GADSDEN – Gadsden State Community College is the only community college in Alabama to offer civil engineering, providing hands-on training for design and inspection of infrastructure that shape communities.
“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, the program is designed to produce skilled technicians proficient in the latest industry practices, preparing them to work in various fields, such as 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 at Gadsden State can earn an Associate in Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology, which includes 15 hours of general education courses and 61 hours of technical education and training. Gadsden State also offers a certificate, which requires six general education hours and 38 technical hours, and a short-term certificate, which consists of 26 credit hours focused solely 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 is a product of Gadsden State’s Civil Engineering Technology Program. He was a summa cum laude graduate from Gadsden State before earning a bachelor’s degree at Troy University. He came to Gadsden State as an instructor in 2019 and has grown program 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.”
Bailey encourages prospective students interested in high-demand careers to consider Gadsden State’s Civil Engineering Technology 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.”
Gadsden State’s Civil Engineering Technology Program is also a scholarship-eligible program for high school students through the Dual Enrollment Program, which allows students to earn both college and high school credits simultaneously. Eligible students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be a sophomore, junior or senior and receive approval from a counselor or administrator.
“Dual enrollment is a fantastic opportunity for students to get a head start on a meaningful, high-paying career,” said Bailey. “We’re seeing more high school students take advantage of this program every year.”
For more information about Civil Engineering Technology and other career technical programs at Gadsden State, visit www.GadsdenState.edu/Technical. Information about the Dual Enrollment Program can be found at www.GadsdenState.edu/DualEnrollment.
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