Energy Utility Technology, Certificate

Degree: Certificate
HEGIS Code: 5317
Curriculum Code: 2249
Campus Location: North
Engineering and Technologies Division

Career Opportunities/Further Education: Electric Utilities, Gas Utilities, all courses apply to the AOS in Industrial Technology

Program Description Program Competencies Department Notes Curriculum

Program Description

This certificate program is designed to fill a critical need for qualified entry level workers in the energy utility industry. Job opportunities exist for overhead and underground line workers, meter workers, field service technicians and sub-station maintenance workers.

The program requires completion of 30 credit hours of course work which may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. The full-time sequence is completed within two semesters, while the part-time sequence is completed within four (4) semesters. The evening program is designed for the part-time sequence only.

Students interested in becoming an overhead electrical line worker are required to take EL 173 Electric Power Overhead Construction (four credit hours), which is offered in the summers only.

Students interested in the natural gas industry should take in the second semester, OF 142 Business Communication as the Industry Approved Elective and an additional required course, IT 115 Technical Communications and Graphics.

Program Competencies

Upon completion of a certificate in Energy Utility Technology, students will be able to:

• understand electrical principles, concepts, laws and rules and apply these to the analysis of circuit operation and failure determination;
• interpret electrical schematics;
• recognize electronic devices, their coded values and their function within a circuit;
• construct an electrical circuit given its schematic;
• properly select and use a variety of electronic instruments to measure and record data;
• understand and describe electrical power generation, transmission and distribution; and 
• illustrate knowledge of technical concepts and standards of the gas utility industry.

Department Notes

• All developmental and prerequisites must be taken in order to begin the core coursework.
• Some courses are taught by adjunct faculty who work for local utility companies. These courses run in the late afternoon or evening.
• Students must follow all safety protocols in the laboratory courses. The department reserves the right to immediately remove the student from laboratory course work and/or dismiss the student from the program if the department determines that the student is unable to provide safe laboratory practices.
• Students are responsible for providing transportation to off-campus industry sites utilized for energy utility technology training.
• Students must achieve a QPA of 2.0 in all required courses.
• Typical jobs in this field require students to earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Certain criminal convictions may disqualify you.
• Most energy utility companies will perform criminal background checks and certain criminal offenses may disqualify you from working in this field.
• Part-time students should consult an academic advisor in the department to plan a course schedule.

Curriculum

Total Degree Credits: 31.5