Surveying and Mapping, BS

Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Mapping (298103BS)

More on the Land Surveying and Surveying and Mapping programs

Program Information and Program Description

The Bachelor of Science in Surveying and Mapping program is an upper level degree program designed to provide the student with additional education beyond the A.A.S. degree in Land Surveying. This degree is also designed to meet the formal education requirements for registration as a Professional Surveyor in the state of Ohio.

This upper level degree program is defined as follows:

  • The first two years are completed as an AAS degree in Land Surveying or similarly based program.
  • Two of the remaining three years are for the completion of prescribed course work.
  • The remaining year of the three years is devoted to a cooperative work experience in the surveying and mapping field. The student normally enters the co-op segment between the junior and senior years.

The BS in Surveying and Mapping degree program includes classroom, laboratory, and industry experiences which stress the application of established surveying and mapping knowledge.

This degree program is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Surveying and Mapping program must hold an associate degree in Land Surveying from an accredited program or provide an equivalent academic background. The applicant must meet all minimum requirements for admission into The University of Akron. Applicants with an associate degree in a discipline other than Land Surveying will be required to complete a specific formal set of courses as specified at the time of admission. Final approval for admission is based upon recommendations from the Director of the Surveying and Mapping Program.

Cooperative Work Study Requirement

The required Cooperative Work Study experience of the Surveying and Mapping program consists of 52 weeks of surveying work experience which may begin after the student has completed 34 hours of course work in the Surveying and Mapping program. This program may be satisfied by any one of the following options:

  1. One calendar year with appropriate cooperative education course registration.
  2. Three semesters (Summer I and II counts as one semester for the co-op) with appropriate cooperative education course registration.
  3. Department review of prior or concurrent work experience.

Students having prior or concurrent work experience should submit to the Surveying and Mapping Co-op Review Committee appropriate documentation before signing their program contract. The Surveying and Mapping Co-op Review Committee will determine whether this work experience satisfies the co-op requirement. All students must be cleared through the Cooperative Education Office.

Requirements for Graduation

  • Compliance with the requirements of the general education program as outlined in the Bulletin.
  • Completion of the requirements for the associate degree in Land Surveying at The University of Akron or an approved associate degree program. Students transferring from another institution must have their transcripts evaluated to ensure that they have the required number of credits in surveying courses. Those found deficient must complete lower level surveying course work before upper level surveying and mapping courses can be taken.
  • Successful completion of a minimum of 120 credits in the B.S. in Surveying and Mapping program including the associate degree program, the general education courses, the one-year co-op, and the Year 3, Year 4, and Year 5 course requirements.

The following information has official approval of The Department of Civil Engineering and The College of Engineering and Polymer Science, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor. 

Requirements

Summary

General Education Requirements *
General Education 15
Mathematics7
Geographic Information Systems3
Surveying Core28
Safety and Business Practices3
Technical Electives4
Total Hours60
 
*

Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements. 

General Education Courses

Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major.
Academic Foundations12
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours
Speaking: 3 credit hours
Writing: 6 credit hours
Breadth of Knowledge 22
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours
Diversity
Domestic Diversity
Global Diversity
Integrated and Applied Learning2
Select one class from one of the following subcategories:
Complex Issues Facing Society
Capstone
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings.
Total Hours36

General Education (beyond the AAS Land Surveying)

Discipline-Specific General Education
ENGL 222Technical Report Writing (for Writing Second Course Requirement)3
PHIL 120Introduction to Ethics3
Other General Education 1, 2
Fine Arts and Humanities Requirement9
Total Hours15
1

Students are advised that the General Education classes should be chosen to also meet the Domestic Diversity and Global Diversity Requirements; otherwise, extra General Education classes may be needed to complete these requirements.

2

Students entering with associate degrees other than the AAS Land Surveying at UA may have BS General Education requirements to complete beyond those shown.  Students complete the following BS General Education requirements during the AAS Land Surveying:  Mathematics, Statistics, and Logic; Speaking; Writing First Course; Natural Science with lab (7 credits); and three credits of Social Science.

