Before Stephen there was his father, Moses. Although he died before making the trip, it is Moses who historians will remember as the surveyor from the east who received permission to bring a group of Anglo Americans to settle in Spanish Texas.
And long before before the Austin clan and dating back to ancient Egypt, land has been divided, traded, taken and won. War, fires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters destroy buildings, monuments and infrastructure, but for the most part, the land remains.
So whether it's the Texas-Mexico border, the Mason-Dixon Line, or the property line that separates you from your neighbor, someone has to determine how land is divided and where… In the beginning and still today, we call that person a Land Surveyor.
Mt. Rushmore: Three Surveyors and Another Guy
A few years ago, the college began offering non-credit courses in surveying. Today, due to industry demand, we offer enough credit courses for students to achieve a marketable skills award in as little as a semester, a Certificate in only one year, and a two year Associate of Applied Science Degree. Courses in this program will transfer into select four year programs as well, although you probably want to speak with a counselor to find out which classes will transfer and where.
When most people think of surveyors, the first thing that comes to mind is that guy standing on the side of the road wearing an orange vest and holding a pole. Having read a little about this profession, it’s pretty obvious that there’s a whole lot more to it than that. It’s a high tech field, with GIS and GPS starting to play more and more of a role. You need to know a little about the law, some history, a bit of geography, and geometry too.
Mostly though, you need to have a little bit of respect for the profession, for the job you are going to do and for those proud and dedicated men (and women) who have come before you. Because working as a land surveyor isn't just any job for any old joe…and there are three guys whose faces are carved on the side of a cliff whose accomplishments can attest to that!
(George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln were all professional land surveyors)
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For information about programs offered through the Business and Social Sciences Division:
Land Surveying and Mapping Technology
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Texas High School Educators Retreat (Land Surveying)
High school math, science, geography, history teachers and career/tech counselors save the date for the 3rd annual retreat co-hosted by Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. This year's event will take place at LSC-Montgomery from August 16-18, 2009. There is limited enrollment so complete your application early at http://www.tsps.org/.
