Civil Engineering Technology FAQ
Graduates can expect to earn between $45,000-$55,000 (2022 Placement Report). From there, the sky's the limit depending on who you work for and what you're doing for them. Examples of success stories: we have graduates working as construction managers, professional licensed land surveyors, and running their own firms.
Want to get into the workforce as quickly as possible? The CET Certificate program is made up of 8 courses and intended to be completed in one calendar year (August - August). Classes are condensed, taken one at a time in the fall term, with only slight overlap in the spring term. The Certificate program is over 80% online, requiring only 17 face to face class days on Boone Campus.
Want to learn more? You can continue after the certificate for two more semesters and earn the Civil Engineering Technology AAS Degree.
All of the CET courses in the program will have a heavy online component. You can complete the CET Certificate program in one calendar year, with only 17 days of on-campus time required. If you go on to complete the 2nd year and earn an AAS degree, the 2nd year has an additional 15 days of on-campus time.
The following days have been scheduled for upcoming semesters. Each face to face day is from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
|
Spring Term |
Spring 2024 |
|---|
|
Freshmen Courses |
|
CET 158 | Intro to Drafting | 8-Jan |
| | | 22-Jan |
| | | 12-Feb |
| | | 7-Mar |
|
CET 130 | Surveying Fundamentals | 13-Feb |
| | | 4-Mar |
| | | 18-Mar |
| | | 25-Mar |
|
CET 180 | Engineering Surveying | 8-Apr |
| | | 15-Apr |
| | | 22-Apr |
|
Sophomore Courses |
|
CET 110 | Materials Testing | Jan 8-11 |
|
CET 210 | PCC/HMA Plant Inspection | Feb 19-23 |
|
CET 220 | Soils and Erosion Control | Apr 18-19 |
|
CET 255 | Roadway/Highway Design | no f2f |
|
Summer Term |
Summer 2024 |
|
Freshmen Courses |
|
CET 260 | Roadway Design with CAD | 21-May |
| | | 10-Jun |
| | | 8-Jul |
| | | 25-Jul |
|
CET 215 | Roadway Design Fundamentals | no f2f days
|
|
Fall Term |
Fall 2024 |
|
Freshmen Courses |
|
CET 101 | Engineering Fundamentals
| 21-Aug
|
CET 152
| Construction Inspection
| 30-Sep
|
CET 252
| Construction Documents
| 2-Dec
|
CET 215
| Roadway Design Fundamentals
| no f2f days
|
|
Sophomore Courses |
|
CET 292 | Structural Detail and Modeling
| 21-Aug
|
|
| 4-Sep
|
| | 16-Sep
|
| | 30-Sep
|
CET 265
| Land Surveying
| no f2f days
|
A regular scientific calculator is all that is needed, it does not have to be fancy or programmable, and it does not need to have graphing capability. Common calculators used by our students are:
The computer that you use does not need to have any special features, however the CAD programs will not work on a MAC. You will need a PC. Also for CAD classes it is helpful if your computer has good speed and memory, but it does not need to have high graphics capabilities. If you are purchasing a new computer, our I.T. department recommends the following:
- Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7
- 16 GB to 32 GB RAM
- 1TB SSD or 1TB m.2
- Dedicated graphics card
Yes, just make sure you work with an
advisor to schedule classes so that the sequencing works. Not every class is taught every semester and it's
important not to get off track.
The CET program will allow non-CET students to register for courses if there are seats available (after CET students have completed their registration). For the surveying coursework (CET 113, CET 180 and CET 265) we will consider going over the course maximum for a person who is in the process of seeking Land Surveying licensure and needs a survey course to complete their academic requirement. This will be handled on a case by case basis and is not guaranteed. Contact Jean Ostrander,
jmostrander2@dmacc.edu for more information.
Yes! In Term 5 on the Student planner there are 3 materials courses. We will substitute your Iowa DOT Certification courses as follows:
- CET 110: Current IDOT certification in Aggregate Technician and PCC I will substitute for CET 110
- CET 240: Current IDOT certification in Soils and Erosion & Sediment Control will substitute for CET 240
- CET 210: Current IDOT certification in HMA I and PCC II will substitute for CET 210
Civil Engineering Technicians use their
technical skills to help build and maintain our infrastructure:
highways, dams, bridges, culverts, airports, etc. They use their skills
in the area of design, surveying, material testing, inspection and
project management to act as the "eyes and ears" for the engineer.
Technicians are not the people who physically build the roads (the
laborers), they're the people on site making sure it gets done properly,
and they are the people behind the scenes who assist in the design
process. They are critical to ensuring that our highway projects get
built right the first time, and that they last for many years to come.
Iowa Department of Transportation,
county engineering offices, city engineering offices, private material
testing labs, private surveying firms, consulting engineering firms, and
construction firms make up the bulk of the hiring. But there are many
other employers as well, the DNR, Army Corp of Engineers, etc. DMACC
graduates have worked all over this country, and overseas, helping build
civil engineering projects.
Costs for books and materials range from $200-$575 per semester for full-time students.
All CET books and materials are paid for with a course fee that you will pay when you register for your course. The CET department will provide you with your books and materials the first day of class.
The only books you will need to purchase from the bookstore are for non-CET acronym courses (Communications, Math, Electives)
They could, and some have, but this
degree is intended to be a 2 year degree that places you directly into
the work force. It is not the first 2 years of a 4 year degree.
Not unless you go on to get a 4 year
degree in Civil Engineering (only 12 credits of the CET degree will
transfer to a 4 year engineering college). We educate technicians, who
are the eyes and ears of the engineer.
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