Mathematics

MATH 255Technical Calculus I3
MATH 345Technical Data Analysis2
MATH 360Advanced Mathematics for Surveyors2
Total Hours7

Geographic Information Systems

SURV 201Intermediate Geographic and Land Information Systems3
Total Hours3

Surveying Core

SURV 310Survey Computations & Adjustments2
SURV 315Boundary Control & Legal Principles3
SURV 330Applied Photogrammetry3
SURV 340Cadastral Surveying2
SURV 410LiDAR and Laser Scanning2
SURV 415Legal Aspects of Surveying3
SURV 421Subdivision Design3
SURV 422Global Positioning System Surveying3
SURV 427Ohio Lands2
SURV 430Surveying Project3
SURV 431Senior Seminar2
Total Hours28

Safety and Business Practices

This requirement is met with both SURV 325 and SURV 335, or alternatively with CIVE 471
SURV 325
SURV 335
Safety for Surveyors
and The Business of Surveying
3
or CIVE 471 Construction Administration
Total Hours3

Technical Electives

Take four credits from the following:4
SURV 325Safety for Surveyors 1
SURV 335The Business of Surveying 1
SURV 426History of Surveying To 1785
SURV 428History of Surveying Since 1785
SURV 445Applications in GIS using GPS
SURV 450Topics in Professional Practice
SURV 489Special Topics in Surveying
SURV 490Workshop in Surveying
SURV 495Internship: Surveying and Mapping
SURV 497Surveying Honors Project
SURV 498Independent Study
SURV 205Building Geodatabases
1

SURV 325 and SURV 335 can be used as Technical Electives only if not used for the Safety and Business Practices requirement.

 

Recommended Sequence

The first two years of the BS in Surveying and Mapping program are completed as an AAS in Land Surveying (60 credits) or similar associate degree. A minimum of 120 credit hours are required for this degree. All University General Education requirements must be met. 

Plan of Study Grid
2nd Year
Summer SemesterHours
GNEN 300 Cooperative Education Work Period 3 0
 Hours0
3rd Year
Fall Semester
MATH 345 Technical Data Analysis 2
SURV 310 Survey Computations & Adjustments 2
SURV 201 Intermediate Geographic and Land Information Systems 3
ENGL 222 Technical Report Writing 3
PHIL 120 Introduction to Ethics 3
SURV 325
SURV 335
Safety for Surveyors
or Construction Administration
3
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MATH 255 Technical Calculus I 3
MATH 360 Advanced Mathematics for Surveyors 5 2
SURV 315 Boundary Control & Legal Principles 1 3
SURV 330 Applied Photogrammetry 3
SURV 340 Cadastral Surveying 2
Arts and Humanities requirement 4 3
 Hours16
Summer Semester
GNEN 403 Cooperative Education Work Period III 0
 Hours0
4th Year
Fall Semester
SURV 415 Legal Aspects of Surveying 3
SURV 422 Global Positioning System Surveying 3
SURV 430 Surveying Project 3
SURV 450 Topics in Professional Practice (or other 2-credit Technical Elective) 2
Arts and Humanities requirement 4 3
 Hours14
Spring Semester
SURV 410 LiDAR and Laser Scanning 2
SURV 421 Subdivision Design 3
SURV 427 Ohio Lands 2
SURV 431 Senior Seminar 2
SURV 489 Special Topics in Surveying (or other 2-credit Technical Elective) 1-3
Arts and Humanities requirement 4 3
 Hours13-15
 Total Hours59-61
1

Traditionally Spring only (See Program Contact).

2

Traditionally Fall only (See Program Contact).

3

This is the semester after finishing the AAS in Land Surveying.  If a student is not able to complete a co-op this summer, the two co-op terms can be completed in the summers following the third and fourth year, for a summer graduation with the BS.

4

Students are advised that the General Education classes should be chosen to also meet the Domestic Diversity and Global Diversity Requirements; otherwise, extra General Education classes may be needed to complete these requirements.

5

This class is typically offered only every other year in Spring.  Students should take care to take it as early as they can.

Policy Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you must have completed your required General Education English, Mathematics, and Communications (Speech) requirements.