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Engineering Technology

The engineering technology program is an exciting initiative aimed to create a direct pipeline of talent to fill the abundance of engineering jobs that exist in West Virginia and throughout the country!

Students are trained in modern technologies and equipped with the practical skills and hands-on experience necessary to thrive in advanced technology industries. This integrative, multi-disciplinary degree-program prepares students for a variety of careers in the manufacturing, energy, industrial, technical service sectors, and provide a foundation for future entrepreneurs.

Collage of students using tools in the Lane Innovation Hub

Students completing this program earn industry certifications in Solidworks® (CSWA and CSWP) and Microsoft Word®, PowerPoint® and Excel® as they learn about and practice designing, building, testing, installing, maintaining and refining. Practical class projects, lab experiences and onsite industry engagement teach students to discover how to use the right materials, sensors, electric parts and processes to work, design and produce efficiently.

The program that's right for you

While the degree is in Engineering Technology, the career is engineering! Engineering Technology and Engineering are challenging programs with significant differences between the two. Compare and decide which program is the best fit for you based on your academic preparation and career interests.

Comparison between Engineering Technology and Engineering Degrees
Engineering Technology Engineering
Program Graduate

Implementer - Likely to get a “hands-on” laboratory, testing, or in-the-field job in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, product design, testing, or technical services and sales.

Innovator - Likely to get a research, development, conceptual design, or sales position

Curriculum

Focuses on application and implementation, specifically on applying current knowledge and practices to solve defined technical problems and standard design problems.

Students engage in discipline topics early in the freshman and sophomore years.

Content includes algebra, trigonometry, applied calculus, statistics, and university-level sciences; the level of math is not as in-depth as engineering programs while focusing on applications of the engineering disciplines in the freshman and sophomore years of study.

Focuses on theory, conceptional design, developing new analysis methods and solutions for open-ended, complex, and unique design problems.

Most discipline study occurs in junior and senior years.

Content includes multiple semesters of calculus and calculus-based theoretical university-level science courses during the first two years, followed by engineering science, analysis, and design in the junior and senior years.

Graduate School

Readily accepted into graduate school and often pursue graduate study in facilities management, business administration, or similar programs

Readily accepted into graduate school for advanced study in engineering, engineering management, or business administration

Professional License

Eligible for professional registration in many states, including West Virginia, Ohio, and Virginia, with wide variation in licensing requirements

Eligible for professional registration in all states through examination (FE and PE exams) and documented experience

OVERVIEW

Degrees Offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology

Nature of Program

This general Engineering Technology program provides graduates with instruction in technical and leadership skills necessary for manufacturing and industrial competitiveness and to enter careers in manufacturing process and systems design, operations, quality, continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and sustainability. It prepares graduates with knowledge, problem-solving ability and hands-on skills and to enter careers related to preparation of engineering drawings, design, installation, manufacturing, testing, technical sales, maintenance, improvement of integrated processes, their resulting products (including mechanical components and complex systems) and services within an organization. It draws upon specialized knowledge and skill in the mathematical, natural, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design, to design and fabricate products and specify, predict and evaluate the results to be obtained from integrated processes and systems.

Areas of Emphasis

The B.S. Engineering Technology degree curriculum provides a multi-disciplinary overview of engineering technology with a general focus on manufacturing and requires the completion of two Areas of Emphasis. Students have the ability and flexibility to tailor their educational experience to specific career goals by selecting two Areas of Emphasis from the following:

WVU Partnerships

This program is built from direct partnerships internally and throughout West Virginia University ranging from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and hands-on courses taught in the Lane Innovation Hub to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, and the Chambers College of Business and Economics.

The Statler College is in the process of creating an ecosystem of industry partners to expand the hands-on experience outside of the University for our students.

A space dedicated to the hands-on experience

The engineering technology program will take advantage of the Lane Innovation Hub, a state-of-the-art facility in the Statler College, where students will gain real-world experience by learning how to operate the wide variety of machinery and equipment found in the space.

Contact

For more information about the Engineering Technology program, contact Robin Hensel by email Robin.Hensel@mail.wvu.edu or by phone 304-293-0396.

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