Nathan, a Senior Project Manager and Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) at Topographic’s Tyler office, credits Tyler Junior College's (TJC) Surveying and Geomatics Program for his career trajectory. The program, which offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Surveying and Mapping Technology, trains students for careers where survey technicians can earn $36,000 to $80,000 annually, and RPLS professionals can make $86,000 to $165,000 or more, according to program information. Nathan stated the program prepared him for "immediate success and employment" directly after graduation.
Nathan returned to TJC in 2016 to pursue his surveying aspirations, having previously completed his freshman year there in 2008 and 2009. Despite holding a four-year business degree, he realized his passion lay in surveying, a field he encountered through a part-time job during his earlier education. He quit his prior job to re-enroll full-time, taking 18 hours his first semester and 21 hours the second, while also working 30 hours a week. Nathan cited devoted TJC faculty members Willace Johnson and Patti Williams for their patient and knowledgeable instruction.
His connection with his current employer, Topographic, a national firm with a Tyler office, began at a Texas Society of Professional Land Surveyors annual convention. This field trip, sponsored by TJC, allowed Nathan to exchange information and connect with the company. The Surveying and Geomatics Program teaches fundamental elements required of a land surveyor, with an emphasis on boundary surveying. This includes history, legal principles of boundary location, evaluating property corners, describing land, calculating land areas, and utilizing the Texas Coordinate System, computer mapping, and geographic information systems.
As an RPLS, Nathan is a state-licensed expert authorized to determine and certify land boundaries, create legal descriptions, and map land features for various projects. He noted that the program’s emphasis on group work fostered an environment where students learned from peers, which translated into his professional role. He often finds himself in a mentorship position, providing answers to colleagues who lack the same comprehensive knowledge. This confidence, he explained, came directly from the TJC program.
Nathan encourages anyone considering surveying as a career to explore TJC’s program, noting its contribution to his professional success and the comfortable life it provides for him and his family.
