You are here:  UHD 1999/2000 Catalog / Academic Programs / Engineering Technology Department

• ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology

  Control and Instrumentation Electronics Major

  Engineering Design Technology Major

  Process and Piping Design Major

  Structural Analysis and Design Major

42

ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Alberto Gomez-Rivas, PhD, PE, Chair

Room 738 North, 713-221-8089

Faculty

Professors:		Gomez-Rivas, Pincus
Associate Professors:		Franz, Nandagopal, Feng
Assistant Professors:		Groendyke, Sheinberg

Programs of Study

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology with majors in:

Control and Instrumentation Electronics
Engineering Design Technology (Safety and Fire—
subject to approval)
Process and Piping Design
Structural Analysis and Design

Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology

The UH–Downtown Engineering Technology programs include a solid foundation in computer applications, engineering, physical sciences and mathematics. The programs prepare students to apply established engineering principles and methods to design, development, construction and fabrication projects. Graduates are qualified to be members of design teams of engineering firms and construction companies. Employment projections indicate the need for such personnel will continue to grow in the Houston area.

43

Students in engineering technology at the University of Houston–Downtown work with the most up-to-date computer engineering applications available. Courses in CADD, PC applications in engineering and PC facilities management are included in the curriculum of all Engineering Technology majors.

In order to fulfill the accreditation requirements of TAC of ABET all courses in the Engineering Technology department include a semester project with collaborative participation of all students working as a team. The project includes oral presentations, written reports, CADD drawings, and development of computer simulations. The purpose of the project is to train students to work in the team environment that they will encounter after graduation working in industry.

The University of Houston–Downtown uses its excellent engineering technology laboratory facilities to provide students ample and meaningful hands-on experiences. This laboratory experience is invaluable in preparing graduates to compete in today’s job market. Special facilities are: Process Piping Laboratory, Structures and Soil Mechanics Laboratory (sponsored by NSF), GPS-GIS Laboratory, Electronics Laboratories and the Process Control Laboratory (under development).

Advising

The minimum conditions which must be met by students before being accepted in an Engineering Technology degree program are: To pass all sections of the TASP test, complete 30 hours of course credits which are applicable to the Engineering Technology degree program and be in good academic standing. When these conditions are met, Engineering Technology faculty in Room 738-North, will advise the student. The Engineering Technology faculty will recommend course selection and provide sequencing guidelines to ensure that students make optimum progress toward completion of the Engineering Technology degree requirements. Faculty members also provide information regarding Engineering Technology programs, career opportunities and other development opportunities.

When the student is accepted into an Engineering Technology degree program, the department prepares a computerized official degree plan and makes it available for review by the student. The student’s degree plan serves as a basic advising document used by the department faculty. In order to facilitate advising during registration, students should bring an electronic copy of their degree plan.

Students who have less than 30 semester credit hours toward the Engineering Technology degree requirements are advised in the General Advising Center of University College.

General Requirements for Graduation

An Engineering Technology student who completes all the requirements listed for the specific degree and maintains at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average calculated on grades earned at the University of Houston–Downtown is awarded a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology.

Students are responsible for meeting the requirements for graduation. Therefore, students should become familiar with the requirements listed in this catalog and their degree plan and should refer to them each time they plan their semester program of study.

The final 25 percent of the total semester credit requirement for the degree must be taken at the University of Houston–Downtown. Students who wish to take courses at another college or university, including any other campus of the UH System, and apply the credits earned toward their degree must request approval through the Engineering Technology Department. Courses taken without such approval may not be counted toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.

Courses of Instruction

Individual courses of instruction are subject to change or cancellation at any time and may not be offered each semester. Students should be especially mindful that summer offerings are limited. Therefore, careful planning is required if progress toward the degree is expected during the summer months.

