“The map is combined with the as-built model to make the completed project.” Shelby Norton is halfway through the SPSCC AEC Tech program and is thrilled with the experience. “I take my students to study outside of the building and take measurements to create the map,” she explains. Ting’s course is Survey I, which requires students to create a topographic map using survey data collected on the same existing building. Adam’s course is Building Information Modeling IV, which focuses on building an as-built model of an existing building with all of the elements, including floor, walls, plumbing and electrical. At the end of the program, students take two final classes that culminate their knowledge and give them a chance to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. The program is six quarters long, which takes approximately two years full time with a summer break each year. Together they have been able to develop a symbiotic learning experience for their students. Ting teaches some of the fundamental courses and all of the civil engineering courses while Adam teachers most of the architectural courses. Once faculty Adam Waters joined the program, he and Ting were able to collaborate more between their classes. “We added more commercial buildings to the Building Information Modeling (BIM) courses and then rearranged the syllabus to make it easier for our students,” Ting explains. In the redesign, faculty removed older mechanical engineering courses and made a program name change from CAD/BIM to AEC Tech to better exemplify the program outcomes.

The new program incorporated more general education classes to help support soft skills, including English, math, communications and diversity classes. During this experience, SPSCC discovered that soft skills were an essential component that was missing from their program. “We invited a lot of people from the industry and from University of Washington to talk about their needs and expectations for our students,” shares Ting, who has been faculty for the program for almost 8 years. The SPSCC AEC Tech program has been around for well over 30 years and went through a program redesign in 2016. She teaches the fundamental courses for the program and all of the civil engineering classes. Ting Song has been with the SPSCC AEC Tech program for the last 8 years. Program faculty member Ting Song and student Shelby Norton share how the program can advance your career in this exciting field. With their AEC Tech program, you can gain essential skills and knowledge for a range of careers in the architecture and engineering industry. The South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Technology (AEC Tech) program can be a game-changer when it comes to breaking into the field of architecture and civil engineering.

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