The Industrial Electronics Technology Program prepares students for work in installation, testing, and maintenance of electrical and electronic systems in industrial, scientific, and commercial facilities. The program also provides specific training in basic computer hardware and software, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), motors and motor control systems, three-phase power distribution, and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) programming. Graduates are prepared to pursue jobs in areas such as manufacturing automation, electrical power distribution, protection systems, and other electrically-related fields. 

The program offers both degrees and certificates. The Electronics Engineering Technology (EET) track emphasizes design, testing, and product development in electrical/electronic systems, while the Instrument Mechanic (IM) track emphasizes instrumentation and control systems found in continuous processing industries such as paper production, oil refining, and water treatment.

Potential positions include industrial electrician, instrument technician, power systems maintenance technician, electronic maintenance technician, process control technician, and electrical apprentice. Typical employers are engineering and manufacturing firms and utility companies.

Entrance requirements for students seeking enrollment in the Industrial Electronics program include:

• Students must score a 30 or higher in math on ALEKS and have a 2 or higher score on the Writing Placement Exam, or equivalent college placement exams.
• Enrollment priority for students seeking entrance into the program is on a first-come first-serve basis as determined by the student's faculty advising date.

Successful completers will demonstrate the following:

(1) 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.

(2) SELF-MANAGEMENT – Arrive on time and prepared; Work diligently until the job is done; Budget resources appropriately to achieve objectives.

(3) SAFE WORK HABITS – Comply with relevant national, state, local, and college safety regulations when designing, prototyping, building, and testing systems.

(4) 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.

(5) PROBLEM-SOLVING – Devise and implement solutions for technical problems appropriate to the discipline.

(6) DOCUMENTATION – Interpret and create technical documents (e.g. electronic schematic diagrams, block diagrams, graphs, reports) relevant to the discipline.

(7) INDEPENDENT LEARNING – Select and research information sources to learn new principles, technologies, and/or techniques.

Students may choose either the Instrument Mechanics (IM) track or the Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) track.  The first two semesters’ worth of technical courses are common to both tracks; part-time enrollment options also exist to give students more options and flexibility in their education.

The EET track emphasizes skills required to be an Electronics Technician in engineering, manufacturing, and telecommunications industries.  After the common first-year courses in DC, AC, and Digital circuits (including basic PLC programming), the EET student goes on to study computer programming, advanced analog circuitry, radio-frequency circuits, electric power system control and protection, digital communications, and data acquisition systems.  Successful completion of the EET track can open doors into industries like Electronics Manufacturing, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Energy & Utilities, Research and Development, Broadcasting, and Telecommunications.  All technical coursework for this track is open-source and available online at: https://www.ibiblio.org/kuphaldt/socratic/model/

The IM track provides the solid technical foundation required to pursue a career as an Instrumentation Mechanic/Technician, or Instrumentation Controls Technician. After the common first-year courses in DC, AC, and Digital circuits (including basic PLC programming), the IM student goes on to study process indication measurements like pressure, level, temperature, flow, and chemical measurement. IM students also study control valves, motor control systems, PLC- and HMI-based control systems, and closed-loop controls. Successful completion of the IM track can open doors into industries like Energy & Utilities, Pulp & Paper, Biotech & Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Food & Beverage, Mining & Minerals, and Electronic Manufacturing.

General Education Requirements

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General Education Core Courses

Program Requirements

Sequential Plan of Study

Industrial Electronics Technology

Electronic Engineering Technician

Instrument Mechanic

Graduates from Industrial Electronics Technology programs go on to obtain careers in a variety of fields:

• Industrial-Electrical Technician
• Instrument Technician
• Power Systems Maintenance Technician
• Electronic Maintenance Technician
• Process Control Technician
• Electrical Apprentice
• Research and Development
• Electronics Equipment Analyst
• Programming Technician
• Manufacturing Technician