Technician, Technologist, or Engineer: Which Path Will You Take?

Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) refers to a specific profession that comprises a wide range of activities including routine design, test and evaluation, manufacturing and production, operations and maintenance, and marketing and sales. These activities are common to many areas of industry including transportation, power generation, energy conversion, climate control, machine design, manufacturing and automation, and the control of engineering systems, subsystems and their components.

The Electrical Engineering Technology Program at Broome Community College (BCC) prepares students to enter the EET profession as engineering technicians. As part of the engineering team, technicians help make engineering ideas come alive. They are hands-on people who assist with process or product design, installation, testing and operation. They may prepare engineering drawings, conduct acceptance tests on materials, products and systems, and repair equipment. They often inspect, test, and monitor products - they are troubleshooters.

The EET Program at BCC also prepares students to transfer to a Baccalaureate Program in Technology. Students enter these programs as Juniors and upon graduation would be known as engineering technologists. Engineering technologists are the "applications" members of the engineering team. They work closely with engineers during the initial design phase to interpret and refine the design. They are responsible for turning the engineer's concept into manufactured product through the use of engineering principles and available materials and equipment. They often estimate project costs, prepare work schedules, and suggest ways to improve productivity.

Graduates of the EET Program at BCC may also transfer into a Baccalaureate Program in Engineering after additional coursework at BCC. Graduates of these programs are referred to as engineers. Engineers are the leaders of the engineering team. Their activities range from manufacturing & test and evaluation to complex design and analysis, and research and development. They combine knowledge of advanced mathematics, engineering sciences, and engineering principles with considerations of economic, social, environmental, and ethical issues to create new systems and products.

To obtain more information about Electrical Engineering Technology contact:
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - www.ieee.org