Where
can I find employment? Graduates can find employment just about anywhere
a graduate wants to live. Logically, there will be more opportunity in the Boston
area than Fort Kent. Graduates have gotten jobs all over the United States from
Hawaii to Florida, Maine to California.
Can I get licensed as a surveyor? The program is geared to help graduates obtain a surveyor's license. In Maine, graduation from the program, two years experience, and successfully passing two exams will lead to licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS),
What
jobs can I get as a graduate of Surveying Engineering Technology?
There are numerous jobs in the surveying and mapping fields. The most common
jobs are survey technician, party chief, project supervisor, photogrammatrist,
and office manager.
What
is the starting salary? Starting salaries depend on the location
of the employer. The Boston area has a higher starting salary than Fort Kent.
The starting salaries have ranged from $30,000 to $50,000.
Where
do graduates work? Graduates work across the United States. They
work in small towns and large cities. Some work in small family surveying companies.
Others work in large multi-state surveying and mapping companies. Graduates
can generally work where ever they desire, in whatever size firm they feel comfortable.
How
hard is it to get jobs? The last graduating class was getting approximately
three job offers per student.
How
difficult is it to find summer jobs? With a little effort, students
can obtain Summer positions in the surveying or mapping field near their home.
A typical student will have surveying the first year. As a result, they will
have some skills to offer employers after the first year of college. For those
students that wish to see other parts of the United States, the Bureau of Land
Management offers Summer and full-time employment.
Will
I be “small fish in a big pond” at the University of Maine?
The University of Maine has almost 10,000 students. As a result, the University
of Maine has a well-staffed medical facility, comfortable dorms, large library,
spacious concert center, numerous recreation opportunities, nationally recognized
sports teams (e.g., ice hockey), free tutoring, and a friendly atmosphere. Situated
within the University of Maine is a small, close-knit family of students that
comprise Surveying Engineering Technology. The Surveying Engineering Technology
program has approximately 40 students. That number is less than most high school
classes. The average class size in a Surveying Engineering Technology class
is about 12 students. The Surveying Engineering Technology program is more like
a one-room school house. With a cadre of two full-time faculty, the faculty
are able to work closely with the students throughout the four-year program.
As a student in the Surveying Engineering Technology class, you have the best
of both worlds.
Who
are the faculty? There are three full-time faculty within the Surveying
Engineering Technology program. All faculty are licensed professional land
surveyors in several states. All have a bachelors and masters degree
in surveying, GIS, or engineering. Two faculty have Ph.D.s. One faculty has a law degree. All have several years of surveying practice before
teaching in the program.
Are
the courses difficult? All engineering courses are
difficult. Surveying Engineering Technology courses are no exception. Students
who put sufficient effort into their studies generally pass. There are tutoring
services available. Students with learning disabilities are provided with help
and faculty provided with instructions on how to help the student learn.
Can
the SVT graduate go to graduate school? Yes, SVT graduates can go
to graduate school. While most graduates grab one of the many lucrative offers
made to them at graduation, a few have gone on to earn a graduate degree. An
MBA, M.S., or law degree can be sought by graduates.
Can
the SVT student get a professional engineering (PE) license along with a Professional
Land Surveyor (PLS) license? Yes, students can obtain a P.E. license.
Surveying engineering technology positions do not require a professional engineering
license and most graduates do not pursue licensing as a PE. However, some graduates
have pursued and earned their professional engineering license. Maine makes
no distinction between a regular engineering graduate and a technology graduate
in pursuing an engineering license. It is more difficult to obtain an engineering
license as a SVT graduate because of the focus of the program. SVT seniors are
required to take the fundamentals of surveying (SIT) licensing exam.
If you have other questions about the Surveying Engineering Technology program, contact Raymond Hintz at the following:
Raymond Hintz
Surveying Engineering Technology
5711 Boardman Hall, Room 119
Orono, Maine 04468-5711
207-581-2341
