Academic Programs
Overview
This degree will prepare students for work as technicians in energy technology and convey the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the traditional and renewable energy fields.
Locations
Canby, Granite Falls, Online
In addition to 15 General Education credits, students enrolled in the Energy Technical Specialist program will study a 35-credit core curriculum providing a strong base in electrical, electronic and mechanical systems.
Students will select 10 credits in an area of specialization to complete their program of study from the following: Wind Energy, Ethanol, Biodiesel, Power Generation or Solar Energy.
The Energy Technical Specialist degree is offered through a partnership of multiple colleges in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Each of the partner colleges offer courses in their respective areas of expertise, and the participating colleges accept transfer courses from each other.
Students entering into the Energy Technical Specialist program should realize that the energy industry is highly specialized, and there are extraordinary employment characteristics associated in some areas of the power industry. Depending on the energy company, hiring managers may require a federal background check, drug and alcohol testing, and a physical if necessary for a position.
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Industrial Safety
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Introduction to Traditional and Renewable Energy
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
AC/DC I
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
AC/DC II
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Process Dynamics
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Mechanical Fundamentals for Processing Control
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Program Logic Controls or
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
RNEW 2543
Course Title
Program Logic Controls*
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Pneumatics Theory
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Basic Hydraulics
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Instrumentation & Control
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
P & ID & PFD Reading
Credits
1
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Auto CAD or
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
ECAD 1023
Course Title
Print Reading *
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
RNEW 1507
Course Title
Basic Digital Electronics *
Credits
3
|
||
| General Education Requirements | ||
|
Course Number
Course Title
College Algebra
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Composition I
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Survey of Physics
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Issues in the Environment
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
General Education Electives
Credits
3
|
||
|
Specialty Emphasis (select 10 credits)
Credits
|
||
|
Wind Power
Credits
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Introduction to Wind Energy
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Wind Energy OSHA Standards & Climbing Lab
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Low Voltage
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Safety Principles and OSHA
Credits
1
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Applied Electrical Calculations
Credits
2
|
||
|
BIO Fuel
Credits
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Ethanol Process Fundamentals
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Ethanol Separation Technology
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Biodiesel Process Fundamentals
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Industrial Water Treatment
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Biodiesel Feedstocks Tech & Reg
Credits
2
|
||
|
Solar Power
Credits
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Introduction to Solar Assessment
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Solar Energy Construction Projects
Credits
2
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Advanved Photovoltaic Systems
Credits
3
|
||
|
Course Number
Course Title
Photovoltaic Systems lab
Credits
2
|
||
|
Power Generation*
Credits
|
||
|
Total Credits
Credits
60
|
||
| Required Courses | ||
| RNEW 1107 | Industrial Safety |
2 |
| RNEW 1300 | Introduction to Traditional and Renewable Energy | 3 |
| ELCO 1110 | AC/DC I | 3 |
| ELCO 1120 | AC/DC II | 3 |
| RNEW 1100 | Process Dynamics | 3 |
| RNEW 1115 | Mechanical Fundamentals for Processing Control | 3 |
| MECH 2136 | Program Logic Controls or | 3 |
| RNEW 2543 | Program Logic Controls* | 3 |
| MECH 1120 | Pneumatics Theory | 3 |
| MECH 1103 | Basic Hydraulics | 3 |
| RNEW 1160 | Instrumentation & Control | 3 |
| RNEW 1125 | P & ID & PFD Reading | 1 |
| MECH 1115 | Auto CAD or | 2 |
| ECAD 1023 | Print Reading * | 3 |
| RNEW 1507 | Basic Digital Electronics * | 3 |
| General Education Requirements | ||
| MATH 1111 | College Algebra | 3 |
| ENGL 1101 | Composition I | 3 |
| PHYS 1100 | Survey of Physics | 3 |
| NSCI 1100 | Issues in the Environment | 3 |
| General Education Electives | 3 | |
| Specialty Emphasis (select 10 credits) | ||
| Wind Power | ||
| ELWT 1101 | Introduction to Wind Energy | 2 |
| ELWT 1170 | Wind Energy OSHA Standards & Climbing Lab | 3 |
| ELEC 2200 | Low Voltage | 2 |
| ELEC 1230 | Safety Principles and OSHA | 1 |
| ELEC 1235 | Applied Electrical Calculations | 2 |
| BIO Fuel | ||
| RNEW 1101 | Ethanol Process Fundamentals | 2 |
| RNEW 2120 | Ethanol Separation Technology | 2 |
| RNEW 1102 | Biodiesel Process Fundamentals | 2 |
| RNEW 1175 | Industrial Water Treatment | 2 |
| RNEW 1195 | Biodiesel Feedstocks Tech & Reg | 2 |
| Solar Power | ||
| SOLR 1020 | Introduction to Solar Assessment | 3 |
| SOLR 1030 | Solar Energy Construction Projects | 2 |
| SOLR 2020 | Advanved Photovoltaic Systems | 3 |
| SOLR 2025 | Photovoltaic Systems lab | 2 |
| Power Generation* | ||
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Notes: * Not a Minnesota West course or program.