Penn State University

Program’s mission

The baccalaureate degree program in Surveying Engineering was developed with the help of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and was created in response to the increasing need for specialists in capturing, processing, and managing geospatial data.

The Surveying Engineering major provides a comprehensive undergraduate education required for private and public service in the profession of surveying. Instruction is provided in the main divisions of surveying, including land surveying, mapping, photogrammetry, laser scanning, data analysis and adjustment, geodesy and map projection coordinate systems, remote sensing, geographic information systems, land development, and more.

How will your program use the prize money to engage your students with other professionals, introduce them to both historical and new technology, and promote licensure?

The program faculty have been working to extend the program online to increase enrollment and offer a surveying degree to a larger range of students outside of the geographic area. With the robust modernized curriculum, we intend for the online/hybrid program at Penn State to become a hub in Pennsylvania and the Northeastern United States, increase the program’s enrollment, and expand the number of graduating surveyors to contribute to the industry’s growth and advancement.

Thus, the award will be used to fund the development of the surveying courses for online/hybrid format. The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors and the Pennsylvania Land Surveyors’ Foundation strongly support this endeavor, and their members will serve as reviewers for the developed courses. Their contribution is important to add practical information and applications of surveying in course contents. Students will also engage with various professionals through mentorships for completing coursework during their studies.