Engineering and technical education have undergone considerable change in the last 40 years. The complexities of space exploration, power generation, communications systems, environmental control, information processing, transportation systems, fire protection, construction management, and manufacturing have demanded a great increase in the involvement of professional engineers in theoretical and analytical work. This has resulted in a much greater emphasis upon research and development, science, and mathematics in professional engineering curricula. At the same time, after the more complex devices and systems have been engineered, their design, development, and operation require the sophisticated knowledge and skills of what might be called the “applied engineering sciences.” Programs dedicated to filling this need exist all over the United States. The aim and content of these programs are distinctly different from professional engineering curricula.

To provide the appropriate distinction from both theoretical-professional engineers and from engineering technicians who are graduated from two-year community and technical colleges, the designation “engineering technologist” is employed to describe the graduates of four-year applied engineering or “engineering technology” curricula. The Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management is committed to producing competent graduates that satisfy the needs of employers in North Carolina and throughout the United States.

Degree Programs

The Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management offers curricula leading to the Bachelor of Science in Construction Management (BSCM) and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) degrees.  In addition to the BSCM, four disciplines of study are available in Engineering Technology:  Civil Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, and Mechanical Engineering Technology.

Students may enroll in the programs in several ways:  1) as freshmen; 2) as transfers without an approved Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in engineering technology, construction management, or fire protection; or 3) as upper-division 2+2 transfers after completing a two-year A.A.S. degree in a relevant engineering technology, construction management, or fire protection curriculum at a community or technical college.  Incoming students with an A.A.S. degree generally receive Junior class standing, with up to 64 credit hours applied toward the BSET or BSCM degree.

Construction Management and Engineering Technology students learn through applied technical courses and hands-on laboratories where they interact with experienced professors with many years of real-world engineering, design, project management, and product development experience. Graduation with a BS degree in Construction Management (BSCM) or Engineering Technology (BSET) opens the door to many exciting and challenging professional careers. Graduates choose from a variety of exciting career options where they enjoy productive professional careers with exceptional employment rates and excellent salaries.

Accreditation

The Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) of ABET.  The Construction Management program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC) and the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission (ANSAC) of ABET, www.abet.org.

Employment Opportunities for Graduates

Graduates of our programs can be found in every sector of the global economy. Examples of employment opportunities and examples of recent job titles are provided below for each program.

Civil Engineering Technology

Civil Engineering Technology (CIET) graduates find employment in a wide range of positions in construction, surveying, engineering and architectural firms; local, state and national government; environmental and public health agencies; state departments of transportation and highways; and private business and industry. Specific job titles of recent graduates include transportation technician, highway technician, engineer-in-training, materials supervisor, surveying crew chief, civil engineering detailer/designer, office engineer, construction estimator or planner, engineering assistant, project engineer and assistant project manager.

Construction Management

Construction Management (CM) graduates plan, direct, and coordinate a wide variety of construction projects, including the building of all types of residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and schools and hospitals. Construction managers may oversee an entire project or just part of a project. They often work with or for owners, engineers, architects, and others who are involved in the construction process. Construction managers evaluate and help determine appropriate construction delivery systems and the most cost-effective plan and schedule for completing the project.

Electrical Engineering Technology

Electrical Engineering Technology (ELET) graduates find employment in many sectors of the economy. Almost any aspect of communications, electronic instrumentation, computer applications, computer networking, electric power generation and distribution, or consumer electronics has a need for graduates with understanding of the applications of electrical/electrronic technology.  For example: systems administrator for networked computer systems, systems design for a telecommunications company, avionics control systems for aircraft programs, and applications design for HVAC and building power-control systems.

Fire and Safety Engineering Technology

Fire and Safety Engineering Technology (FRST) graduates find employment in numerous areas associated with fire safety and protection to include prevention, suppression, building design and fire investigation and re-creation, emergency preparedness, safety analysis, and mitigation. The FRST program stresses the importance of personal communication skills and the ability to function in a team environment. Some typical job titles of recent graduates include firefighter, fire investigator, fire prevention officer, fire inspector, fire captain, and safety coordinator.