Minor in Engineering Technology

The Engineering Technology minor is offered to provide specific engineering knowledge and skills to students pursuing degrees in other fields such business, humanities and sciences, and also to enhance the employment prospects of students enrolled in non-technical majors. Laboratories associated with the courses give the students hands on skills in the use of up-to-date equipment, laboratory devices and instruments. The minor can be customized to meet the needs of the student and to complement the student’s academic background. Course requirements shall include 20 semester credit hours with a limit of 12 credit hours transferred from other institutions. Course grades in the engineering technology minor must be “C” or better. Credit for Field Experience cannot apply.

Sample Requirements

1. Sample for students pursuing the BBA, major in Purchasing and Materials Management:
   
   ENGR 1401, ET 2401 or ENGR 1400, EET 1411 and EET 2431 or other courses chosen in consultation with engineering technology adviser.
2. Sample program for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science, major in Computer Science:
   
   EET 1412, EET 2431, EET 2421 and EET 3435 and EET 3451 or other courses chosen in consultation with engineering technology adviser.

Control and Instrumentation Electronics Major

(124 hours)

Accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Harry J. Franz, MSEE, PE, Coordinator

Room 714-North, 713-221-8437

The petrochemical industry and the Medical Center provide the two largest sources of employment in the Houston area. Process control and instrumentation electronics are critical for these two areas of activity. Electronics applied to the control of processes in petrochemical plants and in biomedical application provide a highly specialized field of electronics essential for the Houston economy. The sustained growth of petrochemical and medical applications has created a strong demand for persons who have expertise in modern electronics applied to control and instrumentation.

44

Graduates of the Control and Instrumentation Electronics Design program obtain an understanding of basic through advanced industrial and medical processes and the electronic devices used to control them. They possess expertise in hardware devices and systems, programming languages and operating systems applied to instrumentation and control. Emphasis is placed on computer-based devices and interfacing, computer networking, automation and control, advanced electronics design software and computer-aided drafting and design.

Employment prospects are excellent, and graduates of this program are qualified to apply their knowledge in a number of electrical, electronics and computer-related positions. The electronics control and instrumentation technologist is a vital member of the engineering team. The broad technical background of the graduates also qualifies them for positions in sales, services, field work, standards and testing. Job opportunities in the future are expected to remain plentiful because of the rapid growth in the use of instruments and controls in industry and hospitals in the Houston area. The program attracts workers from the medical and process sectors of the economy interested in getting a technical degree.

General Education Core Requirements
ENGR 1400		PC Applications in Engineering
ENG 1302*		Composition II
HIST 1305		U.S. History to 1877
HIST 1306		U.S. History after 1877
PHYS 1307/1107		General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 1308/1108		General Physics II with Lab
POLS 2303		U.S. Government I
POLS 2304		U.S. Government II
PSY 1303		General Psychology
SPCH 1304		Introduction to Speech Communication
FINE ARTS		Fine Arts (three hours)
LITERATURE (three hours, sophomore level or above)
Writing Proficiency Examination

Control and Instrumentation Electronics Requirements Lower Division
EET 1411		Electric Circuits with Lab
ENGR 2304		Computer-Aided Drafting and Design I
EET 2421		Electronic Devices and Amplifiers with Lab
EET 2431		Digital Circuits and Systems with Lab
MATH 2401		Calculus I
MATH 2402		Calculus II
MATH 2307		Linear Algebra
ENG 23xx		Literature

Upper Division
ENGR 3308		Materials Science
ENGR 3409		PC Facilities Management with Lab
EET 3432		Computer Architecture and Design with Lab
ENGR 3404		Digital Signal Processing with Lab
EET 3435		Fundamentals of Automation and Control
EET 3451		Instruments and Transducers with Lab
EET 3461		Analog and Digital Communication Circuits with Lab
ENG 3302		Business and Technical Report Writing
ET 4323		Technology Seminar
EET 4335		Computer Networking
ENGR 3406		Processing Control Systems
ENGR 3407		Industrial Robotics with Lab
EET 3334		Power Systems
ENGR 3401		Biomedical Instrumentation
ENGR 3302		Engineering Economics
Nine (9) hours of electives selected in consultation with department advisors. ENG 3302, and ET 4323 satisfy the W and S application course requirements of the General Education program.

