Engineering Technology - Composites

Engineering Technology - Composites - AAS

BTC’s Composites Engineering Technology program provides hands-on experience focused on aerospace and industrial manufacturing. This discipline combines mechanical design, fabrication, and material science, as students apply theoretical engineering principles with practical hands-on technical projects. Students design, build, and test products using innovative polymer materials like carbon fiber.

Graduates are prepared for careers in CAD/CAM, CNC automation, metrology, Quality Assurance, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Ultra-Sound Inspection (UT), materials testing, assembly, and more. By specializing in composites engineering, students are prepared to fill a growing need for skilled engineering technicians around Washington state. Graduates from this program have high earning potential with opportunity for growth and upward mobility.

With transferable core classes in math, science, communications, and technical writing, you’ll be well positioned to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete your bachelor’s degree in engineering or advanced manufacturing. 

Employment Information

Data are provided on a program (not credential) level

64% BTC graduate placement rate1

$68,500 starting annual wage2
$86,015 average annual wage2
$107,829 potential annual wage2

  • Estimated Program Costs

Tuition Fees and Rates overview page

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?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 90

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

  • Academic Core

  • AMATH 111Applied Technical Math5 CR
  • OR
  • MATH& 141Precalculus I5 CR
  • AND
  • MATH& 142Precalculus II5 CR
  • or higher Calculus
  • CHEM& 121Introduction to Chemistry5 CR
  • or higher Chemistry
  • ENGL& 101English Composition I5 CR
  • CMST& 210Interpersonal Communications5 CR
  • OR
  • CMST& 220Public Speaking5 CR

  • TOTAL Academic Core Course Credits
    		20 CR

  • Engineering Core

  • ENGR 100Engineering Orientation2 CR
  • ENGR& 104Introduction To Engineering & Design5 CR
  • ENGR 115Graphics5 CR
  • ENGR 180Parametric Modeling5 CR

  • TOTAL Engineering Core Course Credits
    		17 CR

  • Composites Core

  • COMP 101Survey of Composites3 CR
  • COMP 121Composite Design & Fabrication I: Ski Building5 CR
  • COMP 222Composites Design and Fabrication II: Aerospace Applications5 CR
  • COMP 235Materials Testing5 CR
  • ENGT 215Applied Statics5 CR
  • ENGT 222Advanced Parametric Modeling5 CR
  • ENGT 250Capstone Project5 CR
  • MACH 191Manual Machining for non-Majors5 CR
  • MACH 193CNC Machining for non-Majors5 CR

  • TOTAL Composites Core Course Credits
    		38 CR

  • Engineering Electives

  • CAP 101Microsoft Computer Applications5 CR
  • CS& 131Computer Science I C++5 CR
  • ENGL& 235Technical Writing5 CR
  • Any ENGR, ENGT, or COMP course 100-level or higher
  • Any Chemistry course with the prefix CHEM* at the level of CHEM& 121 or higher
  • Any Math course with the prefix of MATH* at the level of MATH& 146 or higher
  • Any Physics cousre with the prefix PHYS* at the level of PHYS& 110 or higher

  • TOTAL Engineering Electives Course Credits
    		10 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.  
  • 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 this field 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 $79,144, with an earning potential of $92,331 per year. *

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

Photo of Peter Morgan
Peter Morgan
Composites Engineering Technology
  • Degrees and Credentials

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

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

Contacts

If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.

Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email EngineeringNav@btc.edu