College of DuPage ELECT 1100 Electrician Program: A Comprehensive Course Description

The College of DuPage offers a comprehensive electrician program, including the ELECT 1100 course. This article delves into the details of the electrician program and provides a detailed course description, covering various aspects from program requirements to specific course content.

Electrician Apprenticeship Degree Program

The Electrician Apprenticeship degree at the College of DuPage, in partnership with the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union, is exclusively available to individuals admitted into the Electrician Apprenticeship Program of the IBEW. This degree is designed to fulfill the classroom component of the IBEW/JATC apprenticeship experience.

Program Requirements

To earn the Electrician Apprenticeship degree, students must complete a series of courses, including general education requirements. The program requirements are facilitated through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Students are required to submit their ACE transcript to the Office of Student Records for evaluation.

Course List

The curriculum includes a range of courses designed to provide a strong foundation in electrical theory and practice. The following courses are part of the program:

ELECT 1100 Electricity and Electronics Fundamentals (3 credits)
ELECT 1101 Circuits I (3 credits)
ELECT 1120 Electronic Documentation and Fabrication (3 credits)
ELECT 1130 Electronics Materials and Fabrication (2 credits)
ELECT 1141 Digital Fundamentals (3 credits)
ELECT 1151 Electronic Devices and Applications (4 credits)
ELMEC 1110 Motor & Generator Fundamentals (3 credits)
ELMEC 1130 Industrial Electricity (3 credits)
ELMEC 1150 National Electrical Code (3 credits)
ELMEC 1190 Intro to Programmable Logic Controllers (3 credits)
ELMEC 2860 Internship (Career & Technical Ed) (1-4 credits)
ELMEC 2863 Internship (Career & Technical Ed) (3 credits)
ELMEC 2864 Internship (Career & Technical Ed) (4 credits)
MANUF 1101 Industrial Design/CAD (3 credits)
MANUF 2280 Industrial Safety (2 credits)

In addition to these courses, students must select 19-22 credits of general education courses, including 2 semester hours in Global/Multicultural Studies or Contemporary Life Skills.

ELECT 1100: Electricity and Electronics Fundamentals

ELECT 1100, Electricity and Electronics Fundamentals, is a foundational course in the electrician program. This 3-credit course introduces basic concepts in electronics and electricity, covering direct current (DC), alternating current (AC), circuit laws, components, troubleshooting, and the use of test equipment.

Course Content and Objectives

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of electricity and electronics. Key topics covered include:

Direct Current (DC): Understanding the principles of DC circuits, including voltage, current, and resistance.
Alternating Current (AC): Exploring AC circuits, including frequency, phase, and impedance.
Circuit Laws: Applying Ohm's Law and Kirchhoff's Laws to analyze and solve circuit problems.
Components: Identifying and understanding the characteristics of basic electronic components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, and diodes.
Troubleshooting: Developing skills in identifying and resolving common electrical and electronic circuit faults.
Use of Test Equipment: Learning to use multimeters, oscilloscopes, and other test equipment to measure and analyze circuit parameters.

Hands-On Experience

A significant component of ELECT 1100 is the hands-on experience provided through projects and practical applications. This allows students to apply the theoretical knowledge they gain in the classroom to real-world scenarios.

Additional Course Descriptions

Besides ELECT 1100, the College of DuPage electrician program includes a variety of other courses that provide specialized knowledge and skills. Here are descriptions of some key courses:

ELECT 1101: Circuits I

An introduction to engineering circuit analysis and design. The topics include concepts of electricity and magnetism, circuit variables (units, voltage, inductance, power and energy), circuit elements (R, L, C and operational amplifiers), simple resistive circuits, circuit analysis (node-voltage, mesh-current, equivalents and superposition), transient analysis, and sinusoidal steady state (analysis and power). This course includes a lab component.

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ELECT 1120: Electronic Documentation and Fabrication

Introduction to electronic drafting and documentation. Topics include electronic schematics and documentation, printed circuit board documentation, drafting techniques using Computer Assisted Drafting and Design (CADD) software, and electronic manufacturing methods.

ELECT 1130: Electronics Materials and Fabrication

Electronic equipment construction, assembly, repair, cable soldering techniques and fabrication. Coverage of the fundamentals of electronic design, fabrication and documentation, delineating various troubleshooting and test procedures, hands-on experience with connectors, fasteners, troubleshooting and testing of electronic systems and testing of integrated circuits and personal computer boards. Concepts reinforced through student projects.

ELECT 1141: Digital Fundamentals

Introduction to basic concepts in digital electronics. Basic discrete electronics, digital logic, circuit laws, components, troubleshooting and use of test equipment. Hands-on experience, practical applications and projects. Teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving are emphasized.

ELECT 1151: Electronic Devices and Applications

Basic concepts in electronic devices. Topics include diode and transistor fundamentals and applications, operational amplifier circuits, measurement and control circuits troubleshooting, and use of test equipment. Hands-on experience, practical applications, and projects. Teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving are emphasized.

