Nathan, a Senior Project Manager and Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) in Topographic’s Tyler office, credits the Tyler Junior College (TJC) Surveying and Geomatics Program for preparing him for "immediate success and employment." His current role involves determining and certifying land boundaries, creating legal descriptions, and mapping land features for various projects, ensuring accuracy and legal compliance.
The TJC Surveying and Geomatics Program instructs students in the foundational aspects required of a land surveyor. The curriculum emphasizes boundary surveying, covering the history and legal principles of boundary location, evaluating property corners, land description, calculation of land areas, and the use of the Texas Coordinate System, computer mapping, and geographic information systems. Graduates of the program can pursue careers as survey technicians, with potential annual earnings in Texas ranging from $36,000 to $80,000. Registered Professional Land Surveyors, like Nathan, can earn between $86,000 and $165,000 or more.
Nathan's journey to this career began after he realized his previous path, following a four-year business degree, was not fulfilling. Despite graduating and working in the field his degree prepared him for, he consistently thought about surveying, a field he had encountered through a part-time job during business school. Familiar with TJC from a positive freshman year experience in 2008-2009, Nathan learned about its surveying program from colleagues in the Brazos Valley who had also attended TJC. He recognized it as a leading program.
In 2016, Nathan made a significant career shift, quitting his job to return to TJC as a full-time student. He undertook a demanding academic schedule, taking 18 hours in his first semester and 21 hours in his second, all while working 30 hours a week. He attributes his ability to manage this challenge to the support of TJC faculty members Willace Johnson and Patti Williams from the Surveying Program. Nathan noted their patience, extensive knowledge, and willingness to dedicate time to ensure student understanding.
Initially, Nathan considered earning a basic certificate for fieldwork on a surveying crew. However, his engagement with the program motivated him to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surveying and Mapping Technology. A TJC-sponsored field trip to the Texas Society of Professional Land Surveyors annual convention proved instrumental in his job search. It was there that he met representatives from Topographic, exchanging information that ultimately led to his current position.
Nathan states that the knowledge and skills he gained at TJC enabled him to begin work effectively from day one. He also highlights how the program's group work and peer learning fostered a deep understanding that translated into professional confidence. He found himself acting as a mentor to others in his professional role, a confidence he directly attributes to the program. Nathan encourages anyone considering a surveying career to explore TJC’s Surveying and Geomatics program, affirming its contribution to his professional success and providing a comfortable life for his family.
