Building Automation Engineering Technology

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)
building automation student

About this program

From HVAC to elevators and lighting, nearly everything in modern buildings can be controlled with the tap of a button. Learn how to design, setup, and manage the technology that makes it all happen. With this dual-degree option, coursework begins with your area of focus and is paired with automation-specific training.

Next steps...

You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.

100+

Individual Work Stations

92

Employers Attended Recent Career Fair to Recruit Students from this Program

100%

Overall Placement

Careers

  • Engineering specialist
  • Applications engineer
  • Project engineer
  • Field engineer
  • Systems specialist
  • Service technician/engineer

 

Courses

At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.

​​Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.

  • Directed Building Automation Technology Electives (BBT)
  • HVAC Elective (HVE) or
  • Electrical Electives (EEL)
  • Building Automation Industry (BBT209)
  • Direct Digital Control of HVACR Equipment (BBT304)
  • Electric, Pneumatic & Electronic Control Systems (BBT344)
  • Building Automation Industry Internship (BBT310)
  • Building Control Networks I (BBT407)
  • Building Commissioning & Recommissioning (BBT412)
  • Building Automation Programming (BBT414)
  • Senior Seminar-Lecture (BBT495)
  • Integrated Building Operation & Energy Management (BBT415)
  • Building Control Networks II (BBT417)
  • Senior Seminar-Lab (BBT496)

​Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.

  • Physics Survey (PHS103) or
  • Physics with Technological Applications (PHS114)
  • Core Social Science Perspective (SSP)
  • Science Elective (SCI) or
  • Science Elective with lab (SCL)
  • Core Global & Cultural Diversity Perspective (CDP)
  • Core Historical Perspective (HIP)
  • Core Arts Perspective (ARP)

​​Foundations are the practical, intellectual, and social skills: communication, collaboration, critical and ethical thinking, quantitative thinking, and technological literacy that are crucial to every student at every stage of education and at every stage of life.

  • Information, Technology & Society (CSC124) or
  • Engineering, Technology & Society (EET124)
  • College Algebra & Trigonometry I (MTH181)
  • English Composition I (ENL111)
  • Technical & Professional Communication (ENL201) or
  • English Composition II (ENL121)
  • College Algebra & Trigonometry II (MTH183) or
  • Statistics for STEM Fields with Computer Applications (MTH161)
  • Fundamentals of Speech (SPC101)
Dual Degree

When entering into the Building Automation Engineering Technology major you'll delcare a dual degree in one of our seven areas. In four years, you’ll take home an associate’s in your chosen major plus a bachelor’s in Building Automation Engineering Technology.

Alumni Feature
Work-life balance is beautiful in Alaska

Work-life balance is beautiful in Alaska

When 2010 grad Brian Watkins is working, he oversees Honeywell’s Alaska branch, coordinating the systems that control comfort, efficiency and security of buildings throughout the Last Frontier. Off the clock, he treks the state’s vast outdoors, recording his adventures for popular hunting magazines.

Read Brian's Story

Maker Profiles
Featured Video

Electrical Labs Transformed

Check out the recently revamped electrical labs filled with new equipment and individual work stations for students.

Featured Video

Building Automation

Skilled technicians and engineers who can design and repair automated systems are in high demand. With state-of-the-art-labs, a cutting-edge curriculum, small class sizes, hands-on learning, and awesome internships, it’s no surprise that 82% of our Building Automation students are hired before graduation day!

Tour Schedule

Seeing is believing.

Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.

Apr 7

Undergraduate Open House

Sunday, April 7 8:30 AM - 3 PM

More tour dates are on the way.

But let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Need a different date?

Let's customize a tour for you now. Call, chat, or email for options.

Contact

Admissions Office

Facilities

Lab Tour

Meet Instructor and Penn College alumni Todd Woodling. He'll explain the high points and differences between the three unique electrical associate-degree programs and the bachelor-degree program. And check out the dedicated, individual lab spaces, some of which are being remodeled.

Building Automation Lab
Facilities

Building Automation Lab

Get hands-on experience in specialized labs using industry-standard equipment and software just like you’ll see in the real world. Students work with Tridium’s N4 software along with JACE-8000 controllers, Distech Eclypse controllers, Schneider Electric wall mounted controllers, and Schneider Electric S-Flex VFDs. Plus, every student has an individual lab station and controllers.

