Harper College will be closed Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1 for Winter Break.
Program facts 
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to begin a successful career in industrial
electronics, facilities maintenance and other technology maintenance fields with this
24-credit-hour certificate program in mechatronics. Focusing on equipment operation,
application, installation and servicing, the program ensures that you’ll be well-prepared
to seek entry-level employment after graduation in positions such as electrical technician,
electrician and facilities/plant maintenance technician.
Take classes including introductory electronics, introductory industrial electronics
maintenance, programmable logic controllers, electrical wiring, industrial control
systems, variable frequency drives, radio frequency ID systems, industrial motor controls
and more. All courses are taught by skilled instructors who are experts in the mechatronics
field.
Credit earned for this program can be applied to the Electronics Engineering Technology AAS Degree.
This 24 credit-hour certificate program is designed to prepare students for careers in the field of industrial electronics and facilities maintenance, and other related technology maintenance areas. The curriculum is tailored to provide advanced-level career training in the least amount of time. Emphasis is placed on equipment operation, application, installation and servicing. Courses specific to instruction include: basic electricity and electronics, commercial wiring and codes, and industrial control systems as they pertain to robotics or automated systems. Topics within these courses involve practical electrical concepts and measurements, basic industrial maintenance, fluid power, AC and DC motors, variable frequency drives, optics and sensors, and programmable logic controllers.
Students completing this program may find employment as electrical technicians, electricians, and facilities or plant maintenance technicians and supervisors.
Students may also continue their education by pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree. Students considering this option are encouraged to meet with the Program Coordinator and an academic advisor prior to beginning the program, and also when planning their schedule each semester.
F = Fall only course S = Spring only course U = Summer only course
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ELT 110 | Introductory Electronics | 4 |
|
Description: Introduces fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. Covers basic electrical laws and principles. Presents electrical quantities, units, symbols and notation. Examines foundational electronic materials and components. Presents elementary DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current) network analysis, key semiconductor devices, and simple analog and digital circuits. Also covers electrical safety considerations, laboratory instrumentation and test and measurement techniques. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 120 | Introductory Industrial Electronics Maintenance | 2 |
|
Description: Introduces students to the fundamentals of industrial electronics maintenance. Provides an overview of the various technologies encountered in the field as they relate to industrial electronic control of buildings and facilities. This includes basic electrical and electromechanical components and machinery, motors and controls, electrical and electronic interfaces, and electronic controllers. Also covers fluid power and piping systems. Emphasis is placed on safety, installation and preventative maintenance. Use of tools, test instrumentation and the importance of record keeping will be discussed. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 135 | Optics and Sensors | 2 |
|
Description: Investigates sensor operation and application for a variety of functions: tactile, photo, fiber-optic, magnetic, thermal, sonic, pressure and vision systems. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 140 | Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers | 2 |
|
Description: Examines the procedures and mechanisms by which programmable logic controller functions are used. Programming in ladder logic and controller code focuses on the direct application of a variety of input and output devices. Hardware, programming, peripherals and accessories are emphasized. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 143 | Commercial Wiring | 2 |
|
Description: Introduces students to advanced wiring topics as they relate to the commercial electrical service. A safety review followed by terminology, principles, and test and measurement equipment use associated with commercial alternating current (AC) power are examined. Emphasis is placed on the practical application, operation, installation and maintenance of low voltage control systems and single and three-phase AC power equipment and systems. Select portions of the National Electric Code are studied. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 144 | AC and DC Motors | 2 |
|
Description: Introduces students to fractional horsepower motors for residential and commercial applications. A safety review followed by terminology, principles, and test and measurement equipment use associated with motors and motor controls are examined. Emphasis is placed on the practical application, operation, installation and maintenance of direct current (DC) motors and controls, and single three-phase alternating current (AC) motors and controls. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 145 | Variable Frequency Drives | 2 |
|
Description: Introduces students to variable frequency drives (VFDs) as they pertain to residential and commercial motor control applications. A safety review followed by terminology, principles, test and measurement equipment use associated with VFDs and typical applications are examined. Emphasis is placed on the practical application, operation, installation and maintenance of VFDs. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 215 | Industrial Control Systems | 4 |
|
Description: Introduces students to industrial control systems. Covers fluid power fundamentals, and pneumatic and hydraulic circuit theory. Examines the integration of optics, sensors, and various electronic control systems including programmable logic controller (PLC) and personal computer (PC) controllers. Infrared (IR) emitters and detectors, and laser systems are also examined. Introduces the application and control of automated robotic systems. The course culminates with a capstone team project involving the development, design, construction, presentation and ultimate demonstration of a fully operational automated industrial control system. Prerequisite: ELT 110 and ELT 140 with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
||
| ELT 240 | Advanced Programmable Logic Controllers S | 4 |
|
Description:
This course is only offered in the spring term. Prerequisite: ELT 110 and ELT 140 with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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Students interested in electronics engineering technology may also be interested in:
For more information about electronics engineering technology, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.