Land surveying science shows new graduate clear career path

This piece is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

For Southeast Technical College graduate Cole Nelson, the journey to a fulfilling career wasn’t a straight line — but it was one defined by persistence, hands-on learning and the right kind of support at the right time.

Originally from Pierre, Nelson began his college experience at South Dakota State University in Brookings during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many students at the time, he found himself navigating remote classes and an academic path that didn’t quite fit.

“Everything was kind of messed up,” Nelson said. “I started in psychology, ended up in higher-level classes I probably shouldn’t have been in and then switched to advertising. I was taking classes, but it didn’t feel like I was moving toward anything concrete.”

After earning an associate degree in general studies, Nelson knew he needed a more focused, career-driven direction. That’s when a strong recommendation from a friend and some encouragement from his now fiancee, Cassidy, a 2024 STC graduate, pointed him toward Southeast Tech’s land surveying science program.

“It’s the only program like it in the area, and I kept hearing great things,” he said. “Once I got here, it just clicked.”

At Southeast Tech, Nelson found exactly what had been missing: smaller class sizes, accessible instructors and a curriculum grounded in real-world application.

“It’s not weird to go in and ask a professor a question,” he said. “I feel seen here. The instructors really guide you and help you figure out answers to your questions.”

That sense of connection is paired with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, something Nelson said made all the difference.

“I really like working with the equipment and learning skills actually related to the job,” he explained. “You’re not just learning theory — you’re doing the work.”

One of his most memorable experiences came during a capstone project after his first year when he and his classmates conducted a full topographic survey of the Mickelson Center on STC’s campus.

“We mapped everything from the north side of the health center to the daycare and from the fence along I-29 to the sidewalk on Career Avenue,” he said. “It was really fun to see a project come together from start to finish using everything we learned.”

Through that experience and others, Nelson gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of land surveying.

“On the surface, it looks like you’re just out there shooting corners,” he said. “But there’s so much more to it, like how magnetic forces can affect coordinates. It’s a lot more in-depth than people think.”

That depth, along with the demand for skilled land surveyors, has opened doors already. Nelson completed an internship with the South Dakota Department of Transportation that turned into a full-time opportunity.

With his graduation earlier this month, he’ll return to the DOT as a regional surveyor based in Pierre, covering a wide region from Chamberlain to Wall and from the North Dakota border to the Nebraska border.

Looking ahead, Nelson has his sights set on earning his professional surveyor’s license and potentially starting his own business down the road.

“Maybe someday I’ll have my name on property pins,” he said. “That would be pretty cool — setting boundaries for new builds and helping shape communities.”

Now, as he begins his career and his wedding date in September approaches, Nelson reflects on how far he has come and the role Southeast Tech played in helping him get there.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” he said. “It gave me direction, real skills and a career I’m excited about.”