Engineering Technology - Composites

Engineering Technology - Composites - AAS-T

The field of engineering technology develops, processes, and tests the efficiency, production quality, and safety of nearly every product available on the market. In particular, composites technicians work with innovative, lightweight composite materials that are in demand by the aerospace and high-tech industries. These associate degree programs provide excellent job and career training for students who are mechanically inclined, good at math, or interested in how the products we use every day are designed and developed.

At Bellingham Technical College, the Engineering Technology: Composites associate degree program teaches top skills that are in-demand for such positions as assembler, fabricator, machine operator, production worker, or supervisor in leading American industries.

 

Employment Information

 

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

94% BTC graduate placement rate1

$61,006 starting annual wage2
$78,062 average annual wage2
$98,488 potential annual wage2

Estimated Program Costs

Entry Information

When Can I Start?

Students may begin working toward this degree quarterly.

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

Classes

Total Program Credits: 99

  • Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

  • Academic Core

  • MATH& 151Calculus I5 CR
  • PHYS& 221Engineering Physics I w/Lab5 CR
  • CHEM& 161General Chemistry w/ Lab I5 CR
  • CHEM& 162General Chemistry w/Lab II5 CR
  • ENGL& 101English Composition I5 CR
  • ENGL& 235Technical Writing5 CR

  • TOTAL Academic Core Course Credits
    30 CR
  • Engineering Core

  • ENGR 100Engineering Orientation2 CR
  • ENGR& 104Introduction To Engineering & Design5 CR
  • ENGR 115Graphics5 CR
  • ENGT 233Intro To CATIA5 CR
  • ENGR& 214Engineering Statics5 CR
  • ENGR 270Introduction To Materials Science5 CR
  • ENGR 180Parametric Modeling5 CR

  • TOTAL Engineering Core Course Credits
    32 CR
  • Composites Core

  • COMP 101Survey of Composites2 CR
  • COMP 121Composite Design & Fabrication I5 CR
  • COMP 222Composite Design & Fabrication II5 CR
  • COMP 235Inspect, Test & Repair5 CR
  • COMP 290Tool Design5 CR
  • MACH 191Manual Machining for non-Majors5 CR
  • MACH 193CNC Machining for non-Majors5 CR

  • TOTAL Composites Core Course Credits
    32 CR
  • Engineering Electives

  • Any CENG, ENET, ENGR, ENGT, or COMP course 100-level or higher
  • CS& 131Computer Science I C++5 CR
  • MATH& 146Intro to Statistics5 CR
  • MATH& 152Calculus II5 CR
  • MATH& 163Calculus 35 CR
  • PHYS& 222Engineering Physics II w/Lab5 CR
  • PHYS& 223Engineering Physics III w/Lab5 CR

  • TOTAL Engineering Electives Course Credits
    5 CR

Program Outcomes

After successfully completing the AAS-T degree, students will be able to:

  • Apply fundamentals of material science to solving hands-on engineering design and fabrication problems.
  • Utilize CAD/CAM software to build 3D parametric models.  (CATIA and Solidworks)
  • Create CNC programs for machining and automation.
  • Draft Detailed Engineering Drawings for aerospace manufacturing and related fields per industry standards (ANSI).
  • Solve problems in composite design and fabrication including vacuum bagging, wet-layup, infusion, pre-impregnated layup, out-of-autoclave, additive and subtractive manufacturing.
  • Apply Quality Assurance (QA) methodology and inspection techniques including Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Ultra-Sound inspection, and metrology. 
  • Perform material testing and analysis including tensile and compression testing.

 

Employment Outlook

Employment in the engineering technology field in Bellingham and the state of Washington is expected to increase. Job openings for assemblers and fabricators, machine operators, and production workers and supervisors vary according to occupational specialty. The average annual wage for this field is $76,835, with an earning potential of $89,128 per year.

Across the state of Washington, the number of engineering graduates is well below industry needs. Employers such as manufacturers and fabricators urgently seek qualified mechanical, industrial, and plastics engineers. BTC students who pursue transfer degree opportunities can go on to a four-year school to earn a bachelor’s degree and pursue a career in this high-demand field. Engineering graduates are typically working professionals, so salary ranges will vary, depending on the field.

Potential positions for Composites graduates include:

  • CAD/CAM CNC Programmer (both clean room and post cure)
  • CNC machine operator (both clean room and post cure)
  • Non-destructive testing machine operator, ultra-sound tester (NDT)
  • Metrologist (Coordinate measuring machine operator (CMM))
  • Manufacturing planner
  • Quality Assurance Inspector
  • Lab testing technician / material science / Destructive materials tester (load testing)

Composites graduates have the potential to enter the following fabrication industries:

  • Aerospace, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Automotive, Mass Transit
  • Marine
  • Medical
  • Sports and Recreation
  • Wind Energy

Faculty & Support

  • Degrees and Credentials

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

    BS, Industrial Tech-CAD/CAM Spec, Western Washington University