Engineering Technology - Geomatics

Engineering Technology - Geomatics - AAS

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.

Employment Information

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)

  • Employment and Wage Data Sources and Information

    1 Employment 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.

    2 Whatcom 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.

    3 Additional employment rates are provided for programs with faculty who maintain their own employment records of students who graduated between 2017-18 and 2019-20 and who were employed within 9 months of graduation. Both overall and in field of study employment rates are included, respectively. For these programs, the format follows: ESD rate / faculty-tracked overall rate / faculty-tracked in-field rate. These additional, faculty-provided rates are particularly important for programs that tend to have graduates employed outside of WA and OR. Note that due to lack of available data, rates may represent fewer than 3 years of graduates.

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

Program Outcomes

  • Graduates will demonstrate competency in basic GIS and surveying and mapping skills;
  • Graduates will prepare for the Level I Survey Technical Exam given by the Career Development Committee of LSAW;
  • Graduates will possess the ability to prepare a topographic map of a parcel of property that is evaluated by WAC 332-130 standards;
  • Graduates will demonstrate entry level competency in using CAD skills;
  • Graduates will demonstrate a working knowledge of the Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as demonstrate a working knowledge of Washington Law related to surveying and boundaries;
  • Graduates will receive, interpret, and convey written, verbal, and graphic information.

Employment Outlook

Employment of surveying and mapping technicians is expected to increase faster than average nationally. Job openings will continue to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force altogether.

The average annual wage in this field is $64,970, with an earning potential of about $77,808 per year.*

Criminal convictions may restrict or prevent student participation with internships and employment in this industry.

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).

Faculty & Support

Photo of Colin Hopps
Colin Hopps
Geomatics

Contacts

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

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