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 2025
- School of Engineering Technologies
- Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
- More Information about Building Automation Engineering Technology
Career Opportunities
Building automation engineering specialist, building automation systems applications engineer, building automation systems field engineer, project manager, deployment manager, building automation systems controls integrator, fire/security specialist, building automation systems design engineer, building automation systems commissioning specialist.
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
Incoming students desiring this bachelor’s degree must declare a dual degree with one of the following associate's degree majors:
- Electrical Technology (EL)
- Electrical Construction (EB)
- Electric Power Generation Technology: Diesel Emphasis (DG)
- Mechatronics Technology (MX)
- Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning Technology (HV)
- Robotics & Automation Emphasis (RO)
- Information Technology: Network & User Support (NS)
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 Engineering Technology major based on their degree and related technical coursework. It is recommended that transfer students begin their BMS degree with a fall semester start.
Special Equipment Needs
Laptop Computer Required
- Windows 11 or higher (recommended).
- Intel Core i5 or i7 (generation 10 or higher) processor (recommended).
- 8+ GB RAM (recommended).
- 250+ GB Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (recommended).
- Laptop must include a webcam and microphone (required).
- Laptop must include a wireless network card (required).
- Broadband Internet connection when working off campus (required).
- Additional plug-ins may be required (Information Technology Services Service Desk available for assistance).
- Chromebooks and other devices running Chrome OS are prohibited.
Remediation Strategies
All incoming students must meet placement requirements in math. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in the College Catalog (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/admissions-policy).
Transfer Procedures
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see https://www.pct.edu/admissions/transfer/transferring-credits). 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 | 1.0 | .50 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10.0 | M | BBT | |||
| CSC124 | Information, Technology & Society | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| EET124 | Engineering, Technology & Society | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| MTH180 | College Algebra and Trigonometry I | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17.0 | ||||||
| Second Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 12.0 | M | BBT | |||
| ENL111 | English Composition I | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15.0 | ||||||
| Third Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10.0 | M | BBT | |||
| ENL201 | Technical & Professional Communication | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| ENL121 | English Composition II | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| PHS103 | Physics Survey | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| PHS114 | Physics with Technological Applications | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | S | REQ | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16.0 | ||||||
| Fourth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT | Directed Building Automation Technology Electives | 10.0 | M | BBT | |||
| OEE | Exploration Elective | 3.0 | S | OEE | |||
| SSP | Core Social Science Perspective | 3.0 | S | SSP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16.0 | ||||||
| Fifth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| HVE | HVAC Elective | 5.0 | M | HVE | |||
| or | |||||||
| EEL | Electrical Electives | 5.0 | M | EEL | |||
| BBT209 | Building Automation Industry | 3.0 | 3 | M | REQ | ||
| MTH182 | College Algebra and Trigonometry II | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| or | |||||||
| MTH161 | Statistics for STEM Fields with Computer Applications | 3.5 | 3 | 1.50 | S | REQ | |
| OEA | Open Elective | 3.0 | S | OEA | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 14.0 | ||||||
| Sixth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT304 | Direct Digital Control of HVACR Equipment | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT344 | Electric, Pneumatic & Electronic Control Systems | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| SCI | Science Elective | 3.0 | S | SCI | |||
| or | |||||||
| SCL | Science Elective with lab | 4.0 | S | SCL | |||
| CDP | Core Global & Cultural Diversity Perspective | 3.0 | S | CDP | |||
| OEE | Exploration Elective | 3.0 | S | OEE | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 17.0 | ||||||
| Summer Session | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT310 | Building Automation Industry Internship | 1.0 | M | REQ | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 1.0 | ||||||
| Seventh Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT407 | Building Control Networks I | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT412 | Building Commissioning & Recommissioning | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT414 | Building Automation Programming | 3.0 | 2 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT495 | Senior Seminar-Lecture | 1.0 | 1 | M | REQ | ||
| SPC101 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3.0 | 3 | S | REQ | ||
| HIP | Core Historical Perspective | 3.0 | S | HIP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 16.0 | ||||||
| Eighth Semester | Credits | Notes | Lecture | Lab/Clinical | M/S | Type | |
| BBT415 | Integrated Building Operation & Energy Management | 3.0 | Writing Enriched Requirement | 2 | 3 | M | REQ |
| BBT417 | Building Control Networks II | 4.0 | 3 | 3 | M | REQ | |
| BBT496 | Senior Seminar-Lab | 2.0 | 6 | M | REQ | ||
| OEA | Open Elective | 3.0 | S | OEA | |||
| ARP | Core Arts Perspective | 3.0 | S | ARP | |||
| TOTAL CREDITS | 15.0 | ||||||
Directed Building Automation Technology electives include ACR, BCT, CIT, DSM, EET, ELT, MET, MTT, PLH, and RET courses. Major courses other than those previously listed will need adviser approval.
MTH 181 and MTH 183/ MTH161 are required for the bachelor's degree. Those students in an associate's degree who have successfully completed MTH 123 should speak to a Building Automation adviser to learn how their MTH 123 credits can be applied to the bachelor's degree.
Students enrolled in the Building Automation Engineering Technology major with an HV associate's degree must take BBT239 and students enrolled in an associate's degree in EB, EL, DG, MX, NS or RO must take ACR 229.
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 equal a minimum of 7.