Civil Engineering Technology

Program Description
While civil engineers plan, design and construct various structures including all civic facilities, commercial buildings and highways, the civil engineering technician assists the professional engineer in the accomplishments of these tasks. There is an urgent and continuing local need for civil engineering technology graduates to support the enormous investment in modernizing the infrastructure of the local community. There is a current shortage and demand for trained personnel by governmental and private sector design agencies as well as construction contractors. The demand for civil engineering technicians exceeds the annual number of graduates. ECC is the only institution in Western New York offering this program.

The educational objectives of the Civil Engineering Technology Program are to: 

• secure employment in a technical career related to civil engineering;
• continue education to four-year engineering or engineering-related program; and 
• prepare students to obtain national certifications related to furthering their education and knowledge to succeed on the job.

Students will be provided with basic training in the concepts fundamental to the development, design and construction of commercial, industrial and public structures, utilities and highways. Students will develop a clear understanding of the problems and the solutions to the problems facing the design construction team, including the owner, surveyor, architect, engineer, building product supplier, and contractor.

The program encourages professional office practice standards in both the lecture and lab experiences. Through lecture courses, students probe surveying, manual and computer-aided design (CAD) drafting, structural steel design, reinforced concrete design, highway design, and computer applications. These classes are supplemented by laboratory experiences. Students--having regular access to state-of-the-art equipment, including micro-computers, survey programs, printers, plotters, micro-based CAD equipment, COGO survey programs, electronic distance measuring equipment, automatic levels and theodolites--are expected to produce calculations and reports that meet professional standards.

A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required for graduation with an A.A.S. degree in civil engineering technology. Graduates of the program may continue on toward a B.S. or B.S.T. degree at various universities or find employment with material testing and inspection firms; private and governmental engineering, design and surveying agencies; architectural firms; and contracting firms and construction material and equipment suppliers.