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) graduates use the principles of energy, materials, and mechanics to design, build, test and maintain a wide variety of machines, processes, and systems with employment in the automotive, aerospace, energy, and other high-tech industries. METs work in areas such as computer-aided design, plant production or maintenance, research and development, or as laboratory technicians, production assistants, manufacturing or quality control engineers, product and materials testing technologists, or applications engineers.

Engineering Technology and Construction Management Program Educational Objectives and Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

These are statements that describe the expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after graduation.

The Department of Engineering Technology and Construction Management at UNC Charlotte is committed to providing the environment and expertise to ensure that its graduates make substantive contributions in their professional endeavors after graduation, both in the areas of technical proficiency and community involvement.

Accordingly, graduates of the BSET Civil, Electrical, Fire and Safety, and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs and BSCM Construction Management program contribute to society as productive technologists and engaged citizens by:

1. Applying general and discipline-specific concepts and methodologies to identify, analyze, and solve technical problems.
2. Articulating technical material in a professional manner to potentially diverse audiences and in a variety of circumstances.
3. Assuming leadership roles and contributing within team environments while modeling ethical, respectful, and professional behavior at all times.
4. Recognizing and appreciating the environmental, societal, and fiscal impact of the technical professions in a local, national, and global context.
5. Demonstrating an individual desire and commitment to pursue continuous selfimprovement and lifelong learning.

Student Outcomes

The Construction Management and Engineering Technology programs identify, measure, and improve student competencies through assessment and continuous improvement of student learning outcomes, which are mapped to the ETAC of ABET Criterion 3 Outcomes listed below:

ETAC of ABET Criterion 3 Outcomes

For baccalaureate degree programs, these student outcomes must include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. An ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
2. An ability to design systems, components, or processes meeting specified needs for broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline;
3. An ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in broadly defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature;
4. An ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results to improve processes; and
5. An ability to function effectively as a member as well as a leader on technical teams.

The Construction Management program’s student outcomes are also mapped to the ANSAC of ABET Criterion 3 Outcomes listed below:

ASAC of ABET Criterion 3 a through k Skills

Baccalaureate degree program student outcomes must include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve broadly defined technical or scientific problems by applying knowledge of mathematics and science and/or technical topics to areas relevant to the discipline.
2. An ability to formulate or design a system, process, procedure or program to meet desired needs.
3. An ability to develop and conduct experiments or test hypotheses, analyze and interpret data and use scientific judgment to draw conclusions.
4. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
5. An ability to understand ethical and professional responsibilities and the impact of technical and/or scientific solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
6. An ability to function effectively on teams that establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, and analyze risk and uncertainty.

Additional Programs and Opportunities

Distance Education

In addition to the on-campus programs, the upper division of the BSET programs in Electrical Engineering Technology and Fire and Safety Engineering Technology (Fire Safety concentration) are offered online to part-time students.  This allows students who already hold an approved AAS degree to complete their Junior and Senior years of the BSET program at a distance.  Students are required to come to the campus only for ELET laboratories.  The ELET laboratories are currently offered on a schedule of Saturdays during the summer school sessions.  Estimated completion time for the distance delivery of the Junior and Senior years is approximately four years, including summers, since students generally take two courses per semester. 

Programs

• Civil Engineering Technology, Applied Energy and Sustainable Systems Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Civil Engineering Technology, B.S.E.T.
• Construction Management, Applied Energy and Sustainable Systems Concentration, B.S.C.M.
• Construction Management, B.S.C.M.
• Electrical Engineering Technology, Applied Energy Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Electrical Engineering Technology, B.S.E.T.
• Electrical Engineering Technology, Electromechanical Systems Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, Fire Protection Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, Fire Safety Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Fire and Safety Engineering Technology, Occupational Safety Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, Applied Energy Concentration, B.S.E.T.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, B.S.E.T.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electromechanical Systems Concentration, B.S.E.T.

• Applied Energy and Electromechanical Systems, M.S., Early Entry
• Construction and Facilities Engineering, M.S., Early Entry
• Fire Protection and Safety Management, M.S., Early Entry