Course Description
This course will focus on the legal responsibilities of the land surveyor in regard to determining property boundary location. Topics include the role of evidence, the legal principles of boundary creation and retracement, and the understanding and writing of boundary descriptions. The professional and ethical responsibilities of the surveyor and his or her legal liability will be covered. Connecticut specific topics will be covered in the final two weeks. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- 5 years of progressively responsible survey field work.
- 1 year of responsible office survey experience.
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain the various kinds of property evidence and their order of importance.
- Use boundary location principles to create or retrace properties.
- Describe and understand the various unwritten transfers of property that can occur and their impact.
- Create and interpret property descriptions for deeds.
- Research and analyze public land records, incorporating legal principles.
- Explain the role of the surveyor in professionalism, ethics, and a surveyor’s liability.
- Apply regulations, case law, and mapping standards in their work.
- Exercise critical thinking in solving questions of proper boundary placement.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussion Board Questions (Weeks 1-15) | 30% |
Multiple Choice Quizzes (Weeks 1-15) | 20% |
Tests (Weeks 5, 12 & 14) | 50% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Robillard & Wilson. Evidence & Procedures for Boundary Location. 6th ed. Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, 2011. ISBN 978-0-470-40478-2
Additional Resources
Located in the Blackboard course shell
- Reference folder that contains maps and deeds to use for homework and threaded discussions. It will also contain hyperlinks to useful web sites that supplement the lecture and text and articles of interest.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1,7 | Topic: Introduction and Evidence
|
|
2 | 1,7 | Topic: The Burden of Proof in Evidence
|
|
3 | 1,7 | Topics: Words, Technology, and Other Types of Evidence
|
|
4 | 2 | Topics: Measurements and Plats as Evidence
|
|
5 | 1,2 | Topic: U.S. Surveying History in the Metes and Bounds States
|
|
6 | 1,2 | Topics: U.S. Surveying History of the General Land Office (GLO)
|
|
7 | 2,7,8 | Topic: Water Boundaries
|
|
8 | 2 | Topic: Procedures for Retracement of Boundaries Described by Words
|
|
9 | 2,7,8 | Topic: Procedures for Original Surveys
|
|
10 | 3,7,8 | Topic: Unwritten Transfers of Land Ownership
|
|
11 | 5,8 | Topic: Guarantees of Title and Location
|
|
12 | 5,8 | Topic: Title Searching Procedures
|
|
13 | 4 | Topic: Understanding Deed Descriptions
|
|
14 | 4,8 | Topic: Writing Deed Descriptions
|
|
15 | 6,7 | Topic: Professional Topics for the Land Surveyor
|
|
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.