Why study Manufacturing Engineering Technology
The engineering technology degree offered by APSU is ideal for students who are interested in engineering and technology and who want to focus more on the practical aspects and on being a “doer.” This degree works well for people with industrial and/or military experience who are a bit older than the average college student and are seeking a degree as a path to new career opportunities. With our manufacturing engineering technology concentration, graduates are well-prepared for careers in this area. An engineering technology degree offers a path to employment in the field of engineering and technology. For the student with practical skills and interests but may not have been the top math student in their class, this degree can be the perfect fit. With its focus on applications and more limited requirements in mathematics, it is a very good fit to the person who has been in the workplace and now needs a degree for advancement.
The Engineering Technology department in APSU offers degrees in engineering technology.
This is similar to but not the same thing as a degree in engineering. An engineering
technology degree puts more emphasis on applications and less on mathematics and theory.
The focus of an engineering technology degree is to prepare a graduate to be a “doer”
– to implement a plan, to work out the details, solve the problems, and make something
work. When compared to a mechanical engineering degree program, the math requirements
are not as high, and the classes focus more on applications. The BS Engineering Technology
- Manufacturing Concentration program will prepare you to work in all types of manufacturing
industries designing and improving processes. You’ll develop a broad background and
gain hands-on experience in many areas including manufacturing processes, automated
manufacturing, computer-aided design and manufacturing, fixture and tooling design.
Project management, engineering economic analysis and communication skills are also
important parts of this program. The region around APSU is home to many Manufacturing
industrial employers, and these employers need people for their design and manufacturing
teams with qualifications in the manufacturing field. Our graduates can be found working
for
industrial employers throughout the region and beyond. Our degree programs have helped
many people find a better career and given them the basis for career advancement.
We are unique in that we offer the entire degree program in the evening at the Army
Education Center at Fort Campbell. People who are working in regional industries and
have to be at work during the day can come to us and take courses at night, along
with active duty military personnel. Courses at Fort Campbell run on an accelerated,
eight-week term schedule. For the more traditional college student, we offer some
first-year courses during the daytime on the Clarksville campus following the traditional
sixteen-week term schedule as well. With courses in the evenings, students are free
to look for internships and even full-time employment during the day. This is ideal,
as most employers expect interns to work during regular business hours.
The faculty teaching the courses have a range of backgrounds and experience. The department has a mix of senior, experienced faculty as well as new faculty coming on board. All have either Masters or Ph.D. degrees. One of the faculty in the manufacturing engineering technology is an experienced Manufacturing Engineer from the regional industry. The department also brings in engineers from industry as adjunct faculty to teach classes.
What will I Learn
- Common information covering all areas of technology.
- This foundation is broad in scope and gives graduates a well-rounded education in technology. Early on, students will take courses that open the doors to internships with regional industrial employers.
- All students take one course using industry-standard solid modeling design software. The software package we teach – CREO Parametric – is an industry-standards and is used by employers in the region. Skills gained with this particular software package can be carried over to software from other companies. When a student has completed the course, they can claim almost 40 hours of instruction on design software used by employers throughout the region. This gives students a highly marketable job skill to help them seek internships or even full-time employment.
- In the manufacturing concentration, students take courses in computer-aided design and solid modeling, machine design, manufacturing, robotics, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, additive manufacturing and 3D printers, production operations management, Programmable Logic Controls (PLCs), and automation.
- On the business side all students take a course in engineering economics, preparing them to deal with practical economic issues related to plant operation and the purchase of new equipment.
- The final capstone project will assist students with learning skills in teamwork and leadership while applying knowledge learned in their classes.
Sample Course Plan and General Education Requirements
Engineering Technology: Manufacturing Engineering Technology Sample 4 Year Plan
Accreditation
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with concentration in Manufacturing Engineering Technology (B.S.E.T) is "accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org."