Program Details PageField / Land Surveying Certificates and AAS Degree

NOT ACCEPTING NEW ENROLLMENTS, AT THIS TIME

Spring 2026 is the last quarter RTC will be offering Land and Field Survey Certificate classes.

Summer 2027 is the last quarter RTC will be offering Land Survey AAS classes.

Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Land Surveying - Geospatial Science program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule.

Bookstore Information

an open book Information regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!

The bookstore has what you need in regards to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!

General Overview

This program is not accepting new student enrollments at this time.

How long is the program? There are three options in this program:

The Field Surveying Technician certificate is 3 quarters (9 months) with 41 total credits for fall and spring start, 4 quarters (up to 14 months) with 41 total credits for winter start.
- Before fall 2023, this certificate was 40 credits.
The Land Surveying Technician certificate is an additional 3 to 4 quarters and 43 more credits.
- Before fall 2023, this certificate was 42 credits.
The Land Surveying Technician - Geospatial Science AAS degree typically requires 1 more quarter and 10 additional credits (94 credits overall).
- Before fall 2023, this degree was 97 credits.

When do classes meet? Mondays and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in-person for the first year, then online

You will learn field survey techniques, calculations, and office skills through extensive hands-on training. Your class projects involve all aspects of work, from planning, measuring, and presentation of results.

What does a surveying and mapping technician do?

What is the average salary?

$59,370 annually in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most surveying and mapping technicians earn at least $46,320; there is a wide salary range.

Who can I contact with questions?

Who can I contact with questions?

New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Field Surveying Technician or Land Survey Technician.

(Links to an external site.)

Overall Materials Needed:

Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers in the RTC Library or Learning Resource Center)
USB drive (approximately $20)
Working internet connection
Textbook ($70 for Field Surveying; $150 additional for Land Surveying)

Minimum GPA or grades to graduate

You need to earn a 2.0 in each SUR class and in COL 101 to finish your certificate or degree. You can earn a 1.0 or higher in the two general education classes required for your associate degree.

Materials Warning

Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!

Mobile Browser Information

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Spring 2024

Quarter 1

[Spring] Quarter 1 Course Information
**Description**: *You* learn about multiple staking techniques: lot corner, pipeline, route and slope, building and site, and blue-topping. You will calculate grades, horizontal and vertical curves, intersection problems, and volumes. Your communications class focuses on resumes, business letters, and technical reports.
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
COL 101	College Success	NO	2
SUR 103	Construction Surveying	YES	5
SUR 164	Survey Calculations	YES	4
SUR 175	Communications	NO	3

Quarter 2

[Fall] Quarter 2 Course Information
**Description:** You will learn about maps, field survey measurement, and calculations with emphasis on horizontal and vertical controls. You also study teamwork, conflict resolution, workplace discrimination, and legal obligations on the job. Finally, your math class focuses on algebra, geometry, trigonometry of right triangles, and vectors.
If you plan to earn your AAS degree, and you do not have any transfer credit from other colleges or classes, we recommend that you complete your General Education social science requirement this quarter. This means you will have 5 classes and 17 credits this quarter.
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 101	Control Surveying	NO	4
SUR 161	Basic Mathematics for Field Surveying	NO	4
SUR 174	Computer Applications	NO	2
SUR 181	Human Relations	NO	2
for AAS degree only CMST& 101 or ART& 100	Introduction to Communication or Art Appreciation or another communication or humanities class	varies by class	(5)

Quarter 3

[Winter] Quarter 3 Course Information
Description: *You learn how to collect and* compile topographic survey data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). You also will study the history of American systems of land division and build your applied math knowledge.

**It's time to apply for your Field Surveying certificate!**
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 102	Topographic Surveying	YES	4
SUR 145	Public Land System I	YES	3
SUR 150	CAD for Surveying I	NO	4
SUR 162	Intermediate Mathematics for Field Surveying	NO	4

Grand Total Estimate for Your Field Surveying Certificate: $6,309

Please continue down this map to work towards your Land Surveying Technician Certificate or Land Surveying Technician - Geospatial Science AAS degree.

