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East Tennessee State University’s Surveying and Mapping Science Program has enjoyed considerable growth in recent years. It’s a trend that bodes well for ETSU graduates and the region, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of surveyors to grow 11% through 2026.
Part of the reason for enrollment growth: an investment in the technologies needed to offer students hands-on, expert-level training.
That’s according to Dr. Jin Hong, an associate professor in the Department of Engineering, Engineering Technology and Surveying at ETSU.
Hong has won a $10,000 Surveying Education Award from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. It’s the third time since 2018, for a total of $35,000, that Hong’s department has won an award from the national organization.
“We are so excited to have this opportunity,” said Hong. “We will use these funds to address the always-evolving technologies in the surveying profession. This, in turn, will better the student experience, giving them the tools they need to succeed in a fast-growing profession.”
Students getting hands-on learning opportunities is at the core of ETSU’s approach to education. Across a range of programs, ETSU aims to help students shift seamlessly from enrollment to employment.   
And the Surveying and Mapping Science Program boasts a range of resources for students. It is accredited by the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission – the premier accrediting organization of applied science, computing and engineering in the United States.
The degree students earn at ETSU is accepted as the educational foundation for the Professional Surveying License in many states, and the program is part of the Academic Common Market agreement with Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi, meaning that residents in those states and North Carolina border counties could be eligible for in-state tuition rates.
“Our program has really grown in recent years as all surveying courses are offered as distance education,” said Hong. “We want current and potential students to know that this is an exciting option for them.”