Building Instrumentation & Control Certificate

Electrical Systems Technology Hero
Program Code: C35130L4

Electrical Systems Technology Building Instrumentation & Control Certificate

The Building Instrumentation and Control Certificate program teaches the student the concepts and skills needed to program, install, calibrate, and service systems that acquire and record industrial and environmental data. It also is intended to prepare students to install and maintain automated energy and environmental control systems.

Specific Requirements

Courses requiring a grade of "C" or better: ELC

Courses in this program

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of electricity and test equipment to nonelectrical/electronic majors. Topics include basic DC and AC principles (voltage, resistance, current, impedance); components (resistors, inductors, and capacitors); power; and operation of test equipment. Upon completion, students should be able to construct and analyze simple DC and AC circuits using electrical test equipment.

This course provides a detailed study of PLC applications, with a focus on design of industrial controls using the PLC. Topics include PLC components, memory organization, math instructions, documentation, input/output devices, and applying PLCs in industrial control systems. Upon completion, students should be able to select and program a PLC system to perform a wide variety of industrial control functions.
 

This course introduces the principles of analyzing energy use, energy auditing tools and techniques, conservation techniques, and calculating energy savings. Topics include building system control theory, calibrating digital controls, energy loss calculations, and applicable conservation techniques. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of energy use, audits, and controls in the analysis of energy consumption

Course Code Course Credit Hours Link to course details

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of motors and motor controls. Topics include ladder diagrams, pilot devices, contactors, motor starters, motors, and other control devices. Upon completion, students should be able to properly select, connect, and troubleshoot motors and control circuits.

This course covers the fundamentals of instrumentation used in the industry. Emphasis is placed on electric, electronic, and pneumatic instruments. Upon completion, students should be able to design, install, maintain, and calibrate instrumentation.

Total Credit Hours Required:
17

Curriculum is based on the 2024-2025 catalog.

Good To Know

Why General Education?

You may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to take (course name) when it is not directly related to my major?”

General Education courses will help you develop skills necessary to be successful in your major and in life. General Education can teach you how to talk to your employer, write a paper in a major course, understand interest rates on your car, and much more. General Education can also give you the skills to be a better member of society and a more informed citizen. Critical thinking, global understanding, and appreciation for the human experience are hallmarks of a well-rounded education.

How many hours of General Education do I have to take?

If you are enrolled in an Associate of Applied Science Degree program, a minimum of 15 general education hours are required in the following categories:

  • Six hours from Communication
  • Three hours from Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Three hours from Social & Behavioral Science
  • Three hours from Natural Science & Mathematics

General Education courses have been pre-selected for you by your faculty from the following list:

CommunicationHumanities & Fine ArtsSocial & Behavioral ScienceNatural Science & Mathematics
COM-110ART-111ECO-251BIO-161
COM-120ART-114ECO-252BIO-163
COM-231ART-115HIS-111BIO-168
ENG-110HUM-110HIS-112MAT-110
ENG-111HUM-115HIS-131MAT-121
ENG-112MUS-110HIS-132MAT-143
ENG-114MUS-112POL-120MAT-152
 PHI-215PSY-150MAT-171
 PHI-240SOC-210PHY-110/110A
  SOC-225PHY-121

 

Degrees designed to transfer to universities require more general education hours. If you are enrolled in the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science, you are required to take 45 hours of General Education from the following categories:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six to nine hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six to nine hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to eight hours in Mathematics
  • Four to eight hours in Natural Sciences
  • 11 to 14 additional General Education hours

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Engineering, you are required to take 42 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six work hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • 12 hours in Mathematics
  • 12 hours in Natural Sciences

If you are enrolled in the Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts, you are required to take 25 general education hours from the following:

  • Six hours in English Composition
  • Six hours in Communication/Humanities & Fine Arts
  • Six hours in Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Three to four hours in Mathematics
  • Four hours in Natural Sciences

Additional information about General Education for transfer degrees, including courses that satisfy each category, may be found in the current College Catalog.

What will I learn in General Education?

At A-B Tech, our faculty have designed a general education core so that A-B Tech graduates will learn the following:

Students will critically evaluate information:

  • Students will demonstrate information literacy.
  • Students will critique works of human expression.
  • Students will analyze scientific literature.

Students will solve problems:

  • Students will identify processes.
  • Students will analyze problems.
  • Students will interpret the results.
  • Students will recommend appropriate strategies or solutions.

Students will effectively communicate.

  • Students will communicate appropriately about the subject.
  • Students will communicate appropriately with the audience.
  • Students will communicate appropriately for the medium.

Ever wonder how A-B Tech awards credit for a certain course?

A-B Tech complies with the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges Code, so your courses are assigned the course level and receive the same amount of credit as courses at all 58 North Carolina Community Colleges.

If you want to read more about this, see the A-B Tech Policy and Procedure for the Assignment of Course Level Credit.

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