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Engineering Technology
Available at the State College Main Campus
Take the Path to an Exciting Engineering Career
With applications in manufacturing, research and development, construction, architecture and more, the Engineering Technology program at South Hills School of Business & Technology prepares students for careers through the study and practice of three disciplines – Architectural, Mechanical and Civil Engineering. This challenging program incorporates drafting, solid modeling, Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) programming with team-building, mathematics, and problem-solving.

A successful ET student…
- Is technologically inclined
- Has strong math skills
- Has strong science skills
Our two-year Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) Degree program can ready you for employment as a:
- CAD Technician
- Architectural Designer
- Field Surveying Technician
- Engineering and Materials Technician
- Drafter/Designer
Engineering Technology Student Projects at South Hills
Read more...
Why South Hills?
Professional development.

Small class sizes.

Expert instructors.

Real-world job insights.

Student Internship Locations
- Barton Associates, Inc.
- Pennoni Associates, Inc.
- Homeland Manufacturing Services
- Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, LLC
- GP Cabinets LLC

A Comprehensive Curriculum
In the Engineering Technology program, you’ll learn to develop innovative solutions, apply critical thinking skills, and utilize modern technology to assist professional mechanical, civil, or architectural engineers. You can become proficient in CAD and learn to use a variety of precision measuring instruments. The ET program prepares students to:
- Create technical documents, estimates, and proposals
- Identify, analyze, and solve broadly-defined engineering technology problems
- Design using computer-aided design (CAD) software
- Exhibit competence in applying industry standards and codes
- Accurately measure using a variety of precision measuring instruments in the architectural, mechanical, and civil engineering fields

Course Highlights
- Intro to Geographic Information Systems
- Applied Physics for Engineering Technology
- Building Codes
- Technical Drawing
- Solid Modeling CAD
Complete Course List
Engineering Technology Course List for 2020-21
Term | Course # | Course Name | Credits | Clock Hours |
---|---|---|---|---|
First Term | GE117 | Applied Algebra | 4 | 60 |
GE183 | Business English I | 4 | 60 | |
CP283 | Microsoft Office | 4 | 60 | |
PD110 | Professional Development | 2 | 24 | |
IM108 | Technical Drawing I | 4.5 | 60 | |
Totals: | 18.5 | 264 | ||
Second Term | GE230 | Applied Algebra II | 4 | 60 |
GE184 | Business English II | 4 | 60 | |
IM109 | Engineering Excel | 3 | 36 | |
IM238 | Materials Science | 5 | 60 | |
IM245 | Technical Drawing II | 4.5 | 60 | |
Totals: | 20.5 | 276 | ||
Third Term | IM210 | Applied Physics for Engineering Technology | 4.5 | 60 |
IM211 | Applied Physics for Engineering Technology Lab | 0.5 | 10 | |
CE111 | Building Codes | 3 | 36 | |
IM222 | Geometry & Trigonometry for Engineering Technology | 4 | 60 | |
IM107 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 | 36 | |
IM239 | Mechanical CAD | 4.5 | 60 | |
Totals: | 19.5 | 262 | ||
Fourth Term | IM106 | Architectural CAD I | 5 | 72 |
CE201 | Civil CAD | 5 | 72 | |
IM110 | Introduction to Geomatics Geospatial Science | 4 | 48 | |
IM233 | Machining Processes | 3.5 | 48 | |
IM234 | Machining Processes Lab | 2 | 24 | |
GE259 | Technical Writing | 2.5 | 36 | |
Totals: | 22 | 300 | ||
Fifth Term | IM214 | Architectural CAD II | 4.5 | 60 |
CE205 | Civil Design | 4.5 | 60 | |
IM215 | CNC Programming | 3.5 | 48 | |
IM221 | CNC Programming Lab | 2 | 24 | |
CD207 | Job Search Skills | 2 | 24 | |
IM244 | Solid Modeling CAD | 5 | 72 | |
Totals: | 21.5 | 288 | ||
Sixth Term | IM257 | Architectural CAD III | 4.5 | 60 |
IM258 | Engineering Technology Project | 4 | 80 | |
GE178 | Human Relations in the Workplace | 2.5 | 36 | |
IM243 | Mechanical Design | 4 | 60 | |
GE258 | Statistical Methods and Applications | 4 | 60 | |
Totals: | 19 | 296 | ||
Seventh Term | CD106 | Career Preparation | 0.5 | 10 |
GE261 | Engineering Economics | 2 | 21 | |
IM259 | Engineering Technology Internship | 11 | 330 | |
Totals: | 13.5 | 361 | ||
ET PROGRAM TOTAL CREDITS | ET PROGRAM TOTAL HOURS | |||
134.5 Credits | 2,047 Clock Hours |
Meet the Faculty

Maggie Ferguson
Program Coordinator / Instructor
State College Main Campus

Gary Powers
Instructor
State College Main Campus

Gary Powers has been teaching at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 1998. He spent 20 years as an instructor in the Engineering Technology program. Gary earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and served our country for 11 years in the Navy, in both operations and engineering.
Following his Naval experience, Gary worked in production and engineering with Corning, Inc. He inspires his students, instilling them with leadership and critical thinking skills, and stays up to date on the “state-of-the-art” in engineering developments and innovations. In 2009, Gary was named Outstanding Educator of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators (PAPSA).

John Henry
Adjunct Instructor
State College Main Campus

John Henry has been a Computer Aided Drafting instructor at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 1998. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering, John started his career at Grove Manufacturing in Shady Grove, PA. He then moved back to Centre County and has worked at Chemcut and Scientific Systems. He is currently employed at Supelco and has been there for the past 17 years.
John brings his diverse manufacturing background and real world examples into the classroom to help his students become successful in their future careers.

Todd Rhodes
Adjunct Instructor
State College Main Campus
Program Advisory Committee
Member Name | Job Title | Company |
George Dick | Technician | Stahl Sheaffer Engineering |
Todd Rhodes | Designer | Barton Associates |
Jeremy Rickard | Engineer Technician | Stahl Sheaffer Engineering |
Dan Ring | Process Engineer | Avail Technologies |