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Civil and Construction Engineering Technology

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

An articulation agreement allows you to transfer some of your Civil and Construction Engineering Technology coursework to the Construction Management program and Technology Management program at the University of Northern Iowa. Additional transfer options may be available.

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

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 Technicians $36,600 $55,300 $64,700

Source: 2020 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, Iowa
Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC 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, Iowa

Admissions Requirements

Step #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Complete Hawkeye's online admissions application to apply and be considered for the Civil and Construction Engineering program.

  2. Request to have your transcripts sent to the Admissions office.

Step #2: Basic Skill Competencies

In order to be eligible for the Civil and Construction Engineering program, all students must meet minimum score requirements and/or successfully complete the required college success courses in English, reading, and math with a "C" grade or higher at Hawkeye Community College or comparable courses at another accredited college. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
ACT ACCUPLACER COMPASS ACCUPLACER Next Generation
16 Reading 58 Reading 69 Reading 239 Reading
16 English 64 Sentence Skills 41 Writing 240 Writing
19 Math 85 Elementary Algebra 42 Algebra 259 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics

Step #3: Program Acceptance

Applicants meeting the Basic Skill Competencies Requirements criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants not meeting the Basic Skill Competencies Requirements criteria 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

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