Survey Engineering Technology


Your pathway to professional surveying starts at UMaine

Providing students with the skills and knowledge to become licensed professional land surveyors. With hands-on experience, and exceptional faculty, graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of the surveying profession across the United States.

Multi-Year NCEES Surveying Education Award Winner

100% On-Line Degree Options

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Program Offerings 

  • Graduate Degrees
  • Professional Science Masters in Engineering & Business, Surveying Engineering Technology | Exclusively Online
  • Masters of Science (MS) in Engineering Technology, Surveying Engineering Technology | Exclusively Online
  • Doctor of Engineering (Eng.D.) in Engineering Technology, Surveying Engineering Technology

survey Engineering technology Overview

The University of Maine’s Surveying Engineering Technology (SVT) program equips students with the practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to excel in the surveying profession. Accepted for licensure requirements in all 50 states and beyond, the program combines state-of-the-art techniques in boundary surveying, GPS, GIS, and photogrammetry with a foundation in business and project management. Students benefit from small class sizes, exceptional faculty licensed across multiple states, and unique summer work opportunities with private firms and government agencies nationwide.

Recognized as a multi-year NCEES Surveying Education Award winner, UMaine’s SVT program stands out for its excellence in preparing students for professional success. Graduates have a 98% pass rate on their fundamentals of land surveying exam, often progress to project management roles within two to four years, and achieve licensure shortly after. With a legacy rooted in history—surveying was practiced by U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln—UMaine’s program continues to inspire and train the next generation of leaders in the surveying field.

Program Objectives

Educational Objectives are to prepare graduates to:

  • Demonstrate a practical understanding of skills in mathematics, basic physical sciences, business, surveying, and engineering sufficient to pass professional registration exams.
  • Show proficiency in using surveying equipment and gathering experimental and surveying data for the use of analytical and problem-solving skills reasonably expected for surveying practice necessary to be in responsible charge of surveying operations.
  • Be able to apply design skills sufficient to meet employer and client expectations in the areas of land development and survey operations planning.
  • Conduct themselves ethically and professionally and exhibit personal integrity and responsibility in surveying practice.
  • Be proficient in written, oral, and graphic communication to deal with promotion of professional services, business communications, reporting to clients, interacting with peers, and addressing client matters in public forums.
  • Awareness for the arts, humanities, social sciences, and diversity and their place among society and the profession in taking leadership roles in the community and profession.
  • Be able to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment, and lead when necessary to accomplish a given mission or project when providing professional services to the public.
  • Recognize, participate, and appreciate the need for quality improvement of services, continuous improvement of professional skills, and embarking on lifelong learning.

The student is taught a variety of surveying topics in a highly technical and rigorous curriculum. The primary focus is educating students to enter a rewarding career as a professional land surveyor. Students that enjoy outdoor activities will enjoy a career in land surveying.

Student Outcomes

Prior to graduation, students are required to demonstrate the following learned capabilities:

  • an ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly- defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  • an ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
  • an ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly- defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
  • an ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
  • an ability to function effectively as a member or leader on a technical team.

Department Information

School Director: Will Manion

School of Engineering Technology
5711 Boardman Hall, Room 119
Orono, Maine 04469-5711
Tel: (207) 581-2340
Fax: (207) 581-2113
um.set@maine.edu

sCHOOL OF Engineering Technology

Our school was established in 1975 and offers four degree options for our students. Our programs are explicitly designed to prepare graduates for engineering careers. We accomplish this by working closely with industry to ensure that students are provided “hands on” experience with today’s technology and applications.

Our four engineering technology programs are explicitly designed to prepare graduates for engineering careers. We accomplish this by working closely with industry to ensure that students are provided “hands on” experience with today’s technology and applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Curious about Survey Engineering Technology? Whether you’re a prospective student exploring career options or a current student looking for program details, this FAQ covers everything you need to know. From course topics and career opportunities to hands-on learning and industry demand, get answers to your most common questions about this exciting and evolving field.

Frequently Asked Questions By Prospective Students

How long will it take me to complete my degree?

This varies based on how many credits are being transferred in to cover required courses and how many courses are taken each semester. We try our best to use as many transferred classes as possible to fulfill requirements. We have put together some tools to help you do an initial self-evaluation for where you stand in the program. You can use these to put in completed courses that you believe fill requirements and see how many required courses remain.

Can I take every class online for the B.S. in Survey Engineering Technology through UMaine?

We currently offer all the required classes but Calculus I and Calculus II online. We can help guide you online options for those classes. Some of the non-core classes have limited online sections so need to be signed up for as soon as possible.

Many online students end up taking classes elsewhere… maybe their local community college has an in-person class they would prefer or they found something offered with timing that works better for them. 31 credits need to be from UMaine with at least 15 of those 300-level or higher but otherwise if course are taken from a regionally accredited institution and transfer in for the required course it is fine. You will need to register at the other institution separately (even if it is in the UMaine system). Usually you tell them you want to be a “non-degree student”.

More information about being fully online

Will this program prepare me for the Fundamentals of Survey (FS) Exam?

Yes, there is even a FS exam prep class built into the curriculum. Taking the exam (not passing) is a required component for graduation. If you have already taken the FS exam, please contact um.set@maine.edu after admittance to the B.S. program and we can waive the class and mark of the exam requirement.

Will this program make me eligible for licensure in my state?

Yes, our B.S. Survey Engineering Technology program is accepted by all 50 states+ for licensure requirements. Some states don’t require a bachelor’s in surveying and the Certificate in Survey Engineering Technology is a great option there.You should review your states requirements carefully and contact the licensure board for your state to fully understand the requirements. Find out about surveying exams at the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES

I’m ready to apply…what is my next step?

