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Civil and Construction Engineering Technology

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Program Overview

The Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program prepares you for an entry-level career working as a technician under the direction of civil engineers, surveyors, contractors, and architects. If you’d like a job building bridges, highways, or facilities, this degree is for you. You’ll learn how to use the latest technology in the areas of planning, designing, construction, and maintenance, while positioning yourself to earn a great salary. You’ll learn to:

  • Read building and highway blueprints
  • Operate survey equipment and process data
  • Sample and test materials
  • Prepare construction plans
  • Prepare quantity estimates
  • Inspect civil infrastructure projects
  • Use computer-aided drafting and design (CADD)

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

  • Indoor and Outdoor Lab and Field Work Experiences: Use technology, tools, and equipment in real-world projects, including surveying, construction materials testing, engineering problem solving, and CAD.

  • Job Opportunities: Many summer and part-time jobs are available while you are completing the program. These are not a requirement to graduate.

Transfer Information

The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Applied Engineering and Technical Management has a variety of documented pathways between Hawkeye's Civil and Construction Engineering Technology AAS degree program and a bachelor degree at UNI. Check out UNI's transfer guides for the following programs to learn more:

  • Construction Management
  • Technology Management

If you plan to transfer, work closely with a program advisor to ensure courses transfer and you meet program requirements.

At A Glance
Award
  • Associate of Applied Science
Length of Study 2 years
Tuition-Free Eligible

This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition.

Students must apply for, be awarded, and meet the ongoing eligibility requirements for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.
 

Faculty Spotlight

Paresh Shettigar, P.E.

"I have been teaching full time in the Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program since 1994. To this day, I thoroughly enjoy helping interested and willing students learn and further their skills in this exciting and challenging field, using classroom experiences, hands-on lab training and field experiences as well.

In 2007, I became a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Iowa. When I am not teaching, I work as a licensed consulting civil/structural engineer."

Program Spotlight

The Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program prepares you for an entry-level career working as a technician under the direction of civil engineers, surveyors, contractors, and architects. If you’d like a challenging and rewarding career in the area of bridges, highways, and infrastructure facilities, this degree is for you. You’ll learn hands-on how to use the latest technology in the areas of planning, designing, construction, and maintenance, while positioning yourself to earn a great salary.

Graduate Spotlight

Liza Herold knew Hawkeye's Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program had a great reputation, and after two years she can see why. She graduated with a job offer in hand, and thanks to the Last-Dollar Scholarship, zero student debt.

Program Pathway

Civil and Construction Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

Program Details

Award Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Credits 72
Program Start Fall
Number of Terms 4
Time to Complete 2 years
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Civil and Construction Engineering Technology – AAS
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1
  • Civil Engineering and Architecture
  • Constr Drawings and Cont
  • Introduction to Computers
  • Surveying
  • Technical Drawing and CAD
  • Technical Mathematics I
Term 2
  • Construction Safety
  • PC Concrete, HMA, and Testing
  • Route Surveying/Roadway Design
  • Structural Detailing and Civil Drafting
  • Technical Math II
  • Written Communication in the Workplace
Term 3
  • Applied Physics or
    College Physics I
  • Fundamentals of Construction Estimating
  • Fundamentals of GPS and GIS
  • Human and Work Relations
  • Soils, Testing, and Foundations
  • Statics and Strength of Materials
Term 4
  • Construction Methods and Resources
  • Environmental Technology
  • Fundamentals of Oral Communication
  • Land Surveying
  • Site Planning and Development
  • Structural Steel/Reinforced Concrete Design

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

You have completed the Civil and Construction Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program.

Careers

Positions

Graduates find employment working as civil technicians, CAD drafters, designers, surveyors, construction inspectors, material testing technicians, and estimators for engineering offices, material testing labs, surveying companies, civil construction contractors, city engineer offices, and county and state highway departments.

Example Careers and Average Wages
Entry Average Experienced
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians $41,600 $60,600 $70,000

Source: 2022 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Employers

The following is a partial list of employers who have hired graduates from this program:
Business Location
AECOM Waterloo and Des Moines, IA
Black Hawk County Engineer’s Office Waterloo, IA
CGA Consultants Cedar Falls, Marshalltown, and Ackley, IA
City of Waterloo Engineering Department Waterloo, IA
Fehr Graham Engineering and Environmental Manchester and West Union, IA
Foth Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, IA
Herold-Reicks Surveying New Hampton, Waverly, and Clear Lake, IA
Iowa Department of Transportation Ames, IA
McAninch Corporation Des Moines, IA
WHKS, Inc. Dubuque and Ames, IA
Peterson Contractors, Inc. Reinbeck, IA
Terracon Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids, IA
WHKS Engineers and Land Surveyors Mason City and Dubuque, IA

Program Admission

Step #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.

  2. Send official transcripts to Admissions.

Step #2: Program Admittance Score Requirement

In order to be eligible for the Civil and Construction Engineering Technology program, all students must meet minimum score requirements in math and literacy. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
ALEKS ACCUPLACER Next Generation ACCUPLACER Classic COMPASS ACT GPA
Math 30 259 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)
227 Advanced Algebra and Functions		 85 Elementary Algebra 42 Algebra 19
Literacy 239 Reading or
240 Writing		 58 Reading or
64 Sentence Structure		 69 Reading or
41 Writing		 16 Reading or
16 English		 2.25

The ALEKS Placement Assessment can be taken online. ACCUPLACER Next Generation and ACT can be taken at Hawkeye. ACCUPLACER Classic and COMPASS are no longer offered, but if you've taken either in the past your test scores can be used for program admittance.

Step #3: Program Acceptance

Applicants meeting the Program Admittance Score Requirement are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants not meeting the Program Admittance Score Requirement will be accepted to a pre-program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts
Admissions
Email Admissions 319-296-4000 Hawkeye Center 114
Academic/College Success Advisor
Natasha Ceaser Email Natasha Ceaser 319-296-4014 ext.1062 Bremer Hall 136C
Faculty Advisor
Paresh Shettigar Email Paresh Shettigar 319-296-2329 ext.1107 Buchanan Hall 128G

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