Industrial Electronics Technology

The Industrial Electronics program prepares students for work in the development, installation, testing, maintenance and repair of electrical and electronic systems in industrial and commercial facilities. Graduates will be prepared to pursue jobs in other areas such as construction and electrical distribution as well.

This program instructs students in basic core competencies desired by industry today. Instructors provide students with skills in areas of electronics that include DC-AC theory and applications, integrated circuits both digital and analog, and computer hardware and software. Instructors also provide training in motor drives and controls, sensors and instrumentation, microcontroller programming and applications, and industrial control systems (including PLCs). Courses include hands-on training in laboratory applications.

Second year students can choose either the Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) Track, the Instrument Mechanics (IM) Track or the Industrial Electronics (IE) Track.

The EET track provides training in advanced electronics and computer programming. The EET track emphasizes skills required to be an Electronics Technician in Engineering and Manufacturing.

The IM track provides advance training in installation, repair and maintenance of industrial instruments. The IM track emphasizes skills required to be an Instrument Mechanics Technician in manufacturing, production and other industrial business.

The IE Track provides training in both industrial controls (including PLCs) and advanced electronics. The IE track emphasizes skills required to be an Industrial Controls Technician in manufacturing.

• Program has semester admittance (Fall and Spring)
• Enrollment priority is on a first-come, first-served basis as determined by the student’s faculty advising date
• Aleks score in Math of 30 or higher, Writing Placement Exam of 2 or higher, or qualify for Math (PT) 137 and English 101

To enter this program, you should have adequate skills in reading, English composition, and math through algebra. Good eyesight and physical health, manual dexterity, problem solving skills, and basic human relations skills are also important.

Employment of industrial electronics technicians is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. Increasing automation of industrial and commercial processes will create new jobs for these technicians. Potential positions for industrial-electrical technicians include industrial electrician, instrument technician, power systems maintenance technician, electronic maintenance technician, process control technician, and electrical apprentice. Potential positions for engineering technicians include research and development, laboratory technician, electronics equipment analysis and testing, field maintenance or programming technician, and manufacturing technician in various setting of that sector. Typical employers are engineering and manufacturing firms and utility companies.

• COMMUNICATION and TEAMWORK – Accurately communicate ideas across a variety of media (oral, written, graphical) to both technical and non-technical audiences; Function effectively as a member of a technical team.
• SELF-MANAGEMENT – Arrive on time and prepared; Work diligently until the job is done; Budget resources appropriately to achieve objectives.
• SAFE WORK HABITS – Comply with relevant national, state, local, and college safety regulations when designing, prototyping, building, and testing systems.
• ANALYSIS and DIAGNOSIS – Select and apply appropriate principles and techniques for both qualitative and quantitative circuit analysis; Devise and execute appropriate tests to evaluate electronic system performance; Identify root causes of electronic system malfunctions.
• PROBLEM-SOLVING – Devise and implement solutions for technical problems appropriate to the discipline.
• DOCUMENTATION – Interpret and create technical documents (e.g. electronic schematic diagrams, block diagrams, graphs, reports) relevant to the discipline.
• INDEPENDENT LEARNING – Select and research information sources to learn new principles, technologies, and/or techniques.