Course Description for Civil Engineering Technology

(Bachelor of Science Degree Offered)
Civil Engineering Technology is a broad field producing technologists with versatile backgrounds in a number of subject areas. Southern Polytechnic State University graduates have the qualifications to enter careers in construction, structural design, surveying, transportation, hydraulics, site planning, and environmental technologies. A student may elect one of four specialty areas in Environmental Control, Structures, Surveying, Transportation or may choose to follow a broad, general path with no particular specialization.

A specialty in Environmental Control will enable a graduate to pursue a career in planning, analysis, and design of systems to correct or control the pollution of air, land, or water. Many opportunities exist with municipalities, industry, consulting firms, and government agencies.

Graduates specializing in Structures are prepared for positions involving the design, plan preparation, construction, and inspection of modern buildings and bridges. In their coursework, assisted by both mainframe and microcomputers, students analyze loads and stresses on structures, design foundations, and design structural members of steel, reinforced concrete, and timber.

Graduates selecting Surveying are taught the principles and techniques of boundary, topographic, geodetic, route, and construction surveys. Students apply classroom knowledge in laboratory exercises through use of state-of-the-art surveying equipment including theodolites, electronic distance meters, electronic laser total stations, field-to-plot systems, and optical alignment devices. In laboratories, students develop maps from field measurements, design and lay out construction projects, and plan subdivision developments. Microcomputers are used extensively in reducing data, planning field layouts, and plotting boundaries. Advanced surveying students will be exposed to Global positioning instruments that will enable them to position points on the ground from satellites.

The Transportation specialty provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of this broad field which deals with the design and maintenance of all types of transportation facilities including streets, highways, mass transit systems, railroads, airfields, ports, harbors, and pipelines for the transport of gas, oil, water, and various other commodities.

Non-Degree Surveying Students

The Civil Engineering Technology department offers coursework which is accepted by the Georgia Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors in satisfying the 16 semester credit hour educational requirement for surveying licensure. Since the classes are all college credit work, students wishing to take only the surveying courses must

1. meet the general admission requirements for the college
2. obtain credit for all prerequisite courses by
a. completing the courses at Southern Polytechnic State University, or
b. transferring the courses from another college, or
c. obtaining credit by examination for the courses.

NOTE: CET students are required to earn a grade of "C" or better in all CET courses and courses used as CET electives. Students are required to earn a GPA of 2.0 or better in all CET courses.