Engineering Design Technology Major (Safety and Fire Option under review)

(123 hours)

Edward R. Sheinberg, MME, Coordinator

Room 706-North, 713-221-8441

The Engineering Design Technology program is structured to meet the needs of industry personnel who desire a technical degree for professional advancement. It provides graduates with skills and knowledge of current trends in plant layout, and an overview of plant design. In addition, graduates of this program will be qualified for positions in public works, fabrication, testing, sales, field work and engineering design. The Safety and Fire Engineering Technology program, under review, emphasizes safety and fire protection in plant operations.

General Education Core Requirements
ENGR 1400		PC Applications in Engineering
ENG 1301		Composition I
ENG 1302		Composition II
HIST 1305		U.S. History to 1877
HIST 1306		U.S. History after 1877
MATH 1301		College Algebra
PHYS 1307/1107		General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 1308/1108		General Physics II with Lab
POLS 2303		U.S. Government I
POLS 2304		U.S. Government II
PSY 1303		General Psychology
SPCH 1304		Introduction to Speech Communication
FINE ARTS		Fine Arts (three hours)
LITERATURE (three hours, sophomore level or above)
Writing Proficiency Examination

45

Engineering Design Technology Requirements (Under review—check with advisor)

Lower Division
CHEM 1101		Chemical Calculations
CHEM 1307/1107		General Chemistry I with Lab
ENGR 1301		Engineering Graphics and Visualization
EET 1411		Electric Circuits with Lab
MATH 1302		Plane Trigonometry
MATH 1404		Precalculus Mathematics
ENGR 2304		Computer-Aided Drafting and Design I
ENGR 2409		Engineering Mechanics with Lab
ET 2301		Piping Drafting I
ET 2302		Piping Drafting II

Upper Division
ET 3308		Materials Science
ET 3320		Modern Concrete Technology
ET 3321		Soil Mechanics
ENG 3302		Business and Technical Report Writing
ENGR 3302		Engineering Economics
ENGR 3305		Computer-Aided Drafting and Design II
ENGR 3308		Fluid Mechanics
ET 3301		Process Piping Design I
ET 3302		Process Piping Design II
ET 3325		3D Computer Modeling, Rendering and Animation
ET 3326		Plumbing Systems Design I
ET 4323		Technology Seminar
ET 4326		HVAC Systems Design I

Career Electives (6 hours)

ENG 3302 and ET 4323 satisfy the W and S application course requirements of the General Education Program.

Process and Piping Design Major

(127 hours)

Accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

N. S. Nandagopal, MS, Coordinator

Room 710-North, 221-8439

Houston is the world center for the petroleum and petrochemical industries and plays an important role in developing technology and designing industry facilities. A large portion of the new petrochemical and chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, pharmaceutical plants and food processing plants throughout the world are designed and engineered in Houston. This abundant activity in the design of piping facilities has created a strong job market for members of the piping engineering design team, and the demand for qualified personnel is projected to increase.

Graduates of the process and piping design program are vital members of the engineering team. They find job opportunities in the areas of design, layout, analysis, construction, operation and maintenance of piping systems. Their broad technical backgrounds also prepare them for positions in computer-aided drafting and design (CADD), material control, estimating, field engineering and technical sales and support.

The University of Houston–Downtown has the only Process and Piping Design degree program in the United States.

