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Engineering Technology Applied Sciences Building (ETAS), Room 227 | (501) 569-8200 | (501) 569-8206 (fax) | ualr.edu/et.

General Information

Engineering technology emphasizes hands-on learning and the practical aspects of engineering. It stresses the understanding and application of established engineering principles to the design, fabrication, and testing of electronic and mechanical products and systems. Engineering technology is a creative blend of the physical sciences, engineering knowledge, methods, and technical skills.

Engineering technology courses emphasize the application of engineering principles to analyze and solve practical engineering problems. Many courses have laboratories and laboratory experience is an integral part of the learning process in the program.

The primary goal of the department is to provide integrated educational opportunities to students whose technological interests and aptitudes are application-oriented. The department fosters applied research, creative design, and service activities, which involve students and faculty. Graduates of the department programs are highly sought after and are recognized by the industry for their practical problem-solving skills.

Programs and Areas of Specialization

The department offers Associate of Engineering Technology and Bachelor of Science degrees in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology. The B.S. degrees in Engineering Technology require four years of full-time study and do not require a minor. The A.E.T. degrees require two years of full-time study. The department also offers minors in Engineering Technology and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

Admission to the Programs

The minimum requirement for admission is that students are eligible to enroll in MATH 1302  and RHET 1311 . As soon as students meet those requirements, it is important that they declare a major and be assigned a faculty advisor in order to graduate in a timely manner. Students intending to major in Engineering Technology may be advised by department faculty advisors before meeting the Department’s minimum requirements. The Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology degrees, consistent with the mission of the university and college, provide educational training in engineering technology specialties and prepare the graduates for entry-level positions in the industry.

Scholarships, Co-op, Internship, and Other Employment Opportunities

The department offers a limited number of merit scholarships for continuing students in each program area. Scholarships are offered on the basis of academic record. Cooperative experience (Co-op) and internship arrangements with local industries are also available. The objective is to provide work experience to students within the discipline while allowing the flexibility to pursue a reduced course load. The department makes an effort to accommodate persons with relevant industrial experience or previous college work. Such a student can apply with appropriate support materials to receive academic credit. The number of hours and course equivalencies are to be decided by a faculty advisor and the chair of the department. Credit for some courses may also be earned by departmental examination. The department and the university provide assistance in job placement. Graduates are well accepted by industry because of their knowledge of applied engineering and practical problem-solving skills.

Accreditation

The two-year Associate of Engineering Technology and the four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology are accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Engineering Technology Student Outcomes

The Student Outcomes for the Mechanical Engineering Technology program and for the Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology can be found on the Engineering Technology web pages at the following address: ualr.edu/engineeringtechnology/assessment/

Student Professional Societies

Several opportunities exist for students to interact with peers through student chapters of professional societies such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Society for Women Engineers (SWE), and Tau Alpha Pi, the honor society of Engineering Technology. The Industrial Advisory Council of Engineering Technology consists of members from local industry and provides excellent interaction with industry for students and faculty.

FAA’s Airway Facilities Collegiate Training

The electronics and computer engineering technology program is an approved site for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airway Facilities Collegiate Training Initiative (AF-CTI). Students selected to participate in the FAA initiative pursue the associate degree program in electronics and computer engineering technology and are required to pass a Basic Electronics Screening Tool (BEST) Test before being hired. For more details, contact the program coordinator of the Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology program.

Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology Program

Professor David Luneau, Coordinator

The field of electronics and computer engineering technology extends over a wide spectrum of modern applications where knowledge of both electronics and computer hardware/software is equally important. It is essential for many modern industries that graduates work comfortably across the boundaries of both electronics and computers. This curriculum offers a single, unified bachelor’s degree program in electronics and computer engineering technology to prepare students to take on the technological challenges of the 21st century. It provides a strong and comprehensive foundation in both areas, and technical electives are available for students to concentrate in either or both fields depending on their interests. The curriculum requires that students develop a strong background in mathematics, science, and communication skills. In addition, students must master a progressively involved sequence of technical courses, which instill a knowledge of theory, analysis, and practical design. The heavy laboratory emphasis with modern and industry standard equipment provides extensive hands-on experience in a variety of fields including analog and digital electronics, computer networks and systems, microprocessors, telecommunications, embedded systems, robotics, PLCs, industrial control, and signal processing. The electronics and computer engineering technology program enjoys strong support of the industrial community, and an industrial program advisory board provides periodic input to make changes in program offerings to reflect the changing needs of industries. Local companies provide cooperative education assignments for students to receive meaningful industrial experience while earning both academic credit and income to defray their educational expenses.

Associate of Engineering Technology Degree

This degree requires two years of study of electronics, computers, science, mathematics, and general academics to prepare students for employment as electronics technicians. Graduates of the program can also apply their credits toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology. Two additional years of study are required to meet the requirements for the baccalaureate degree.

Bachelor of Science Degree

The baccalaureate degree program requires the students to complete two additional years beyond the Associate of Engineering Technology curriculum. Students receive greater depth and breadth of knowledge in the technical field and more mathematics, humanities, and social science courses are included. A number of technical electives are allowed in the curriculum, and students choose the electives to match their career objectives. No minor is required for the degree.

Mechanical Engineering Technology Program

Professor Srikanth Pidugu, Coordinator Leadership in corporate America is projected to come from the ranks of technologists who have the breadth of knowledge of design, manufacturing technology, and management skills. The mechanical engineering technology program provides a strong and comprehensive foundation in these areas and introduces to students the ideas of fabrication processes, management of people and projects, and cost and quality control. The program focuses on fundamental concepts of statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, and computer two- and three-dimensional graphics of components. The degree program emphasizes product development, design, manufacturing, design of mechanical systems such as thermal power systems, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, and addresses the area of plastics and composites. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of career areas in product design, testing, manufacturing, and in plant design and operation. Technical knowledge in the mechanical field is based upon a broad foundation in mathematics, science, and applied science. The program emphasizes applications and extensive hands-on experience in addition to theoretical concepts. In addition to the traditional approach to mechanical design and manufacturing, the program emphasizes computer applications such as computer-aided manufacturing, computer-aided engineering, data acquisition and sensors, robotics, and programmable logic controllers.

The mechanical engineering technology program enjoys strong support from the industrial community and has a successful cooperative education program with a number of local industries. The cooperative education program allows students to practice in the industry, gaining early experience while earning academic credit and income to help with their educational expenses. Students may enroll in the co-op program beginning in their junior year.

The department offers both a two-year associate and four-year bachelor ‘s degree program. 

Associate of Engineering Technology Degree

The Associate of Engineering Technology is a two-year degree program, which provides students with the background and skill for supporting level positions in the mechanical and manufacturing fields. These include computer graphics, computer-aided manufacturing and CNC programming, fluid power, technical sales, and plant maintenance. The curriculum requires students to take courses in mechanical, manufacturing, and electronics and computer engineering technology in addition to mathematics, science, and general education. Students must complete the associate degree program before they are allowed to enroll in the baccalaureate program.

The associate degree in mechanical engineering technology majors may take only up to nine credit hours of junior and senior level courses in the program. Associate degree graduates may transfer their credits toward the bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology

The baccalaureate degree program requires the students to complete two additional years beyond the Associate of Engineering Technology curriculum. No minor is required for the degree. 

Students receive greater depth and breadth of knowledge in the mechanical field and take additional courses in mathematics, science, humanities, and social science. Students choose technical electives to meet their career goals.

The bachelor of science curriculum requires completion of the associate degree curriculum detailed previously and the requirements detailed in the chart above.

Programs

• Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology, A.E.T.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, A.E.T.

• Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology, B.S.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, B.S.

• Electronics & Computer Engineering Technology, A.E.T./B.S.
• Mechanical Engineering Technology, A.E.T./B.S.

• Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Minor
• Engineering Technology Minor

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