Industrial & Engineering Technologies
Alternative Credit
Newly enrolled students with completed course work from a vocational-technical school are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to ensure that a competency assessment form is sent to their instructor. If the instructor's assessment indicates that the student has acquired the necessary foundational skills with an outstanding rating, the student may qualify for advanced placement credit.
Typical EET courses for which students may receive advanced placement:
- EET 114 Introduction to Digital Electronics
- EET 115 Digital Circuits Applications
- EET 116 Electronic Circuits and Devices I
Newly enrolled students with completed course work from a vocational-technical school are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to ensure that a competency assessment form is sent to their instructor. If the instructor's assessment indicates that the student has acquired the necessary foundational skills with an outstanding rating, the student will be given the opportunity to take an advancement placement exam in the appropriate areas. Entering students are not assessed a fee for taking the advanced placement exams.
Typical CAD courses and CCD courses for which students may receive advance placement:
- CAD 120 AutoCAD- Comprehensive
- CCD 103 Technical Drawing I
- CCD 104 Detailing I
Newly enrolled students with completed course work from a vocational-technical school are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to ensure that a competency assessment form is sent to their instructor. If the instructor's assessment indicates that the student has acquired the necessary foundational skills with an outstanding rating, the student may qualify for advanced placement credit.
Typical WEL courses for which students may receive advance placement:
- WEL 113 Oxy-Fuel Welding and Cutting I
- WEL 114 Shielded Metal Arc I
- WEL 115 Oxy-Fuel Welding and Cutting II
- WEL 116 Shielded Metal Arc II
Newly enrolled students with completed course work from a vocational-technical school are encouraged to contact the Admissions Office to ensure that a competency assessment form is sent to their instructor. If the instructor's assessment indicates that the student has acquired the necessary foundational skills with an outstanding rating, the student may qualify for advanced placement credit.
Typical MTT courses for which students may receive advance placement:
- MTT 118 Mill Applications
- MTT 119 Lathe Applications
Credit for Work/Life Experience
Contact the School of Industrial and Engineering Technologies for the necessary application. Along with the completed application, you must submit:
- a letter from your employer which outlines your job description, your daily activities, the number of hours you worked, and a statement indicating to what extent you have mastered the skills/competencies described in the course description (for the course for which you wish to receive credit);
- portfolio documentation (optional)
- A $50 non-refundable fee
A faculty committee will review all documentation and render a decision.
Additional Alternative Credit Information
Visit the College Alternative Credit FAQ Web page for general requirements and procedures.
Visit the College Alternative Credit FAQ Web page for general requirements and procedures about alternative credit at Penn College.
Alternative Credit
Can I earn course credit toward my degree if I have completed related classes at another institution?
You may qualify for credit. If the institution has a defined articulation agreement with Penn College, the course equivalencies will already be defined and the Admissions Office can make the additions.
If there is no articulation agreement in place for your institution or there are questions on courses to be evaluated, it will be necessary to arrange for an interview with the dean (or a designee) Bring a copy of our grade transcript and course syllabi to the interview. To make arrangements for an interview contact the school office – (570) 327-4520.
Can I receive course credit based on my work experience in the field of electronics and computer engineering technology, civil engineering and surveying technology or computer aided drafting technology?
You may qualify to receive course credit for work experience. The procedure for making this determination is as follows:
- The student contacts the electronics or civil engineering department head to schedule an informal interview with the faculty member responsible for the course for which credit is being sought. During the interview the student is asked to explain his/her credentials or relevant background.
- The student is than asked to take a test representative of the material which is taught in the course. The type and complexity of the test varies by course and faculty member. The test can be oral or written in nature depending on the course. Performance criteria may be also be established in lieu of a written or oral test.
If the student successfully completes both phases, he/she is granted course credit. It should be noted that the faculty member who is evaluating the student may deny the credit request after the initial interview if insufficient knowledge of the material is suspected. It is solely the student’s responsibility to prove that he/she possesses appropriate knowledge of the course material.
There is an application fee charged for each course you wish reviewed. This fee is to be paid in advance of the review process and is not refundable, even if credit is not granted.
Can I receive course credit based on my work experience in the fields of welding, plastics, or machining/automated manufacturing?
You may qualify to receive course credit for work experience. The procedure for making this determination is as follows:
- Ask your adviser or visit the school office for the necessary application form. This form is to be completed by your job supervisor and certifies the type and length of job experience.
- After a review your application materials, you may be asked to meet with the course instructor for an interview, complete a written test, and/or complete a hands-on test before credit may be recommended.
There is a fee charged for each course that you apply for credit. This fee is to be paid in advance of the review process. The fee is not refundable even if credit is not granted.
Advanced Placement
Can I apply for advanced placement toward my degree if I took related courses in high school?
Whether or not your high school participates in an advanced placement program, your high school vocational instructors can complete a competency assessment form detailing the pertinent skills you have gained in the high school electronics, welding, machining, or computer-aided design (CAD) classes. Penn College faculty will review this competency assessment form and recommend advanced placement accordingly. A copy of the competency assessment form can be obtained by contacting the Admissions Office. For students interested in a machining degree, the best way to gain credit is to graduate from a National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certified program. They provide certification on various machine shop skills. Depending on the number and type of certifications, you may receive credit for all or some of the basic machining courses.
Cisco/networking course work can allow for advanced placement if the student has obtained Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification or CompTIA Network+ certification. Contact the electronics and computer engineering technology department head for an interview. Bring copies of your certifications to the interview.
Do I qualify for advanced placement if I have completed courses related to my major in the military?
You may qualify for advanced placement. It will be necessary to arrange for an interview with the dean (or a designee) who will make a recommendation as to the appropriateness of the advanced placement. If you have an ACE transcript, bring a copy to the interview. To make arrangements for an interview contact the school office – (570) 327-4520.
