Civil Engineering Associate Degree Online
Wouldn't it be fun to get an associate degree that allowed you to build bridges, drive dump trucks, and construct dams? Who wouldn't like to do that stuff? If this sounds like something you'd love, then you might want to research getting an associate degree in civil engineering.
Why Get A Civil Engineering Associate Degree?
Getting an associate degree in civil engineering means that you'll be qualified to help architects and senior engineers construct major buildings, airports, railroads, power plants, waste treatment facilities, roads, bridges, and irrigation systems.
If you love math and science, and you like the idea of working with your hands and being outdoors most of the day, then an associate degree in civil engineering might be for you.
What You'll Learn In A Civil Engineering Degree Program
Because civil engineering is a technical field, you'll spend a lot of time taking math and science courses. It's essential that you be comfortable in these two subjects, especially math, because you'll be using it often in your job. You'll also be using programs like CAD, so it's essential that you be comfortable using computers.
Some of the courses you might expect to take when getting your civil engineering associate degree include:
- Land Surveying
- Engineering Mechanics
- Technical Writing
- Engineering Materials
- Highway Constructing and Design
- Technical Mathematics
- Auto CAD
- Hydraulics
- Infrastructure Design
- Inspection, Surveying, and Estimating
- Geotechnical Design
If you decide to continue with your education and get your Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, then you'll be able to pick a concentration that caters to the field you're most interested in.
Concentrations can be a great way to really learn about one aspect of the engineering field, and they often increase your career prospects because you're seen as an "expert" in that area.
Some of the concentrations available to civil engineering students include geo-technical, structural, architectural, traffic, and ocean.
Careers With An Associate Degree in Civil Engineering
An associate degree in civil engineering is going to allow you to work as an assistant civil engineer. This means you can work for private builders and construction firms, as well as state and local governments.
With an associate degree in civil engineering you can expect to earn between $30,000 and $45,000. CBSalary.com lists the average earnings for an civil engineer at $60,609.
If you continue with your education, however, you will be qualified to earn much more than this. Full-fledged civil engineers earn, on average, $48,000 to $85,000. So, it's definitely worth it to stay in school if you love this field. The extra investment in yourself will definitely pay off.
As far as career prospects go, the housing slowdown has made the market a bit tight for civil engineer assistants. But, there are still be plenty of opportunities at the local and state level, and these positions are expected to increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to the increased spending that many governments are making in their infrastructure.
