Western Washington University · Bellingham, Washington
Plastics Engineering Technology, BS
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.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.
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 pre-major. See the department’s website for details. All students should declare their pre-major early and seek departmental advisement.
Coursework
Plastics Core: 77-81 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)
Supporting Courses: 53 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
GURs:
These courses are offered within this major and may be used to satisfy GUR or Writing Proficiency Requirements.
- BCOM: COMM 101, 235
- QSR: CSCI 140, 141; MATH 124, 125 134, 135, 240
- LSCI: CHEM 121, 251; PHYS 161, 162, 163
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.
Department
Contact
Program Advisor:
Nicole Hoekstra
ET204, 360-650-7237
Nicole.Hoekstra@wwu.edu
Department Chair:
Todd Morton
ET209, 360-650-3380
Todd.Morton@wwu.edu