Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
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Electrical Engineering Technology
Solving Today’s Problems for Industry
Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
The mission of the Electrical Engineering Technology program is
to provide a quality education for its students and an outstanding
professional development environment for its faculty and students.
To accomplish this mission, the Department has set the following
educational objectives for its Electrical Engineering Technology
curriculum.
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To prepare students to immediately contribute in the workplace upon graduation through
exposure to state of the art industrial equipment, internship experience and design project
experience.
To prepare students in the business of engineering technology through the understanding
of economic and business principles and effective project management techniques.
To prepare students for the increasing computer requirements of industry through the use
of computing hardware and software throughout the technical curriculum.
To provide students with an appreciation for the ethical, legal and professional
obligations necessary to function effectively in a contemporary business environment.
To develop students’ communication skills to a level that they can present complex ideas
in a clear, logical and concise manner both orally and in writing.
Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Program Description
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The Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program at
the University of Maine prepares students for professional
electrical engineering careers in industry. The program
provides students with the theory and “hands-on” experience
necessary for them to quickly become productive in their
jobs after graduation. The EET program offers two distinct
paths to pursue the degree. These are the Electrical Option
and the Information Technology Option.
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Electrical Option
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This option provides students with a traditional electrical
and electronic engineering curriculum with extra
concentration in subject areas that are particularly important
to industry in the Northeast. These subject areas are: analog
electronic design, integrated motion control, electrical
machinery operation and microcomputer applications.
All courses in the program are taught in a way that includes
a strong component of practical applications, along with
basic theoretical concepts.
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Information Technology Option
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An increasing industry demand for engineers with basic
electrical hardware knowledge along with advanced
network communication and management skills has led to
this option. This pathway requires students to take the basic
electrical courses during the first two years of the program
and then branch to information technology courses in the
last two years of the program. The eight information
technology electives are taken in the areas of information
science, management information systems, computer
science and computer engineering.
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Engineering Technology Combines Engineering Theory
with Practical Industrial Management Principles
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Regardless of option selection, the EET degree requires
students to gain an understanding of engineering
management principles. Courses in engineering economics,
statistical process control and project management are
required of all graduates. This highlights the program's focus
on preparing graduates for entry into the work force upon
graduation. The program is constantly updated in response
to input from an Industrial Advisory Committee that has
representatives from manufacturing, power utilities, process
industries, data communications and electronics companies.
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Program Faculty
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The faculty in the EET program focus upon teaching the
students. They all have significant industrial experience
and serve actively as consulting professional engineers when
not teaching. Program faculty teach all classes and
laboratories. Thus, students learn first-hand about current
industry trends and the latest engineering equipment.
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Senior Design Experience
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A very important part of the education of all EET students
is a Senior Design Project course that is taken during both
semesters of their senior year. Design projects are required
in most of the EET courses to prepare students for their
capstone project. The Senior Design Project requires
student teams to solve a design problem while utilizing
good engineering design and reporting procedures.
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Concentration in Computer Engineering Technology
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Students who wish to pursue the electrical option but still
gain some experience in computer and data networking
applications may pursue a concentration in computer
engineering technology. To achieve the concentration
students are required to take 12 credits of approved
courses offered by the computer engineering,
information science and computer science departments
for their free and technical elective choices.
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Minor Options
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The EET students can also enrich their academic experience
by completing minors that complement their program
such as business administration, math, engineering
entrepreneurship or pulp and paper technology.
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Cooperative “Work Experience” Program Option
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All EET students who have achieved sophomore status are
encouraged to participate in a well-established co-op
program that allows students to receive course credit while
gaining valuable experience with an industry of their choice.
The department faculty work closely with key industrial
partners to maintain cooperative education opportunities that
are technically challenging and offer strong economic
benefits.
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Employment Opportunities
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Graduates of the EET program fill a wide variety of
professional technical positions in industry. Typically, they
take jobs that involve designing and manufacturing a product
or operating a plant. EET graduates are the electrical backbone of the manufacturing community and often manage
project and maintenance teams of electricians and engineers.
Their responsibilities lean toward design and production
rather than research.
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Scholarships
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The program offers scholarships for outstanding students
majoring in Electrical Engineering Technology. In
addition, students can apply for scholarships through the
College of Engineering.
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Questions and answers:
Where can I find employment? Just about anywhere a graduate wants
to live. Logically, there will be more opportunity in Portland than Fort Kent.
Graduates have gotten jobs all over the United States from Hawaii to
Florida, Maine to California.
