Harper College

Industrial Electronics Maintenance Certificate

Stay current. Earn a career-ready certificate.

Program facts Liberal Arts icon


  • Credit hours: 16
  • Stackable to degree: Yes
  • Potential job outcomes: Electrical technician, electrician, maintenance technician

Get ready for a career in industrial electronics maintenance with this 16-credit-hour certificate program. Focusing on equipment operation, application, installation and servicing, this program will prepare you to seek entry-level employment as an electrical technician, electrician apprentice, electrician or facilities/plant maintenance technician.

Take classes such as introductory electronics, electrical wiring, industrial control systems, optics and sensors, AC/DC motors, programmable logic controllers and more. All courses are taught by skilled instructors who are experts in the industrial electronics maintenance field.

Credit earned for this program can be applied to the Electronics Engineering Technology AAS Degree

Certificate program requirements

This 16 credit-hour certificate program is designed to prepare students for careers in the field of industrial electronics and facilities maintenance, and other related technology maintenance areas. The curriculum is tailored to provide intermediate-level career training in the least amount of time. Emphasis is placed on equipment operation, application, installation and servicing. Courses specific to instruction include: basic electricity and electronics, commercial wiring and codes, and industrial control systems. Topics within these courses involve: practical electrical concepts and measurements, basic industrial maintenance, fluid power, optics and sensors, and programmable logic controllers.

Students completing this program may find employment as electrical technicians, electrician apprentices, electricians, and facilities or plant maintenance technicians.

Students may also continue their education by pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree. Students considering this option are encouraged to meet with the Program Coordinator and an academic advisor prior to beginning the program, and also when planning their schedule each semester.

Required:

Number Course Title Credits
ELT 110 4

Description:  Introduces fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. Covers basic electrical laws and principles. Presents electrical quantities, units, symbols and notation. Examines foundational electronic materials and components. Presents elementary DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current) network analysis, key semiconductor devices, and simple analog and digital circuits. Also covers electrical safety considerations, laboratory instrumentation and test and measurement techniques.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

ELT 120 2

Description:  Introduces students to the fundamentals of industrial electronics maintenance. Provides an overview of the various technologies encountered in the field as they relate to industrial electronic control of buildings and facilities. This includes basic electrical and electromechanical components and machinery, motors and controls, electrical and electronic interfaces, and electronic controllers. Also covers fluid power and piping systems. Emphasis is placed on safety, installation and preventative maintenance. Use of tools, test instrumentation and the importance of record keeping will be discussed.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

ELT 135 2

Description:  Investigates sensor operation and application for a variety of functions: tactile, photo, fiber-optic, magnetic, thermal, sonic, pressure and vision systems.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

ELT 140 2

Description:  Examines the procedures and mechanisms by which programmable logic controller functions are used. Programming in ladder logic and controller code focuses on the direct application of a variety of input and output devices. Hardware, programming, peripherals and accessories are emphasized.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

ELT 143 2

Description:  Introduces students to advanced wiring topics as they relate to the commercial electrical service. A safety review followed by terminology, principles, and test and measurement equipment use associated with commercial alternating current (AC) power are examined. Emphasis is placed on the practical application, operation, installation and maintenance of low voltage control systems and single and three-phase AC power equipment and systems. Select portions of the National Electric Code are studied.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

ELT 215 4

Description:  Introduces students to industrial control systems. Covers fluid power fundamentals, and pneumatic and hydraulic circuit theory. Examines the integration of optics, sensors, and various electronic control systems including programmable logic controller (PLC) and personal computer (PC) controllers. Infrared (IR) emitters and detectors, and laser systems are also examined. Introduces the application and control of automated robotic systems. The course culminates with a capstone team project involving the development, design, construction, presentation and ultimate demonstration of a fully operational automated industrial control system.

Prerequisite: ELT 110 and ELT 140 with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor.

Class Schedule:  Summer 2024 | Fall 2024

Related programs

Students interested in electronics engineering technology may also be interested in:

Resources

Next steps

For more information about electronics engineering technology, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.

Last Updated: 3/15/24