Plastics Engineering Technology, BS

Department of Engineering Technology, College of Sciences and Technology

135-139 credits

Introduction/What is the Study of Plastics Engineering Technology?

Students enrolled in Western’s Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) program study the structure and characteristics of polymers, manufacturing methods, product design fundamentals, and modern processing methods for composites and polymeric materials. The PET curriculum prepares graduates who understand and apply established scientific and engineering knowledge to support engineering activities in manufacturing environments. A plastics engineering technologist can be involved in the development, design analysis, planning, supervision or construction of the methods and equipment for the production of industrial or consumer goods in the plastics or composites industry. The Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) graduate will help to solve the complex problems associated with plastics or composites manufacturing operations. PET graduates work in teams with engineers, scientists and technicians to solve manufacturing related problems. Practical experience and applied research in design, tooling, processing, testing, analysis, and production is a crucial part of the program.

The Plastics Engineering Technology (PET) program prepares students for productive, professional careers in the plastics and composites industries. The technical curriculum is built upon a firm base of mathematics, physics, chemistry and materials science, and provides extensive coverage of polymeric and composite materials and processing methods. Practical experience and applied research in design, tooling, processing, testing, analysis and production is a crucial part of the curriculum that is provided in the program’s extensive and well-equipped laboratory facilities.

Students can expect to complete the program in four years by carrying 15-16 credits per quarter in a prescribed sequence of courses.

Why Consider a Plastics Engineering Technology Major? 

PET programs are less theoretical than engineering programs and are more applications or “hands-on” oriented. There are laboratory components to most PET courses where students learn to apply theoretical knowledge learned in the classroom to solve practical or application-based problems.

The Plastics Engineering Technology degree program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

How to Declare (Admission and Declaration Process):

Meet with a Department of Engineering Technology advisor to declare a Plastics Engineering Technology major. Admission to the Plastics Engineering Technology major is a two-phase process. When students initially declare, they are designated as pre-majors. Admission to full major status is determined by academic performance as a pre-major. See the department’s website for details, http://www.etec.wwu.edu/.

Grade Requirements

A grade of C- or better is required for a student’s major or minor courses, and supporting courses for majors and minors.