Nathan, a Tyler Junior College graduate, now works as a Senior Project Manager/RPLS in the Tyler office of Topographic, a national full-service design, land surveying, engineering, and environmental consulting firm. He attributes his professional success and his preparation for “immediate success and employment” directly to the TJC Surveying and Geomatics program.
After graduating with a four-year business degree, Nathan found himself unfulfilled in his career. He constantly thought about how much he enjoyed surveying, a field he was first exposed to through a part-time job during business school. He recalled completing his freshman year at TJC in 2008 and 2009 and had learned about the college's surveying program while working on a survey crew in the Brazos Valley, where peers from the TJC program spoke highly of it.
In 2016, Nathan made the decision to return to school, quitting his job to pursue surveying full-time. He undertook a demanding schedule at TJC, taking 18 hours his first semester and 21 hours his second, while also working 30 hours a week. He recognized the crucial support from TJC faculty members Willace Johnson and Patti Williams from the Surveying Program, praising their patience and knowledge.
The TJC Surveying and Geomatics Program instructs students in the fundamental elements required of a land surveyor, with a focus on boundary surveying. The curriculum includes the history and legal principles of boundary location, evaluation of property corners, land description, calculation of land areas, and the use of the Texas Coordinate System, computer mapping, and geographic information systems. Graduates can work as survey technicians, earning between $36,000 and $80,000 annually in Texas. Registered Professional Land Surveyors (RPLS), a state-licensed expert role Nathan now holds, can earn $86,000 to $165,000 or more. An RPLS is legally authorized to offer professional land surveying services to the public, responsible for determining and certifying land boundaries, creating legal descriptions, and mapping land features for various projects.
Nathan's connection to Topographic originated during a TJC-sponsored field trip to the Texas Society of Professional Land Surveyors annual convention. This interaction led to his current position. Although he initially considered earning only a basic certificate, his engagement with the program motivated him to pursue the Associate of Applied Science degree in Surveying and Mapping Technology.
Beyond securing his current job, Nathan noted that his experiences at TJC, including group work, helped him excel professionally. He found that applying classroom knowledge to real situations enabled him to become a mentor to peers who lacked the same foundational training, providing him with confidence in his role.
Nathan encourages anyone considering surveying as a career to explore the TJC Surveying and Geomatics program. He stated that the program directly contributed to his professional success and provides a comfortable life for his family.
