Features Capitol's Technology degree fits the bill By Linda McCarty Capitol's Bachelor of Technology degree may be just what the doctor ordered for com panies in need of "hands on" engineers. "I feel technology students are very well prepared,"said James . Long, manager of the Manufac turing Engineering Signal Com ponents Division of AMP, Inc. Long, also the chairman of the Harrisburg Chapter of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, said that while other companies may put barriers around the technology degree, in his mind "there is no clear distinction bet ween the B.T. and the 8.5.M.E." in his field of work. In his work, which includes machine and tool design, manufacturing and industrial engineering, Long said he has found technology students have a more "hands on" type of education. However, there is a more distinct academic difference bet ween a technology degree and an engineering degree. According to Dr. William Welsh, Head of the Division of Science, Engineering and Technology, technology students are not required to take as much mathematics as students enrolled in engineering programs at University Park. University Park's engineering program is "more theoretical," said Welsh, as opposed to Capitol's program, which is "more applied with more laboratory work." Senior courses cover pretty much the same material, but the orientation is different, said Welsh. "Engineering programs are designed more to answer why things happen. We also answer why but also look at how and (Editor's note: This is the first of a series of articles analyzing Capitol's degree programs.) Terry Kelley, Engineering Lab Supervisor, demonstrates a large drill press in the Machine Lab where parts necessary for senior projects can be manufactured. what to do with it when you go to work," said Welsh. Senior technology students are required to build, design and demonstrate a project further, allowing them to actually apply theory learned in the classroom, he added. Welsh also said that indications from students who have graduated from the technology program are that they have had an easier time adapting to the world of work because they have ' a little better understanding of what the work the is like. Technology degrees, however, are not unique to Capitol. Accor ding to Welsh there were approx imately 8,000 technology degrees granted in 1982 nationwide, and Capitol Times Friday, March 16, 1984 Tender Aged Western Beef Lunch Meats and Cheese Fresh Sliced to Order *444 Ze s ietitieftrie . #1e40464,104 at ° AZ '4 Full variety in all departments Plus our famous In-store Bakery Middletown 101 South Union Street Hershey 731 Cherry Drive Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fox's Markets Visit Fox's Famous Deli *ea 94 1 ,64444 liet yaws, era *got 944-7486 Union Deposit Union Deposit Mall Page 8 Capitol's program was ranked third or fourth : But, said Coordinator of Career Planning and Placement Peg O'Hara, "From , day one we tell students we are not preparing them for graduate school, but for the world of work." But then how does the engineering world view the technology degree? "I've never had any of our programs questioned except technology," said O'Hara, "but that's because its so totally dif ferent. A lot of engineers have never heard of it even in this day and age." However, according to O'Hara other companies have thoroughly evaluated our technology program and said it is to be treated as any other engineering program in the country. Although a few technology graduates may have had difficulty obtaining jobs with companies not familiar with the degree, O'Hara said: "In the long run there is good reason for the technology pro gram. There are enough com panies who do recognize the degree to compensate:"
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