ELMEC 1110: Motor & Generator Fundamentals

Basic principles for Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) motors and generators. Motor and generator theory, operation, ratings, speeds, and enclosures. Analysis of efficiency, power service factors, and frame sizes.

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ELMEC 1130: Industrial Electricity

Industrial electricity, circuits, devices, and power. The use of instruments on circuit analysis and test equipment. Designed to provide the electrician with tips and techniques for wiring in commercial buildings, offices, stores, manufacturing and other industrial environments.

ELMEC 1150: National Electrical Code

All facets of correct wiring methods and techniques, based on the National Electrical Code (NEC). Room by room, circuit by circuit, installation and inspection with an emphasis on symbols, branch circuits, service drops, ground-fault circuit-interrupters (GFCI), low voltage circuits, and security system circuitry.

ELMEC 1190: Intro to Programmable Logic Controllers

A survey of programmable logic controllers (PLC). Terminology, basic memory structure, I/O's (input/outputs), processors, and programming devices. Basics of programming and applications.

Internship Opportunities

The electrician program at the College of DuPage includes internship opportunities, represented by the ELMEC 2860, ELMEC 2863, and ELMEC 2864 courses. These internships provide students with valuable work experience in the field.

Internship Structure

Internship learning objectives are developed by the student and a faculty member, with the approval of the employer, to ensure appropriate work-based learning experiences. Credit is earned by working a minimum of 75 clock hours per semester credit hour, up to a maximum of four credits. The internships involve participation in Career and Technical Education work experience with on-site supervision.

General Education Requirements

In addition to the core electrical courses, students are required to complete general education courses to provide a well-rounded educational experience. These courses cover a range of subjects and help students develop critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. Students must select 19-22 credits, including 2 semester hours in Global/Multicultural Studies or Contemporary Life Skills.

Advanced Courses and Specializations

The electrician program at the College of DuPage also offers advanced courses and specialization options, allowing students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career goals.

Advanced Electronics

Advanced courses in electronics build upon the fundamentals covered in introductory courses, providing students with in-depth knowledge of advanced circuit analysis, design, and troubleshooting techniques. Topics covered may include:

Filtering: Designing and analyzing filter circuits to remove unwanted frequencies from electronic signals.
Resonance: Understanding the phenomenon of resonance in electrical circuits and its applications.
Time and Frequency Response: Analyzing the behavior of circuits in the time and frequency domains.

Industrial Electricity and Motor Controls

Specialized courses in industrial electricity and motor controls provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to work with electrical systems in industrial settings. Topics covered may include:

Motor Control Concepts: Understanding the principles of motor control and the various types of motor control circuits.
Ladder and Wiring Drawings: Interpreting and creating ladder and wiring diagrams for motor control systems.
Control Devices: Working with sensors, control transformers, starters, and other control devices used in industrial electrical systems.

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)

Courses in programmable logic controllers (PLCs) provide students with the skills needed to program and troubleshoot these devices, which are widely used in industrial automation. Topics covered may include:

PLC Terminology and Architecture: Understanding the basic terminology and architecture of PLCs.
PLC Programming: Learning to program PLCs using ladder logic and other programming languages.
PLC Applications: Applying PLCs to control various industrial processes and equipment.

Additional Courses and Topics

The College of DuPage offers a wide array of courses to cater to diverse interests and career paths within the electrical and electronics fields. These courses cover topics ranging from renewable energy to biomedical equipment and telecommunications.

Renewable Energy Technology

A survey of renewable energy technology including wind turbines and solar photovoltaic (PV) power technology.

Biomedical Equipment and Instrumentation

Introduction to operation and maintenance of biomedical equipment and instrumentation. Basic terminology, fundamental measurements, recording and monitoring of medical instrumentation will be covered.

Wireless Telecommunication Electronics

Introduces basic concepts in wireless telecommunication electronics and circuits. Covers fundamentals of analog, and digital communications, and modern wireless communication techniques.

Smart Grid Technology

Course covers fundamentals of smart grid technology including basic functions, design criteria, tools, techniques, and technology need for building a smart grid. Electric power systems, power and control system engineering, and power electronics are integrated into the study of modeling and control of smart grid renewal energy systems.

Digital Systems Programming

Introduction to digital systems programming. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and Complex Programmable Logical Devices (CPLD) are used in this course to develop sample applications. These state-of-the-art devices are programmed using the Verilog and VHDL (Very High Density Programming Language) languages, popular in science and industry today.

Industrial Electronics

Introduction of basic concepts in industrial electronics. Topics include an overview of transducers and signal conditioning. Troubleshooting and use of test equipment. Principles and fundamental laws of control technology and industrial electronics are included.

Microprocessor Systems

Introduction to basic concepts in microprocessor systems. Architecture of microprocessor systems, and investigation of all phases of troubleshooting and implementation of reliable microprocessor systems.

Embedded Systems

Introduction to embedded systems applications involving real-time programming of microcontrollers and digital to analog conversion. Hands-on experience includes programming Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) microcontrollers, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) circuits, and digital signal processing using Operation Amplifiers, Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and Phase Locked Loop (PLL) chips.

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