If you’d like to prepare for a career in a growing field that won’t confine you to an office, then check out the Geomatic Engineering Technology associate degree program at Bellingham Technical College. You can put your math and computer skills to work as a surveying and mapping technician or land surveyor in a construction firm; a surveying and engineering firm; a mining, oil or gas company; a public utility; or a government agency, such as U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, the Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Forestry Service.
BTC’s associate degree in Geomatics includes training in GIS, AutoCAD and GPS skills, as well as gain a working knowledge of Washington laws and standards related to surveying, boundaries and map preparation.
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
79%1 BTC graduate placement rate (Employment Security Department- WA and OR only)
96%3 BTC graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
96%3 BTC in-field graduate placement rate (faculty-tracked, national)
$58,597 starting annual wage2
$89,301 average annual wage2
$115,997 potential annual wage2
Students may begin working toward this degree quarterly.
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.
AMATH 111 | Applied Technical Math | 5 CR |
(Can substitute MATH& 141 for AMATH 111) |
ENGL& 101 | English Composition I | 5 CR |
CMST& 220 | Public Speaking | 5 CR |
(Can substitute CMST& 210 for CMST& 220) |
TOTAL Academic Core Course Credits | 15 CR |
ENGR 115 | Graphics | 5 CR |
ENGT 134 | AutoCAD I | 5 CR |
ENGT 135 | AutoCAD II | 5 CR |
TOTAL Engineering Core Course Credits | 15 CR |
CET 102 | Fundamentals Of Surveying I | 5 CR |
CET 103 | Fundamentals Of Surveying II | 5 CR |
CET 110 | Construction And Highway Surveys | 5 CR |
ENGT 132 | Engineering Applications Using MS Office | 5 CR |
CET 141 | Fundamentals Of GIS & GPS | 5 CR |
CET 142 | Intermediate GIS | 5 CR |
CET 143 | Advanced GIS Applications | 5 CR |
CET 205 | Survey of Public Lands | 5 CR |
CET 210 | Boundary Law & Land Description | 5 CR |
CET 215 | Environmental Mapping | 5 CR |
CET 220 | GPS Systems | 5 CR |
CET 225 | Advanced Survey Seminar | 5 CR |
CET 251 | AutoCAD Civil 3D I | 5 CR |
TOTAL Geomatics Core Course Credits | 65 CR |
BIOL& 160 | General Biology w/ Lab | 5 CR |
BUS 123 | Records Management | 3 CR |
CAP 100 | Introductory Digital Literacy | 2 CR |
CET 230 | Estimating And Scheduling | 5 CR |
CET 252 | AutoCAD Civil 3D II | 5 CR |
ECON& 201 | Micro Economics | 5 CR |
ENGR 100 | Engineering Orientation | 2 CR |
TOTAL Engineering Elective Credits | 3 CR |
Any ENGT, 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 141 or higher* |
*Courses taken to meet General Education, Program Core, or Program Specialty requirements may not be used to meet the Elective requirements. |
Most program graduates work as surveying and mapping technicians and are employed in direct field service. Opportunities exist in construction companies, private surveying and engineering firms, mining, oil, and gas extraction companies, public utilities, and city, county, state, and federal government agencies (i.e., U.S. Forestry Department, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, and Bureau of Land Management).
</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>
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.
If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.
Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email EngineeringNav@btc.edu