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of Sciences
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Technology
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Plastics Engineering
Technology, BS
WWU is an equal opportunity institution.
2012-2013
What Is the Study of Plastics Engineering
Technology?
Students enrolled in Western’s Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) program study the structure
and characteristics of polymers, manufacturing methods, product design fundamentals, and
modern processing methods for composites and polymeric materials. The PET curriculum prepares
graduates who understand and apply established scientific and engineering knowledge to
support engineering activities in manufacturing environments. A plastics engineering technologist
can be involved in the development, design analysis, planning, supervision or construction of the
methods and equipment for the production of industrial or consumer goods in the plastics or
composites industry. The Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) graduate will help to solve the
complex problems associated with plastics or composites manufacturing operations. PET
graduates work in teams with engineers, scientists and technicians to solve manufacturing related
problems. Practical experience and applied research in design, tooling, processing, testing,
analysis, and production is a crucial part of the program.
Why Should I Consider This Major?
PET programs are less theoretical than engineering programs and are more applications or
“hands-on” oriented. There are laboratory components to most PET courses where students learn
to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom to solve practical or application-based
problems.
The Plastics Engineering Technology degree program is accredited by the Technology
Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012,
phone 410-347-7700.
How to Declare:
Admission to the Plastics Engineering Technology major is a two phase process. Students initially
declare as pre-majors. Admission to full major is determined by academic performance as a premajor. See the department’s website for details. All students should declare their pre-major
early and seek departmental advisement.
Contact Information:
Engineering Technology
Department Website:
http://www.etec.wwu.edu/
Program Advisor:
Nicole Hoekstra
ET204, 360-650-7237
Nicole.Hoekstra@wwu.edu
Engineering Technology
Advising:
ET 204
360-650-3380
Sample Careers:
Process Engineer, Project
Engineer, R&D Engineer, Product
Development Engineer, Sales
Engineer, Materials Engineer
Companies that employ Western
PET graduates include: The
Boeing Company, Bunzl Extrusion,
C&D Aerospace, Mold-Rite,
Vaupell Industrial Plastics, Fleck
Co. Inc., Allsop, Heath Tecna,
Fiberchem, Physio-Control, Trim
Systems, Nypro, GE Plastics, and
Upchurch Scientific.
Major/Career Resources:
http://www.careers.wwu.edu/stu
dents_choosingamajor.shtml
Academic Advising Center, a unit of Academic and Career Development Services
Old Main 380
360.650.3850
wwu.edu/advising
advising@wwu.edu
@WWUadvising
This document has been created for advising purposes only. Please contact the appropriate department for updates and changes.
Plastics Engineering Technology, BS (135-139 credits)
Students are advised to see the department for GPA requirements within the major.
Plastics Core: 77-81 credits
Supporting Courses: 53 credits
❑ ETEC 112 - Introduction to Engineering, Design and
Graphics
❑ ETEC 113 - Introduction to Computer-Aided Design
❑ ETEC 220 - Introduction to Engineering Materials
❑ ETEC 224 - Applied Engineering Statics
❑ ETEC 225 - Strength of Materials
❑ ETEC 246 - Manufacturing Processes I
❑ ETEC 322 - Numerical Control Operations
❑ ETEC 333 - Polymer Technology
❑ ETEC 334 - Reinforced Plastics/Composites
❑ ETEC 335 - Tooling for Plastics Processing
❑ ETEC 338 - Injection Molding
❑ ETEC 344 - Industrial Quality Assurance
❑ ETEC 351 - Electronics for Engineering Technology I
❑ ETEC 432 - Plastics Senior Project - Implementation
❑ ETEC 433 - Engineering Polymers
❑ ETEC 434 - Advanced Composites
❑ ETEC 436 - Polymer Compounding
❑ ETEC 444 - Data Analysis and Design of Experiments
❑ Technical electives approved by major advisor (2 courses)
(6-10 credits)
❑ CHEM 121 - General Chemistry I
❑ CHEM 251 - Elementary Organic Chemistry
❑ CHEM 308 - Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
❑ ETEC 341 - Engineering and Society
❑ ETEC 430 - Plastics Senior Project - Definition
❑ OPS 461 - Project Management
❑ One course from:
MATH 124 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors
❑ One course from:
MATH 125 - Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
MATH 135 - Calculus II Honors
❑ One course from:
MATH 245 - Statistics for Engineering Technology
MATH 240 - Introduction to Statistics
❑ PHYS 161 - Physics with Calculus I
❑ PHYS 162 - Physics with Calculus II
❑ PHYS 163 - Physics with Calculus III
❑ One course from:
COMM 101 - Fundamentals of Speech
COMM 235 - Exposition and Argumentation
❑ One course from:
CSCI 140 - Programming Fundamentals in C++
CSCI 141 - Computer Programming I
Other Engineering Technology Options
General University Requirements (GUR):
Electronics Engineering Technology, BS
Industrial Design, BS
Industrial Technology—Vehicle Design, BS
Manufacturing Engineering Technology—Computer-Aided Design and
Manufacturing, BS
Manufacturing Engineering Technology, BS
Plastics Engineering Technology—Vehicle Engineering Technology
Option, BS
Embedded Systems Minor
Industrial Technology—Vehicle Design Minor
Manufacturing Engineering Technology Minor
The courses below satisfy GUR requirements and may also be used to
fulfill major requirements.
BCOM: COMM 101, 235
QSR: CSCI 140, 141; MATH 124, 125 134, 135, 240
LSCI: CHEM 121, 251; PHYS 161, 162, 163
Academic Advising Center, a unit of Academic and Career Development Services
Old Main 380
360.650.3850
wwu.edu/advising
advising@wwu.edu
@WWUadvising
This document has been created for advising purposes only. Please contact the appropriate department for updates and changes.