Mechatronics: Electronics Technician (Technical Certificate)

Award: Technical Certificate
Program of Study: Mechatronics
Specialization: Electronics Technician
Program Code: 1197

About This Program . . .

Students enrolled in the Mechatronics Program learn a multitude of skills to help prepare them to enter a variety of careers: entry level employment as electronics technicians, process operators or technicians, related to computer systems, computer system administration and networking, electronics, and telecommunications engineering. Students begin the program studying basic core classes including communications, DC/AC circuitry, information technology hardware and software, and Cisco Systems Network training.

The coursework in this certificate is aligned with the Associate Level certification named the Associate Certified Electronics Technician (CeTa), given by the Electronics Technicians Association. This represents the electronics industry, which incorporates from the technician and educator to the corporate institution. Widely known for electronics certification programs and accredited by the International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC), Program content has been structured to give a basic education to all graduates entering this field.

For more information on what you can do with this major, visit CMU Tech's Programs of Study page.

All CMU/CMU Tech technical certificate graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, communication fluency, and critical thinking. In addition to these campus‐wide student learning outcomes, graduates of this major will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate and communicate safe work habits in performance of tasks of entry-level employment as an electronics technician.\ (Specialized Knowledge and Communication Fluency)\
  2. Demonstrate basic electrical/electronic circuit troubleshooting skill sets and repair skill sets to fulfill the needs of entry-level employment as an electronics technician.(Critical Thinking)
  3. Demonstrate use of programmable logic\ controller (PLC), to fulfill the needs of entry-level employment as an electronics technician.(Critical Thinking)\ \

Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements. 

To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity. 

Institutional Degree Requirements

The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU or CMU Tech Technical Certificates. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.

  • Consists of 5-59 semester hours.
  • Consists of 100-200 level courses.
  • At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU/CMU Tech.
  • 2.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU/CMU Tech coursework.
  • A grade lower than “C” will not be counted toward meeting the requirements.
  • A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
  • Non-traditional credit, such as advanced placement, credit by examination, credit for prior learning, cooperative education and internships, cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the semester credit hours required for a technical certificate.
  • Pre-collegiate courses (usually numbered below 100) cannot be used for graduation.
  • Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Certificate Requirements.
  • The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
  • See “Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees and Certificates” in the catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.

Specific to this degree:

  • 16 semester hours required for Technical Certificate in Mechatronics:  Electronics Technician.

Program Specific Degree Requirements

(16 semester hours)

ELCE 150DC Circuit Fundamentals4
ELCE 155AC Circuit Fundamentals4
ELCE 225Introduction to PLCs4
MATH 108Technical Mathematics4
Total Semester Credit Hours16
Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterSemester Credit Hours
ELCE 150 DC Circuit Fundamentals 4
MATH 108 Technical Mathematics 4
 Semester Credit Hours8
Spring Semester
ELCE 155 AC Circuit Fundamentals 4
ELCE 225 Introduction to PLCs 4
 Semester Credit Hours8
 Total Semester Credit Hours16

Advising Process and DegreeWorks

Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a certificate. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended certificate.

DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.

Graduation Process

Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their certificate requirements (for one-semester certificates, complete in the first week of class):

  • Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
  • Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
  • Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
  • Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.

Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.

If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.