General Education Core Requirements
ENGR 1400		PC Applications in Engineering
ENG 1302		Composition II
HIST 1305		U.S. History to 1877
HIST 1306		U.S. History after 1877
PHYS 1307/1107		General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 1308/1108		General Physics II with Lab
POLS 2303		U.S. Government I
POLS 2304		U.S. Government II
PSY 1303		General Psychology
SPCH 1304		Introduction to Speech Communication
ENG 23xx		Literature
FINE ARTS		Fine Arts (three hours)
LITERATURE (three hours, sophomore level or above)
Writing Proficiency Examination

Process and Piping Design Requirements

Lower Division
CHEM 1307/1107		General Chemistry I with Lab
ENGR 1401		Engineering Graphics I
EET 1421		Electric Circuits with Lab
ENGR 2304		Computer-Aided Drafting and Design I
ENGR 2409		Engineering Mechanics with Lab
ET 2401		Piping Drafting I
ET 2402		Piping Drafting II
MATH 2401		Calculus I
MATH 2402		Calculus II

Upper Division
ENG 3302		Business and Technical Report Writing
ENGR 3302		Engineering Economics
ENGR 3308		Fluid Mechanics I
ET 3401		Process Piping Design I
ET 3402		Process Piping Design II
ET 3307		Applied Thermodynamics
ET 3308		Materials Science
ET 4301		Piping Models
ET 4315		Piping Stress Analysis
ET 4323		Technology Seminar
ET 4307		Fluid Mechanics II with Lab
ET 4311		Heat-Power Applications
ET 4313		Applied Heat Transfer

Electives (9 hours)

Nine (9) hours of career electives selected from the list approved by the department. ET 3301, ENG 3302, and ET 4323 satisfy the W and S application course requirements of the General Education program.

46

Structural Analysis and Design Major

(125 hours)

Accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology

Alberto Gomez-Rivas, PhD, Coordinator

Room 713-North, 713-221-8581

A large number of Houston-based industries and engineering and construction firms are involved in the design, construction and operation of plants, bridges, buildings and other facilities throughout the world. These industries have created a strong job market for structural engineers, designers and technologists.

Employment prospects are excellent. Graduates of this program are qualified to apply their knowledge in a number of structural design, fabrication, construction and other related positions. They are employed in city, county and state public works departments; state highway departments; engineering and construction design firms; fabrication companies; and soil testing. Job opportunities in the future are expected to be plentiful because of the large number of construction and heavy industrial projects throughout the country. Recent graduates of the program enjoy successful careers in petrochemical, soil testing, finite element analysis, engineering computing, and construction applications.

General Education Core Requirements
ENGR 1400		PC Applications in Engineering
ENG 1302		Composition II
HIST 1305		U.S. History to 1877
HIST 1306		U.S. History after 1877
PHYS 1307/1107		General Physics I with Lab
PHYS 1308/1108		General Physics II with Lab
POLS 2303		U.S. Government I
POLS 2304		U.S. Government II
SPCH 1304		Introduction to Speech Communication
PSY 1303		General Psychology
FINE ARTS		Fine Arts (three hours)
LITERATURE (three hours, sophomore level or above)
Writing Proficiency Examination

Structural Analysis and Design Requirements

Lower Division
CHEM 1307/1107		General Chemistry with Lab
ENGR 1401		Engineering Graphics I
EET 1412		Electric Circuits with Lab
ENGR 2304		Computer-Aided Drafting and Design I
ENGR 2308		Statics
ENGR 2409		Engineering Mechanics with Lab
ENGR 2407		Surveying
MATH 2307		Linear Algebra
MATH 2401		Calculus I

Upper Division
ENG 3302		Business and Technical Report Writing
ENGR 3302		Engineering Economics
ENGR 3311		Structural Analysis I
ENGR 3312		Reinforced Concrete Design
ET 3320		Modern Concrete Technology
ET 3321		Soil Mechanics
ET 3325		3D Computer Modeling, Rendering and Animation
ET 3322		Finite Element Analysis of Structures
ET 4320		Prestressed Concrete
ET 4321		Structural Steel Design
ET 4322		Foundation Design
ET 4323		Technology Seminar
ET 4324		Senior Concrete Project
ET 4325		Senior Steel Project
ENGR 3407		Industrial Robotics with Lab

Electives (9 hours)

Nine hours of career electives selected from the list approved by the department. ENGR 3311, ENG 3302, and ET 4323 satisfy the W and S application course requirements of the General Education program.