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What jobs can I get as a graduate of Electrical Engineering
Technology? There are numerous jobs in the manufacturing sector with
equipment manufacturers, semiconductors, electronics, paper, power
delivery and consulting firms servicing those industries. The most common
jobs are project engineer, electrical and instrumentation engineer, equipment
engineer, field engineer and applications engineer.
What is the starting salary? Salaries depend on the location of the
employer. The Boston area pays more than Fort Kent. Starting salaries last
year ranged from $45,000 to $55,000.
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Questions and answers:
Where do graduates work? Graduates work across the United States
though many choose to stay in Maine. They work in small towns and large
cities. Location is largely based on where manufacturing firms are located.
Graduates can generally work where ever they desire, in whatever size firm
they feel comfortable.
How hard is it to get jobs? The EET faculty have built a strong network
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of contacts consisting of firms that typically hire our students. We work with
students personally to help place them in positions that fit their interests.
Over the last several years, we have had an almost 100% placement rate
within three months of graduation.
How difficult is it to find summer jobs? With a little effort, students
can obtain summer positions with prospective employers the summer after
their second or third year in firms near their home. A typical student will
work as an electronics technician or update electrical drawings during their
first year. The summer after their third year they are assigned regular
engineering duties so they can get a feel for engineering careers with that
firm. A very high percentage of student internships lead to full time jobs
after graduation.
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 Questions and Answers
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Will I be “small fish in a big pond” at the University of Maine?
The University of Maine has almost 10,000 students. As a result, the
University of Maine has a well-staffed medical facility, comfortable
dorms, large library, spacious concert center, numerous recreation
opportunities, nationally recognized sports teams (e.g., ice hockey),
free tutoring, and a friendly atmosphere. Situated within the University
of Maine is a small, close-knit family of students that comprise
Electrical Engineering Technology. The Electrical Engineering
Technology program has approximately 80 students total. That is less
than most high school classes that students come from. The average
class size in an Electrical Engineering Technology class is about 19
students. The program is more like a one-room school house. With a
cadre of four full-time faculty, the faculty are able to work closely with
the students throughout the four-year program.
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Can an EET graduate go to graduate school? Yes. While most
graduates grab the many of the lucrative offers made to them at
graduation, a few have gone on to earn a graduate degree. Most of the
graduates that have gone on to graduate school have pursued a Master
of Business Administration (MBA). Through a unique partnership with
the UMaine ECE program, strong students may pursue a master of
science in electrical engineering with minimal additional coursework.
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Can an EET student get a professional engineering (PE) license?
Yes. Many electrical engineering positions do not require a
professional engineering license, but most graduates pursue licensing
to enhance their career opportunities. Maine makes no distinction
between a regular engineering graduate and a technology graduate in
pursuing an engineering license.
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 Are the courses difficult? All engineering courses are difficult. Electrical
Engineering Technology courses are no exception. The difference with our
program is the exceptional access that students have to our faculty. While
some institutions may only have 1-2 hours available for students to see faculty,
we average 10-15 hours weekly. Students who put sufficient effort into their
studies generally perform well. There are tutoring services available. Students
with learning disabilities are provided with help and faculty provided with
instructions on how to help the student learn.
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Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
 Who are the faculty?
There are four full-time faculty and one part-time faculty within the
Electrical Engineering Technology program. All our faculty are
licensed professional engineers. They are required to have both a
bachelors and masters degree in engineering to receive tenure. All have
several years of engineering practice before teaching in the program.
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Scott Dunning specializes in power systems, electric machines, and
energy efficiency.
Paul Villeneuve specializes in analog circuit design, control systems and
robust instrumentation design.
Jude Pearse specializes in digital systems, microprocessor application
and project management.
Spider Williams specializes in digital circuit design and electric circuit
design.
Tom Christensen specializes in sequential motion control.
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 Contact Information:
 Scott Dunning – (207)581-2349
 scott@eece.maine.edu
Tom Christensen – (207)581-2717
thomas.christensen@umit.maine.edu
 Paul Villeneuve – (207)581-2271 Jude Pearse – (207)581-2346
 paul.villeneuve@umit.maine.edu jude.pearse@umit.maine.edu
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 Spider Williams – (207)581-3395
 spider@eece.maine.edu
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School of Engineering Technology
5711 Boardman Hall
University of Maine
Orono, Maine 04469
(207)581-2341
www.umaine.edu/set
(207)581-2113 fax
Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
The Electrical Engineering Technology
Program is anxious to help you meet
your educational goals!
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