Programs of Study / Minors

The construction management minor broadens the learning experiences and professional opportunities of students who have an interest in building construction, bid development, management of construction projects after a successful bid, and the business, management, and technical aspects related to construction.

The flexible packaging minor addresses flexible containment systems, one of the fastest growing segments of the packaging materials industry. The manufacturing and use of flexible containment systems requires specific expertise and knowledge of appropriate technology for implementation. Flexible pouches and containment systems are considered more sustainable for replacing glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, and metal cans. They use materials more efficiently and reduce the weight and costs associated with physical distribution activities.

The manufacturing systems minor provides students with a foundation in the professional study and practice of manufacturing operations. Students develop a required foundation of manufacturing processes and statistics, then they select three advanced manufacturing courses to fulfill the following requirements: quality engineering principles, engineering economics, lean production and supply systems, integrated design for manufacturing and assembly, or electronics manufacturing.

The media arts and technology minor provides students with a five-course sampling of the media arts and technology major. After completing the required course, students may customize their selection of elective courses from diverse offerings related to media production, media architecture, media strategy, and media management.

The packaging science minor offers courses covering a broad range of packaging activities, including development/design, testing, marketing, and production. Related legal, economic, and environmental/sustainability concerns are also addressed. Students from majors such as engineering, engineering technology, multidisciplinary studies, management, marketing, international business, industrial design, and print media could all benefit from the packaging science minor.

The plastics engineering and technology minor provides students with a foundation in the professional study of plastic materials and their applications. This minor provides a broad perspective in plastics and polymer engineering/technology including the preparation of polymeric materials and polymer composites, their characterization, and the design and processing of these materials into useful products. The minor also includes a plastics characterization laboratory experience.

The robotics and automation minor provides students with a foundation in the professional study and practice of programming, using, and working with industrial robots and the industrial automation systems used in the manufacturing environment. It provides a broad perspective that includes automation components, automation systems (hardware and software), industrial robots (hardware and software), and specific issues to implementing industrial robotic systems in the electronics manufacturing environment. It also includes learning and practice in developing automation/robotic code to accomplish specific functions across the major industrial automation software tools.

The structural design minor creates a focus on the different types of structures and materials used in design. It also introduces related design codes. The minor is designed to accommodate students majoring in mechanical engineering technology or mechanical engineering.

The surface mount electronics manufacturing minor provides students with a foundation in the professional study and practice of the manufacturing of electronic circuits with components placed directly on printed circuit boards (surface mount technology). This minor provides a broad perspective that includes surface mount devices, assembly, lean production, and quality topics. It also includes learning and practice in electronic component layout, placement, high volume production, materials, circuit board design for manufacturability (design for manufacturability - DFM) and process controls.

The water resources minor broadens the learning experiences and professional opportunities of students in technical disciplines who have an interest in courses related to water treatment, wastewater treatment, hydrology, the environment and society.