Gadsden State offers state's only civil engineering tech program among community colleges
GADSDEN — Gadsden State Community College is the only community college in Alabama offering a Civil Engineering Technology Program. The program aims to provide hands-on training in design, surveying and infrastructure inspection, according to a news release.
'The Civil Engineering Technology Program is perfect for students who want to go straight into the workforce or transfer to a four-year university,' said instructor Marshall Bailey. 'We focus on the training and skills that employers are looking for right now.'
Housed on the East Broad Campus in Gadsden, the program prepares students for careers in AutoCAD design, surveying and construction applications. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil engineering technologists and technicians with an associate degree earn a median annual salary of $60,700.
Students can pursue an Associate in Applied Science degree, which includes 15 general education credit hours and 61 technical hours. The college also offers a certificate option with 44 credit hours and a short-term certificate requiring 26 hours focused entirely on technical instruction.
'Our graduates are well-prepared for positions like field survey technicians, CAD technicians and construction inspectors,' Bailey said. 'Or, they can transfer to a bachelor's degree program in civil engineering.'
Bailey, a summa cum laude graduate of the same program he now leads, joined the Gadsden State faculty in 2019. Since then, he has helped grow enrollment by more than 150 percent.
'Gadsden State gave me the foundation I needed academically and professionally,' he said. 'The faculty believed in me and gave me the skills I use every day in my career. Now, I have the honor of doing the same for my students.'
The program is also open to high school students through Gadsden State's dual enrollment program. Eligible students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be a sophomore, junior or senior and receive approval from a school counselor or administrator.
'Dual enrollment is a fantastic opportunity for students to get a head start on a meaningful, high-paying career,' Bailey said. 'We're seeing more high school students take advantage of this program every year.'
Bailey encourages students interested in high-demand technical careers to consider the program.
'This is a smart first step for students who are hands-on learners and want a career that makes a real-world impact,' he said. 'Civil engineering touches every part of our daily lives, from roads and bridges to buildings and utilities. If you want to help build the future, be a civil engineer.'
More information about the program is available at www.GadsdenState.edu/Technical. Details about the dual enrollment program can be found at www.GadsdenState.edu/DualEnrollment.
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