Mission Statement
The mission of the Electronics Technology program is to prepare students for careers in electronics manufacturing and repair, equipment service, and electronic instrument development design.
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Work Environment
Many electrical and electronics installers and repairers work on factory floors, where they are subject to noise, dirt, vibration, and heat. Bench technicians primarily work in repair shops, where the surroundings are reasonably quiet, comfortable, and well lighted. Installers and repairers may have to do heavy lifting and work in a variety of positions. They must follow safety guidelines and often wear protective goggles and hard hats. When working on ladders or on elevated equipment, repairers must wear harnesses to avoid falls. Before repairing a piece of machinery, these workers must follow procedures to ensure that others cannot start the equipment during the repair process. They also must take precautions against electric shock by locking off power to the unit under repair.
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Nature of the Work
Businesses and other organizations depend on complex electronic equipment for a variety of functions. Industrial controls automatically monitor and direct production processes on the factory floor. Transmitters and antennae provide communication links for many organizations. Electric power companies use electronic equipment to operate and control generating plants, substations, and monitoring equipment. The federal government uses radar and missile control systems to provide for the national defense and to direct commercial air traffic. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers install, maintain, and repair these complex pieces of electronic equipment.
Installers and repairers, known as field technicians, often travel to factories or other locations to repair equipment. These workers usually have assigned areas in which they perform preventive maintenance on a regular basis. When equipment breaks down, field technicians go to a customer's site to repair the equipment. Bench technicians work in repair shops located in factories and service centers, fixing components that cannot be repaired on the factory floor. Electrical and electronic equipment are two distinct types of industrial equipment, although a great deal of equipment contains both electrical and electronic components. In general, electrical parts provide the power for the equipment, whereas electronic components control the device.
Field technicians use software programs and testing equipment to diagnose malfunctions. Among their diagnostic tools are multimeters, which measure voltage, current, and resistance, and advanced multimeters, which measure capacitance, inductance, and current gain of transistors. Repairers also use signal generators, which provide test signals, and oscilloscopes, which display signals graphically. Finally, repairers use hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers, soldering irons, and wrenches to replace faulty parts and adjust equipment.
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Employment
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers held about 160,900 jobs nationally in 2008. Overall employment of electrical and electronics installers and repairers is expected to grow by 5 percent through the year 2018. Job opportunities should be best for applicants with an associate degree in electronics, certification, and related experience.
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Earnings
Median hourly wages nationally of electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment were $23.29 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $18.40 and $28.73. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14.39, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $33.81.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
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Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the diploma program in Electronics Fundamentals and the associate degree program in Electronics Technology will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Explain and demonstrate the fundamental concepts of DC circuit laws in electronics circuits
- Explain and demonstrate the fundamental concepts of AC circuit laws in electronics circuits
- Demonstrate problem-solving, independent thinking, and troubleshooting of DC/AC, solid-state, digital, and linear integrated electronic circuits
- Perform solid soldering techniques
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Basic Electronic Assembler will have:
- Apply algebraic concepts to solve problems
- Explain and demonstrate direct current theory and practical applications
- Perform soldering tasks
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
Graduates of the technical certificate in Alternate Energy Fundamentals will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Apply algebraic concepts to solve problems
- Explain and demonstrate direct current theory and practical applications
- Demonstrate problem-solving, independent thinking, and troubleshooting of photovoltaic systems, alternate energy systems, and power electronics
- Perform soldering tasks
- Troubleshoot solid state devices
- Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
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Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
For students to be successful in the Electronics Technology programs, they must be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Essential Functions Required for Student Performance
- Ability to understand and troubleshoot DC circuits and circuit laws: Kirchoff's law, Ohm's law, Power law, voltage-divider circuits, series/parallel resistor circuits, and resistor color code chart
- Ability to understand and troubleshoot AC circuits and circuit laws: sine waves, instantaneous voltages and currents, series/parallel AC circuits, Kirchoff's law, Ohm's law, Power law, voltage-divider law, capacitors, inductors, and passive filters
- Ability to understand and troubleshoot solid state devices and circuits using transistors, diodes for biasing circuits using amplifiers, cascaded amplifiers, filters, decibels, power supplies, and regulation and filtering
- Ability to understand and troubleshoot digital systems electronic devices using Boolean logic, truth tables, logic gates, TTL devices, Karnaugh mapping, combinational logic circuits, sequential logic using counters, adders, multiplexers, demultiplexers, memory, microprocessors, and programmable logic arrays
- Ability to understand and troubleshoot linear electronics circuits with active amplifiers and filters, frequency analysis, feedback systems, oscillators, and timers
- Ability to Use Senses
- Visual: Acuity to identify symbols on schematics or electronics prints and to read fine print on equipment or other documents required in the operation of oscilloscopes, signal generators, DVM, and electronics test equipment
- Hearing: Ability to hear sounds and emergency signals (with auditory aids or a full-time interpreter for the hearing impaired) and to understand a normal speaking voice without direct access to the speaker's face
- Tactile: Ability to work with small electronics devices and use connections for the testing of electronics circuits and devices
- Motor Ability
- Physical ability to walk long distances and stand for long periods of time; to lift, move, and transfer equipment of at least 50 pounds; and to maneuver in limited space
- Ability to work while in hot/humid and/or cold conditions
- Manual dexterity to efficiently and safely use equipment, power tools and hand tools, and other small and large equipment while wearing essential safety glasses, gloves, and/or other necessary required safety gear
- Ability to Understand Need for a Safe Work Environment
- Practical awareness of laboratory environment in electronics
- Ability to wear necessary safety gear, i.e. safety glasses, gloves, head covering, etc.
- Ability to maintain safe environment at all times
- Ability to Communicate
- Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to class partners and/or team and to instructor
- Ability to write and perform routine mathematical calculations clearly and correctly
- Basic proficiency in technology (computers and peripheral components) as industry requires
- Ability to Problem Solve
- Intellectual and conceptual ability for measuring, calculating, reasoning, analyzing, and prioritizing daily functions in today's electronics technician's jobs
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a sense of urgency without jeopardizing safety
- Ability to react and adjust as instructed by the instructor(s) during lab or shop instruction or based on customer's needs
- Ability to Maintain Emotional Stability
- Ability to function safely under stress in today's workplace and adapt to changing staff and client/customer situations
- Ability to maintain composure and professionalism at all times in labs and work environment
- Ability to Perform Practical Outcomes
- Ability to function under the practical guidelines of the electronics laboratory and procedures
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Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Program supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact amounts)
- Calculator ($80)
- Textbooks (Approximately $1,200 for the Electronics Fundamentals program, $2,800 for the Electronics Technology program, $800 for the Alternative Energy Fundamentals program, and $500 for the Basic Electronics Assemblers program)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
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Gainful Employment
Information on graduation rates, job placement rates, median loan debt incurred by students and other gainful employment information is available on the college website.
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
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