Civil Engineer jobs with an AAS Degree

I am currently looking to go back to school and am very interested in the AAS Civil Engineering program at my local Community College. The program is designed for 2 years and then into the workforce. What jobs are availible through this program with this degree? Any comments or suggestions about this career move would be appreciated.

Don't waste your time. An AAS degree in Civil Engineering will get you nowhere. For a job as a Civil Engineer AT MINIMUM-you will be reguired to have a bachelor's degree, and for most companies- a Master's Degree.

Civil Engineer in Manchester, Tennessee said: Don't waste your time. An AAS degree in Civil Engineering will get you nowhere. For a job as a Civil Engineer AT MINIMUM-you will be reguired to have a bachelor's degree, nd for most companies- a Master's Degree.

This is really not true. I teach computer networking at a 2 year college and our civil students are in the most demand. Should you go on to more college, probably, but they do make 40k plus in their first job. What brings the money is experience and it doesn't matter if you have a 4 year or 2 year. You need to earn your stripes. That's my 2 cents.

Marcie-

Respectfully, you're wrong. Technically, to be considered a "Civil Engineer", you are required to take and pass the P.E. exam- to qualify for this exam, you are REQUIRED to have a bachelors degree (AND work experience). (Before this, your title is "Engineer in Training" -"EIT")

With an associates degree in Civil Engineering, you can perhaps obtain employment as a Civil Engineering Technician, or a Drafter. Both could be good career choices if that is what you are looking for(The drafter in my department has been there 10 years and makes $70K).
But if you're looking for any design or management positions OR if you're looking for the title of "Civil Engineer", a bachelors is the absolute minimum of what you will need. (And most companies now prefer a Master's degree).

It definitely DOES matter 2 year vs. 4 year- in the field of Civil Engineering, experience means nothing without the proper education.

Civil Engineer in Houston, Texas said: Marcie-

Respectfully, you're wrong. Technically, to be considered a "Civil Engineer", you are required to take and pass the P.E. exam- to qualify for this exam, you are REQUIRED to have a bachelors degree (AND work experience). (Before this, your title is "Engineer in Training" -"EIT")

With an associates degree in Civil Engineering, you can perhaps obtain employment as a Civil Engineering Technician, or a Drafter. Both could be good career choices if that is what you are looking for(The drafter in my department has been there 10 years and makes $70K).
But if you're looking for any design or management positions OR if you're looking for the title of "Civil Engineer", a bachelors is the absolute minimum of what you will need. (And most companies now prefer a Master's degree).

It definitely DOES matter 2 year vs. 4 year- in the field of Civil Engineering, experience means nothing without the proper education.

1. Under what circumstance you can call yourself an engineer is based on your state laws (usually, you are correct).
2. Generally, you are not required to have a bachelor's degree to sit for the PE. Although, this is the fastest route. Without a bachelor's degree, you will require much more experience. Also, for clarity, "Engineer in Training" title is given after completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering examination (this is also a prerequisite of sitting for the PE exam.)
3. With an associates degree, you can eventually become a PE...at least in New York. I believe other states to have similar rules. Likely, you would start out as a Civil Engineering Technician or a Drafter, but this does not have to be the end of the road.
4. 2 year vs 4 year vs graduate degree does matter. If you invest more heavily in your education, it usually will be reflected in your lifetime wages. However, to say experience means nothing without proper education is foolish.

Although the info on the usefulness of having an AAS degree was wide ranging... that is from thinking that its a waste of time to it can be the begining of an extremely rewarding career. As with any other educational decision, it mostly depends on what your goals and ambitions are. Clearly though it simply is almost never atotal waste of time to get a degree at any level in any field. After carefully researching the engineering profession and making a decision as to what my long term and short term goals and plans are, I am very excited to start at my local community college to get an AAS degree in civil engineering with plans on eventually becoming certified and employed as a civil engineer technician! Thanks everyone for your opinion.

