Building automation course work emphasizes the application control system design, programming and documentation, building control networks, building commissioning, operation and control of chillers and boilers, and related mechanical and electrical equipment. Energy management in buildings and interoperable systems are also stressed. Technical courses include hands-on lab components with work on industry standard and state of the art equipment. This major requires an industrial internship in building automation.
Effective Fall 2019
- School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
Green major- More Information about Building Automation Technology
Career Opportunities
Building automation applications engineer, programmer, service technician, new construction technician, new construction sales associate, service-owner sales associate, project engineer, or project manager. Employment opportunities in building automation technology exist with HVAC controls companies, physical plant departments of college, university, hospital, and government buildings as well as commercial and industrial facilities.
Recommended High School Subjects
High school Algebra I and II are necessary for this major. Four years of high school English are desirable. Three science courses, with physics recommended, are suggested for this major.
Special Admissions Requirements
Students entering this bachelor degree as first semester freshman must declare a dual degree in one of the following associate's degrees:
- Electrical Technology (EL)
- Electrical Construction (EB)
- Mechatronics Technology (MX)
- Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology (HV)
- Robotics and Automation Emphasis (RO)
- Information Technology: Technical Support Technology Emphasis (TU)
Students transferring from other institutions with an A.A.S. in a related applied technology field will be evaluated for admission to the Building Automation Technology major based on their degree and related technical coursework.
Building Automation Technology (BBT) coursework can only be taken after the required 42 credits of Directed Building Automation Technology Electives have been satisfied.
Remediation Strategies
All entering students will be tested for English, math, and reading deficiencies. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in this catalog (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/PlacementTesting).
Transfer Procedures
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits). Exceptions must be approved by the school dean.
Program Goals
A graduate of this major should be able to:- apply safe practices to the installation and troubleshooting of modern building automation systems.
- analyze interoperability and energy management as they apply to vertically and horizontally integrated building control systems
- use general-purpose software and specific building automation software to monitor and control a building HVACR system and building electrical systems
- explain the function, operating characteristics, and appropriate applications of basic control loops and control modes as found in direct digital, analog electronic, electric and pneumatic commercial control systems.
- given a sequence of control, lay out a control system logic diagram and program it into a DDC controller.
- demonstrate an understanding of the commissioning, re-commissioning and retro-commissioning processes and how they apply to different phases of a building's existence.
- demonstrate functional knowledge of networks, network devices, and network software.
- enhance industry professionalism skills such as work ethic, communication, time management, problem solving, working on a team, building self-confidence, accept and learn from criticism and flexibility/adaptability
- install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair commercial building automation systems
Curriculum
| First Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYE101 | First Year Experience | 1 | .50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10 | M | BBT | |||
| CSC124 | Information, Technology, and Society | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| EET124 | Engineering, Technology, and Society | 3 | 2 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| MTH180 | College Algebra and Trigonometry I | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 | ||||||
| Second Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 12 | M | BBT | |||
| ENL111 | English Composition I | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 | ||||||
| Third Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10 | M | BBT | |||
| ENL201 | Technical and Professional Communication | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| ENL121 | English Composition II | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| PHS103 | Physics Survey | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| PHS114 | Physics with Technological Applications | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
| Fourth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10 | M | BBT | |||
| OEE | Exploration Electives | 3 | S | OEE | |||
| SSP | Core Social Science Perspective | 3 | S | SSP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
| Fifth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| HVE | HVAC Elective | 5 | M | HVE | |||
| or | |||||||
| EEL | Electrical Electives | 6 | M | EEL | |||
| BBT209 | Building Automation Industry | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| MTH182 | College Algebra and Trigonometry II | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| MTH160 | Elementary Statistics with Computer Applications | 4 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| OEA | Open Elective | 3 | S | OEA | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14 | ||||||
| Sixth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT304 | Direct Digital Control of HVACR Equipment | 4 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT344 | Electric, Pneumatic and Electronic Control Systems | 4 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| SCI | Science Elective | 3 | S | SCI | |||
| or | |||||||
| SCL | Science Elective with lab | 4 | S | SCL | |||
| CDP | Core Global and Cultural Diversity Perspective | 3 | S | CDP | |||
| OEE | Exploration Electives | 3 | S | OEE | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17 | ||||||
| Summer Session | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT310 | Building Automation Industry Internship | 1 | M | REQ | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 1 | ||||||
| Seventh Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT407 | Building Control Networks I | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT412 | Building Commissioning and Recommissioning | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT414 | Building Automation Programming | 3 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT495 | Senior Seminar-Lecture | 1 | 1 | M | REQ | ||
| SPC101 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| HIP | Core Historical Perspective | 3 | S | HIP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16 | ||||||
| Eighth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT415 | Integrated Building Operation and Energy Management | 3 | Writing Enriched Requirement & Science, Technology and Society Requirement | 2 | 3 | M | REQ |
| BBT417 | Building Control Networks II | 4 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT496 | Senior Seminar-Lab | 2 | 6 | M | REQ | ||
| OEA | Open Elective | 3 | S | OEA | |||
| ARP | Core Arts Perspective | 3 | S | ARP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15 | ||||||
Directed Building Automation Technology electives include ACR, CIM, EET, ELT, MET, MTT, PLH, RET, SAF 110 and WEL courses. Major courses other than those previously listed will need advisor approval.
MTH 180 and MTH 182 are required for the Bachelor degree. Those students in Associate degree that have successfully completed MTH 124 should speak to a BBT adviser to learn how their MTH 124 credits can be applied to the Bachelor degree.
Students enrolled in the Building Automation major with a emphasis in HVAC must take ELT 239 and students enrolled with an Electrical, Electromechanical Maintenance, Robotics and Automation, Mechatronics, and Renewable Energy emphasis must take the combination of ACR 227 and PLH 226.
Associate degree students taking PHS 103 during their first four semesters must take a 4-credit science elective with a lab in the sixth semester. Those associate degree students who complete PHS 114 during their first four semesters may take a 3-credit science elective during their sixth semester. In order to meet core educational requirements science elective credits must be a minimum of 7.