Engineering Technology (TECH)

Admission to the emphases in Applied Manufacturing Technology, Aviation Management Technology, and Nuclear Engineering Technology is limited. See “Limited Admissions and Limited Retention Requirements” in the front part of this catalog.

Students who graduate with university honors with a B.S. in Engineering Technology receive guaranteed admission into the graduate program leading to the M.S. in Industrial Management. Students who are interested in the M.S. in Industrial Management should refer to the Graduate Catalog or contact the University Honors Program for more details.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Engineering Technology is to offer engaged learning programs that promote strong partnerships with industry and foster a cooperative relationship between faculty and students. The Department of Engineering Technology at NIU is committed to providing our students with an industry-focused technical education that emphasizes strong theoretical and applications-oriented approaches to problem solving and to engage in life-long learning, and adapt to emerging technologies. The departmental faculty will also engage in professional activities that add value to the university and the community at large.

Vision

The Department of Engineering Technology is committed to technical education and programs which incorporate continuous improvement, student-centered engagement, and applied research that prepare our students to analyze, develop, and implement innovative and sustainable solutions for a contemporary society.

Program Educational Objectives

As a statement of the career and professional accomplishments that the Department of Engineering Technology is preparing its graduates to achieve, we have adopted the following Program Educational Objectives, in consultation with our alumni, Industrial Advisory Boards, and other program stakeholders.

Electrical Engineering Technology

In three to five years after the completion of the baccalaureate degree, Department of Engineering Technology graduates will:

Apply engineering knowledge and tools to solve technical problems, design products, and improve processes that can enhance the well-being of society in its economic, social, ethical, and environmental sustainability needs.
Be effective team members who can lead, collaborate, and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Become successful professionals and leaders in their fields.
Pursue professional development through continuing education, industry-specific certifications, and involvement in professional organizations.

Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Industrial Management and Technology, Energy and Environmental Engineering Technology, and Applied Manufacturing Technology

In three to five years after the completion of the baccalaureate degree, Department of Engineering Technology graduates will:

Apply engineering knowledge and tools to solve technical problems, design products, and improve processes that strive to meet the ethical, cultural, and environmental needs of society.
Be effective team members who can lead, collaborate, and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Become successful professionals and leaders in their fields.
Pursue professional development through continuing education, industry-specific certifications, and involvement in professional organizations.

Student Outcomes

The department’s undergraduate program is designed to provide graduates with:

(1) An ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology to solve well-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.

(2) An ability to design solutions for well-defined technical problems and assist with the engineering design of systems, components, or processes appropriate to the discipline.

(3) An ability to apply written, oral, and graphical communication in well-defined technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.

(4) An ability to conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results.

(5) An ability to function effectively as a member of a technical team.

Department Requirement

All engineering technology majors/minors who do not place into MATH 229 must obtain a grade of C or better in MATH 155.

Certificate of Undergraduate Study

The Department of Engineering Technology participates in the Homeland Security Certificate of Undergraduate Study. See the section on Inter-College Interdisciplinary Certificates in this catalog for details or visit the Homeland Security website at http://www.niu.edu/HomelandSecurity/index.shtml.

Certificates of undergraduate study in the Department of Engineering Technology are open to all NIU undergraduate students. Students must maintain good academic standing in the university by achieving a GPA of at least 2.00 in all certificate courses and by completing all certificate course work within six calendar years. Some courses may have prerequisites that are not part of the certificate curriculum. All course requirements for the certificate must be completed at NIU. With department approval, some, or all, of the certificate courses may be applied toward undergraduate degree requirements in the department. The Department of Engineering Technology reserves the right to limit enrollment in any of the certificate courses.

Engineering Technology Faculty

Shun Takai, Ph.D., Stanford University, associate professor, Interim Chair
Abul Azad, Ph.D., University of Sheffield (United Kingdom), professor
Liping Guo, Ph.D., Auburn University, professor
Theodore J. Hogan, Ph.D., C.I.H., University of Illinois, Chicago, associate professor
Kevin Martin, Ph.D., Missouri University of Science and Technology, associate professor
William J. Mills, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, associate professor
Shanthi Muthuswamy, Ph.D., State University of New York at Binghamton, professor
Said Oucheriah, Ph.D., P.E., Cleveland State University, professor
Robert Tatara, Ph.D., Northwestern University, professor
Mahdi Vaezi, Ph.D., University of Alberta, assistant professor