Civil Engineer in Manchester, Tennessee said: Don't waste your time. An AAS degree in Civil Engineering will get you nowhere. For a job as a Civil Engineer AT MINIMUM-you will be reguired to have a bachelor's degree, and for most companies- a Master's Degree.

NICE GUY. MY AAS PAYS ME 70,000 IN NEW YORK. YES A BA IS MORE VALUABLE
BUT DONT LET SOME AH TELL YOU NOT TO IMPROVE YOURSELF.MOST BS ENGINEERS
ARE NO SMARTER THAN YOU.THIS GUY MUST BE UNEMPLOYED.

billyboy111857 in White Plains, New York said: NICE GUY. MY AAS PAYS ME 70,000 IN NEW YORK. YES A BA IS MORE VALUABLE
BUT DONT LET SOME AH TELL YOU NOT TO IMPROVE YOURSELF.MOST BS ENGINEERS
ARE NO SMARTER THAN YOU.THIS GUY MUST BE UNEMPLOYED.

ps- who lives in tennesee

Just go for it.
I am still in school for AAS degree in civil engineering and I have a position as an engineer and im making around 55-60k a year Plus I get around 15k a year doing side job. But you will have to work your way up. Get certified as you get your degree. such as ACI, NICET, ICC. The more certs the more chances of getting hired trust me. And learn AutoCAD....Very Important in Engineering world.....GOOD LUCK....

hey thanks for the honest and supportive feedback which is so needed during these most difficult time for some of us!

I REALLY DONT KNOW HOW THIS WEB PAGE WORKS BUT I SEE THA ALL OF YOU ARE ENGINEERS SO IM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP ,,, AND THANK YOUU

Come to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
It's a beautiful city to live and work in! And we are looking for engineers.
Everyone here has a job so there are no unemployed people to hire from!!!
That's how good it is. Saskatchewan is rich in natural resources and we are experiencing growth.

Check out our web-site: www.marchconsulting.com
Check out our city at: www.tourismsaskatoon.com

contact me at: hr@marchconsulting.com

Hope to hear from any of you looking for work!

Civil Engineer in Houston, Texas said: Marcie-

Respectfully, you're wrong. Technically, to be considered a "Civil Engineer", you are required to take and pass the P.E. exam- to qualify for this exam, you are REQUIRED to have a bachelors degree (AND work experience). (Before this, your title is "Engineer in Training" -"EIT")

With an associates degree in Civil Engineering, you can perhaps obtain employment as a Civil Engineering Technician, or a Drafter. Both could be good career choices if that is what you are looking for(The drafter in my department has been there 10 years and makes $70K).
But if you're looking for any design or management positions OR if you're looking for the title of "Civil Engineer", a bachelors is the absolute minimum of what you will need. (And most companies now prefer a Master's degree).

It definitely DOES matter 2 year vs. 4 year- in the field of Civil Engineering, experience means nothing without the proper education.

And how exactly do you get that Experience (as a technician) with just an associates degree?? Again, its nice to talk about these in demand fields but there have been so many stories about people who go back to school who are older (say older than 30) and find they can't get an interview let alone a job for anything in the field and it isn't because 'they aren't willing to start at the bottom'

A NICET/ACI certified technician or drafter with the right skill set will always be in demand as long as people are building and/or maintaining infrastructure.

Not everyone wants to become CEO/senior executive of a construction/engineering company or start their own business-there's nothing wrong with choosing your career path.

You might make more money with a PE license and a BSCE/MSCE/MBA, but money's not everything-do what makes you happy.

I've had in-laws who chose a degree (medical career field) based upon family pressure to make more money, and they ended up with a job where they didn't want to wake up in the morning. They quit that job after 2 years, and now regret not choosing their own career path.

Is there a difference in getting a Civil Engineering Associate Degree versus a Civil Engineering Technology Associate Degree? Will I be able to get a Civil Engineering Technician career with Civil Engineering Associate Degree or is the CE Technology Associate Degree more valuable? Thank you for any advice you can give me.