Industry Partners

Work with experts to become an expert

Penn College's strong corporate partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.

Automated Logic
Honeywell
Schneider Electric
Distech Controls
Tridium Logo
Trane Logo
Siemens
Careers

The demand is real

Real world ready

Real world ready

Building automation is a growing field. See for yourself what employers are saying at our recent job fair.  

Check it out

Student Life

Lead and put your skills to the test

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE)

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers Inc. (ASHRAE)

ASHRAE is an international technical society dedicated to improving the quality of life through the advancement of technology related to heating, refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation.

SkillsUSA Champions at Work

SkillsUSA Champions at Work

Participation in SkillsUSA gives students a chance to compete in more than 80 national competitions. 

Student Organizations at Penn College

Student Organizations at Penn College

Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.

Penn College News
03.01.2024

Construction management firm visits architecture, HVAC classes

Two Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. employees visited classes recently in architecture and heating, ventilation & air conditioning engineering technology to introduce students to career paths with the company’s virtual design & construction operations group. That team constructs buildings virtually before they are built physically, explained 2011 construction management alumnus Sean Scully, who is a project manager for Whiting-Turner, and Brandon Hurlburt, a VDC manager for the company.

01.05.2024

Industry blog again benefits from HVAC faculty member's know-how

An associate professor of HVAC technology at Penn College has again contributed to the HVAC Classes blog, this time considering "What Are the HVAC Industry's Priorities in 2024?" “The HVAC industry’s top priorities for 2024 will bring interesting challenges,” department head Jason W. Killinger says. "As always, the HVAC industry will embrace, adapt and overcome these challenges."

10.28.2023

HVAC department head lends insight to industry blog

An associate professor of HVAC technology at Penn College has contributed to the HVAC Classes blog, sharing his expertise on meeting the demand for a well-educated workforce. “The HVAC industry will continue to advance in response to environmental concerns, technological advancements and changing customer expectations, providing opportunities for those who are prepared to change and grow with it,” department head Jason W. Killinger says in "How to Expand & Support the HVAC Workforce."

Gain global experience
Study Abroad

Gain global experience

See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.

Learn More

Internship

Your knowledge in practice

Internships are key for career preparation. Apply your know-how in the workplace and learn about the industry first-hand. 

Learn More
More Information

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)
Current students enrolled in any of the above associate degrees who desire to earn a bachelor’s degree in Building Automation Engineering Technology must declare a dual degree with this major. Established dual degree requirements must be satisfied.

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.

View general transfer information

Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.

Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.

  • Mr. Henry Barusevicius, '21, Journeyman Electrician, HB Electric
  • Mr. James E Beamer, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
  • Mr. Jayce Bell, Senior Controls Engineering Manager, First Quality Products
  • Mr. Kelly C Betz, Vice President, Martz Technologies, Inc.
  • Mr. Aaron S Deck, '05, '07, Manager, Plant Maintenance Planning and Reliability, Keallanova
  • Mr. Jason K Embick, '03, Special Projects Coordinator, NSSC, Pennsylvania College of Technology
  • Mr. Duval J Frederich, PMP, '14, '16, Project Manager, AME, Inc.
  • Mr. Gary Gable, '74, President, Paul Gable & Sons Electric, Inc.
  • Mr. Jay Gable, '02, Vice President, Paul Gable & Sons Electrical Contractors
  • Mr Carl Gravely, '06, '08, Senior Engineer/Estimator, Honeywell International, Inc.
  • Mr. Brion Harlan, '88, Owner, Bower Electric
  • Mr. Ross M Hoffman, '07, Systems Specialist Supervisor, Automated Logic
  • Mr. Alexander Holbrook, Product Manager, PPL Corp
  • Mr. David Kranz, Owner/Electrical Inspector, Kranz Inspection Service
  • Mr. David M Leberfinger, Electrical Engineer, Tenney Environmental
  • Mr. Brandon Shoemaker, Electrical Engineer, Dyco Inc.
  • Mr. Christopher T Walsh, Vice President, Human Resources, Pritchett Controls, Inc.
  • Mr. Mathew J Younes, '07, '09, Field Engineer, NRG Controls North
  • Career Fair Connections

    Career Fair Connections

    Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies. 

    Learn More About Career Fair