Oregon Tech Offers Online Courses in Geomatics

The Geomatics Department at the Oregon Institute of Technology announces that beginning September 30, selected Geomatics courses in Surveying and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be offered online. These courses are designed for the working professional that desires formal education to advance in their career. All courses are fully accredited and transferable to the Geomatics degree.

The GIS courses are being taught by John Ritter, and the Surveying courses will be led by Mitch Duryea, PLS. Ritter and Professor Duryea are both faculty at the Oregon Tech campus in Klamath Falls.

Currently recognized as the regional center for excellence for Geomatics in the Northwest and listed as one of the six best Land Surveying schools, Oregon Tech combines theory, problem-solving, and field work in a computer-intensive curriculum that prepares students for employment and licensure as Professional Land Surveyors.

Oregon Tech is the only university in the Northwest to offer a four-year degree in Geomatics that is fully-accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The department offers instruction using state-of-the-art technology, and Oregon Tech Geomatics graduates remain highly sought after by industry. Over 95 percent of students who graduate from Oregon Tech with a Geomatics degree are hired upon or before graduation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the architecture and engineering occupations group which includes surveyors, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and surveying technicians is one of the top 10 occupational groups projected to have the fastest growth in employment between 2002 and 2012. Salary levels are expected to rise as demand for qualified professionals in these fields grows.

“We’re excited to expand our program online,” said Geomatics professor and Professional Land Surveyor, Mitch Duryea. “This offers us even more ability to reach students who are unable to attend our Klamath Falls or Wilsonville campus. At this time, we have 3-4 courses available online each term and have plans to add additional courses in the future.”

For more information about Geomatics online, contact Mitch Duryea, PLS.