering Electives Course Credits
    		10 CR

  • Electives

  • BIOL& 160General Biology w/ Lab5 CR
  • CAP 100Introductory Digital Literacy2 CR
  • ECON& 201Micro Economics5 CR

Program Outcomes

After successfully completing the AAS degree, students will be able to:

 

  • Produce a wide variety of design quality plan sets using computer aided drafting methods.
  • Inspect and track project revisions to produce As-Built record drawings using appropriate design standards.
  • Import, export, and create several types of GIS data for the production of specialized planning and demonstration maps.
  • Calculate quantities and assign costs for the production of detailed cost estimates and schedules for a variety of construction projects.
  • Assess and approve specifications for construction materials.
  • Communicate, solve, and present engineering problems using Microsoft Office programs.
  • Solve engineering problems using a variety of mathematical processes and quantitative reasoning.

Employment Outlook

Employment of engineering technicians is expected to increase. As technology becomes more sophisticated, employers continue to look for technicians who are skilled in new technology and require a minimum of additional job training.

About 67% of BTC Civil Engineering Technology students are employed within nine months of graduation. The average annual income in this field is $59,530, with an earning potential of about $73,653 per year.*

Most program graduates work as civil engineering technicians. Potential positions also include computer aided drafter, construction manager, transportation technician, and GIS technician.

Graduates may be employed by both public and private organizations including municipal, state and federal agencies, roadway and building construction firms, public utilities, engineering firms, manufacturing companies, and aircraft companies.

Faculty & Support

Photo of Timothy Stettler
Timothy Stettler

Tim Stettler is a Civil Engineering Instructor at Bellingham Technical College (BTC). He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Washington State University and an A.A.S. in Civil Engineering from Spokane Community College. In addition to his 14 year role at BTC, Tim worked with the Spokane County Engineering Department and with other private engineering firms for a total seven years designing and constructing a variety of Infrastructure projects including stream restoration and mitigation, roadway, bridge, sewer, and waterline projects. Tim also has 18 years of heavy industrial construction and construction management experience. His most recent projects have included the Ronald Regan Office building, the Seventh and Flower subway station, and the Palisades Promenade Building in Los Angeles California. He has also worked on refineries, power plants, and waste to energy plants.

  • Degrees and Credentials

    Certificate, Radiation Safety and Use of Nuclear Gauges, CPN International

    Certificate, Engineer-in-Training, State of Washington

    AAS, Civil Engineering, Spokane Community College

    BS, Civil Engineering, Washington State University

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

Photo of Chris Brod
Chris Brod

</p> Chris began his career in surveying in the mountains of Colorado in 1978, working in the oilfield. He travelled extensively in the western United States, working from south Texas to several miles south of the Canadian border, and from eastern Oklahoma to western Nevada. Wishing to settle down, he attended a technical school in Arizona, learning more about the math, drafting, and fieldwork involved in engineering related surveying. </p> Chris eventually ended up in Flagstaff, AZ, working for the Environmental Impact Statement on Glen Canyon Dam, where he was responsible for establishing a survey control network through the Grand Canyon for the Bureau of Reclamation’s GIS project. He started Spatial Science Solutions, a GIS firm shortly before receiving his degree, and has continued this business in a limited way since then. He returned for a third stint with Arizona Engineering to start a GIS department in 2004. </p> Chris came to Bellingham Technical College in 2010 be the Surveying and Mapping program instructor. </p>

  • Degrees and Credentials

    BS, Geography, Northern Arizona University

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State