ARTICULATION THROUGH FLORIDA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION (FLATE) CENTER
The Florida Advanced Technological Education (FLATE) Center crafted the first-of-itskind Statewide Articulation Agreement based on Industry Certification, which was
approved by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) in March 2007. FLATE,
working with the FLDOE Career and Technical Education team, Florida colleges, and
Florida industries defined the new A.S. degree program in Engineering Technology (ET)
with 10 specialization tracts and 18 technical college certificates. The program of study
offers a variety of technical specializations built upon a common technical core that
supports a wide range of manufacturing and high technology industries. The program
has been adopted by 14 of Florida’s 28 state and community colleges.
To ensure the success of this unified curriculum plan, FLATE, in partnership with the
FLDOE, also developed a new curriculum framework for secondary and PSAV programs
that aligns with the MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT). The Automated
Production Technician (APT)
framework was approved in January 2009, and is available for implementation by
Florida high school programs, career academies, and technical schools. The APT (with
embedded MSSC) program provides a particularly potent pathway for secondary
technical students as it articulates 15 credit hours towards the ET college course of
study for student completers. This pathway gives secondary students a jump start on
their college education while preparing them with the industry articulated skill sets they
need for good paying jobs. In support of secondary programs, FLATE provides free
online, industry-connected resources focused on the often overlooked technology and
engineering side of STEM. Complete lesson plans, career education resources, learning
objects, and more are located in a special wiki site for educators,
http://flate.pbworks.com/. The wiki is accessed through FLATE’s signature Made in
Florida website: www.madeinflorida.org.
For adult learners, the same program provides a pathway for incumbent workers to
gain the 15 college credit hours by experience through certification. Veterans in the
program have shared that the program is a good match for many of the hands on skills
learned through military service. The ET program allows “stacking” of credentials and
experience leading to enhanced career potential with Florida advanced manufacturers
as well as with related high tech industries throughout the state. But the road does not
end here! Engineering Technology A.S. Degree holders can transfer seamlessly to a
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (B.S.E.T.) or to a number of Bachelor of
Applied Science (B.A.S.) Degrees offered in Florida’s universities and colleges. The 2 +
2 agreements apply the 60 credit hours of an A.S. Degree directly to the 4-year
bachelor’s degree (additional general education credits or technical prerequisite courses
may be required).