You can apply for admission at https://go.umaine.edu/apply/ for your chosen program option. The admissions process does take a couple weeks so please don’t wait until the semester is starting to apply. Academic Calendar

The SET Office acts as you academic advisor for your first semester so please contact us at um.set@maine.edu or call at 207-581-2340 with any questions about classes. We don’t manage any financial related issues but you can contact https://umaine.edu/bursar/ for help with that. You can always contact us with any question and we can help direct you to the right resource.

If you are transferring in classes (especially from multiple other institutions) it will take even longer to process everything. We can usually get you in required classes your first semester and sort everything out from there.

If you are are certificate student you will need to have taken a precalculus class before getting accepted. For the B.S. Survey Engineering Technology program it is important that you take the Aleks math placement exam as soon as possible if you are not transferring in math courses from elsewhere. 

How do I track how many classes I have left?

Your Degree progress report (DPR) can be found on your Dashboard under “Academics” on left-hand side of the screen. It is easiest to view by clicking “View Condensed Format” at the top right of the report. Your DPR shows which requirements have been satisfied. If you are a student transferring in many credits it might not be fully correct until midway through your second semester of classes if exceptions for classes need to be made. If you are starting your third semester or more at UMaine and still think it is missing something contact um.set@maine.edu.

The course I’m trying to register for says I’m missing prerequisites. What now?

Some UMaine courses have prerequisite classes that provide the foundation information for that course. It is best for you if you take them in the correct order. Here is the flowchart for the SVT courses showing the order they should be taken. That being said there are sometimes extenuating circumstances, please contact um.set@maine.edu and we can see about an override.

Can I take a class elsewhere to fill a requirement?

Yes, many online students end up taking classes elsewhere… maybe their local community college has an in-person class they would prefer or they found something offered with timing that works better for them. 31 credits need to be from UMaine with at least 15 of those 300-level or higher. Otherwise if courses are taken from a regionally accredited institution and transfer in for the required course it is fine. UMaine Transfer ToolsYou will need to register at the other institution separately (even if it is in the UMaine system). Usually you tell them you want to be a “non-degree student”. Then fill out a Domestic Study Away form and return to um.set@maine.edu, this will ensure you are taking the correct class and make the class counts to your overall package. Once you have completed the class get the official transcript sent UMaine Office of Student Records and you’re all set.

What are some options for taking classes elsewhere?

Some of the required courses might need to be found at a local community college or online from another school. Below are some of the places that our students have taken those classes online with good results. We don’t control these offerings so they may or may not be offered online in the semester you want them. You will need to check each school and register with them separately and fill out a Domestic Study Away form to return to um.set@maine.edu and then get the transcript sent to UMaine Office of Student Records after class completion.

CLEP (https://clep.collegeboard.org/ and modernstates.org)
This allows students to test for credit that transfers in as UMaine classes like an AP test.
MAT122
MAT126
ECO elective

University of Maine System
This is the easier method…grades transferred in without sending a transcript

CMJ103: University of Maine Augusta COM101
University of Maine Fort Kent

COM200 Advanced Comm: University of Maine Augusta COM102, COM104, COM205
PHY107: University of Maine Augusta PHY115

Eastern Maine C.C. https://www.emcc.edu/academics
/programs/courses/
PHY107: EMCC PHY121/122 (summer/fall)
PHY108: EMCC PHY 123/124 (summer/spring)
CMJ103: SPE101
MAT122: MAT217
MAT126: MAT225
MATH127: MAT226

Southern Maine C.C. https://www.smccme.edu/
PHY107: PHYS150 (fall/spring)
PHY108: PHYS155 (fall/spring)
CMJ103: ENGL110
MAT122: MAT146 and MAT190
MAT126: MATH260
MATH127: MAT127

Cape Cod Community College https://www.capecod.edu/

MAT122: MAT195
MAT126: MAT240
ACC elective: ACC201
Advance Comm: COM105, COM120, COM201, COM215

Bristol, MA C.C. http://www.bristolcc.edu/
PHY107: Bristol PHY 101 (fall) = UMaine PHY 107
PHY108:Bristol PHY 102 (spring) = UMaine PHY 108

Middlesex, MA C.C. https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/
Middlesex PHY 151(spring)
Middlesex PHY 152 (fall)


How do I withdraw from a class?

You have the first two weeks of class to withdraw from a standard full semester class and get a 100% refund. Then it is prorated tuition if you are dropping all your classes that semester. Click here for more detailed information. Please contact um.set@maine.edu as soon as you know you need to withdraw.

I took time off…why can’t I register for classes?

You might need to readmit because your account went inactive after a gap. Use the simple one-page re-admission form and return it to um.set@maine.edu and we can help you get enrolled. This could take a couple weeks to process so don’t wait until the semester starts to do this.

How many credits do I have to have to be an active student?

Even 1 credit a semester will keep you on active status but it is not necessary. It is very easy to come back after taking a semester or more off. It most cases you won’t need to do anything but enroll for classes but if you have trouble enrolling because it says you are ineligible for that semester then just contact um.set@maine.edu and, in most cases, you will need to fill out the simple one-page re-admission form.

I’m ready to graduate…what now?

First check your Degree Progress Report (DPR) in Mainstreet and make sure everything shows as satisfied (it should look be just series of blue category bars no courses showing). This can be checked as soon as you register for your last class. As soon as a year before before you plan to graduate you can put in your graduation application. You must submit a graduation application to be awarded a degree. Directions for applying here (opens in a separate window).

Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the Commission’s General Criteria and the Survey Engineering Technology Program Criteria.

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