Bachelor of Science Degree Description
Products made by the plastics industry range from simple articles like bottles and cups to highly intricate molded parts for the automotive, electronics, and medical products industries. Their production requires knowledgeable technologists who can design a product, select the best plastic for the product, design a mold, and establish the optimum operating conditions for the machines that are used to mold the product. The plastics engineering technology program prepares you to become a member of the team that accomplishes these objectives.
The program emphasizes plastics processing operations and includes significant components in the areas of materials, mold design, and production methods. Graduates of the program are prepared to assume professional positions in the plastics manufacturing industry. Typical job titles are process engineer, project engineer, and production manager.
Degree Requirements:
| General Education Program*: | 34 hours |
| Engineering Technology Courses: | 7 hours |
| Mathematics/Science Courses: | 29 hours |
| Plastics Engineering Technology Courses: | 54 hours |
| Elective Courses: | 14 hours |
| Total Hours Required: | 128 hours |
Engineering Technology Courses (7 hours)
| Course No. | Course | Credit Hours |
| ETCO2225 | OSHA and Industrial Management | 3 hrs. |
| ETCO3320 | Ethics | 1 hrs. |
| ETCO1301 | 3-D Parametric modeling | 3 hrs. |
Mathematics/Science Courses (29 hours)
| Course No. | Course | Credit Hours |
| Chem1141 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 hrs. |
| Chem1142 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 hrs. |
| Math1300 | Pre-Calculus | 5 hrs. |
| Math2110 | Calculus 1 | 4 hrs. |
| Math2120 | Calculus 2 | 4 hrs. |
| Phys2201 | Physics 1 | 4 hrs. |
| Phys2202 | Physics 2 | 4 hrs. |
Plastics Engineering Technology (54 hours)
| Course No. | Course | Credit Hours |
| ETPL1100 | Plastics Manufacturing | 3 hrs. |
| ETPL1120 | Software Tools For Technology | 3 hrs. |
| ETPL2200 | Plastics Processing 1 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL2220 | Plastics Processing 2 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL2230 | Properties of Polymers 1 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL2235 | Statistical Proc./Quality Control 1 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL3320 | Plant Layout and Cost Analysis | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL3335 | Statistical Proc./Quality Control 2 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL3345 | Advanced Processing 1 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL3360 | Plastics Part and Mold Design 1 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL3370 | Plastics Part and Mold Design 2 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL4445 | Advanced Processing 2 | 4 hrs. |
| ETPL4470 | Part and Mold Making and Foams | 4 hrs. |
Technical Electives (14 hours)The student in consultation with their academic advisor can choose technical elective classes, 14 credit hours total. The classes should be in the areas of Math, Natural Science, CADD, Computer Engineering, Business, or other areas approved by advisor.
*The General Education Program is composed of 34 credit hours of which 10 hours may be satisfied by the following mathematics and science requirements in the plastics engineering technology curriculum. Courses that apply are Math1300 and Natural Science Option 2: Chem 1141 and 1142. Further information about the GEP is listed on page 57 of the current catalog or can be obtained from the department chairperson's office.