Quarter 4

[Spring] Quarter 4 / Quarter 1 of Land Surveying Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 248	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	NO	3
SUR 249	Survey Research and Project Planning	NO	4
SUR 256	Land Development	NO	3
SUR 281	Business Fundamentals and Ethics	NO	2
for AAS degree only POLS& 202 or PSYC& 100	American Government or General Psychology or another social science class	varies by class	(5)

Quarter 5

[Fall] Quarter 5 / Quarter 2 of Land Surveying Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 205	Survey Adjustments	NO	3
SUR 245	Public Land System II	NO	5
SUR 255	Global Navigation Satellite Systems	NO	3
SUR 257	Geodetic Surveying	NO	4

Quarter 6

[Winter] Quarter 6 / Quarter 3 of Land Surveying Course Information
It's time to apply for your Land Surveying certificate or AAS degree!
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 235	Boundary Law	YES	4
SUR 242	Legal Descriptions	YES	4
SUR 247	Emerging Technologies	NO	3
SUR 251	Advanced Computer Applications	YES	5

Estimate for Your Land Surveying Certificate: $6,747

Estimate for Your Land Surveying AAS Degree: $13,967

Winter 2024

Quarter 1

[Winter] Quarter 1 Course Information
Description: *You learn how to collect and* compile topographic survey data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design (CAD). You also will study the history of American systems of land division and build your applied math knowledge.
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
COL 101	College Success	NO	2
SUR 102	Topographic Surveying	YES	4
SUR 145	Public Land System I	YES	3
SUR 150	CAD for Surveying I	NO	4

Quarter 2

[Spring] Quarter 2 Course Information
**Description**: *You* learn about multiple staking techniques: lot corner, pipeline, route and slope, building and site, and blue-topping. You will calculate grades, horizontal and vertical curves, intersection problems, and volumes. Your communications class focuses on resumes, business letters, and technical reports.
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 103	Construction Surveying	YES	5
SUR 164	Survey Calculations	YES	4
SUR 175	Communications	NO	3

Quarter 3

[Fall] Quarter 3 Course Information
**Description:** You will learn about maps, field survey measurement, and calculations with emphasis on horizontal and vertical controls. You also study teamwork, conflict resolution, workplace discrimination, and legal obligations on the job. Finally, your math class focuses on algebra, geometry, trigonometry of right triangles, and vectors.
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 101	Control Surveying	NO	4
SUR 161	Basic Mathematics for Field Surveying	NO	4
SUR 174	Computer Applications	NO	2
SUR 181	Human Relations	NO	2

Quarter 4

[Winter] Quarter 4 Course Information
**Description**: *You* will build your applied math knowledge.
If you plan to earn your AAS degree, and you do not have any transfer credit from other colleges or classes, we recommend that you complete your General Education requirements this quarter. This means you will have 3 classes and 14 credits this quarter.
It's time to apply for your Field Surveying certificate!
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 162	Intermediate Mathematics for Field Surveying	NO	4
for AAS degree only POLS& 202 or PSYC& 100	American Government or General Psychology or another social science class	varies by class	(5)
for AAS degree only CMST& 101 or ART& 100	Introduction to Communication or Art Appreciation or another communication or humanities class	varies by class	(5)

Grand Total Estimate for Your Field Surveying Certificate: $6,646

Please continue down this map to work towards your Land Surveying Technician Certificate or Land Surveying Technician - Geospatial Science AAS degree.

Quarter 5

[Spring] Quarter 5 / Quarter 1 of Land Surveying Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 248	Introduction to Geographic Information Systems	NO	3
SUR 249	Survey Research and Project Planning	NO	4
SUR 256	Land Development	NO	3
SUR 281	Business Fundamentals and Ethics	NO	2

Quarter 6

[Fall] Quarter 6 / Quarter 2 of Land Surveying Course Information
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 205	Survey Adjustments	NO	3
SUR 245	Public Land System II	NO	5
SUR 255	Global Navigation Satellite Systems	NO	3
SUR 257	Geodetic Surveying	NO	4

Quarter 7

[Winter] Quarter 7 / Quarter 3 of Land Surveying Course Information
It's time to apply for your Land Surveying certificate or AAS degree!
Course ID	Course Name	Materials	Credits
SUR 235	Boundary Law	YES	4
SUR 242	Legal Descriptions	YES	4
SUR 247	Emerging Technologies	NO	3
SUR 251	Advanced Computer Applications	YES	5

Grand Total Estimate for Your Land Surveying Certificate: $ 6,747

Grand Total Estimate for Your Land Surveying AAS Degree: $14,635

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