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Electronics Dept FAQ

North’s Electronics Department has five Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree programs. Our IT Department offers a related AAS degree program that requires multiple electronics courses.

Degrees:

  • Electronics Technology AAS
  • Electronics Engineering Technology AAS-T (a “limited” transfer degree)
  • Healthcare Technology Management/Biomedical Equipment Technology AAS
  • Industrial Power & Control AAS
  • Mechatronics AAS
  • IT-Controlled Electronics Systems AAS*

“Stackable” certificates are embedded in several of the AAS degree programs.  Students complete these certificates on their way to completing a degree.  

Certificates:

  • Aviation Electronics I: Wire Assembly
  • Aviation Electronics II: Electronics Technician 
  • Electronics Technology 
  • Industrial Automation & Electronic Controls
  • IT-Controlled Electronics Systems*

*This is an IT Department program

A stackable certificate is a college credential that is designed so that students have the option to “stack” on additional courses to deepen learning and complete a more advanced certificate or a degree. For instance, you may complete the Aviation Electronics I: Wire Assembly Certificate and then take additional classes to complete the Aviation Electronics II: Electronics Technician Certificate. You may continue taking classes, building onto those certificates, to complete the Electronics Technology AAS.

We specialize in “applied’ technician training programs. This means that we emphasize the hands-on application of learning. Electronics courses combine lectures with lab experience to ensure that students gain knowledge of theory as well as technical skills practiced with a variety of equipment. Students spend a substantial portion of their class meeting hours working in five well-outfitted electronics labs on campus. Electronics Department programs are designed to prepare graduates for the workplace. Knowledge and skills developed working in electronics labs are core to that preparation.

No, we do not offer virtual/online programs. We specialize in applied technician training with a substantial portion of learning taking place in our five electronics labs. With one exception, all electronics courses require in-person attendance on campus. EET 105 Introduction to Technology is our only fully online class. This 2-credit course is offered in the fall quarter. It is designed to help students determine which electronics program pathway best aligns with their career goals through an exploration of disciplines within the field of electronics and technologies related to electronic occupations. This course is required for most of our degrees and certificates. A course substitution may be considered for students who have a clearly defined program pathway or prior related experience and prefer to take an approved technical course in place of EET 105.

Most students begin by taking two courses that are common prerequisites for later electronics courses:

  • EET 109 Math for Circuit Analysis (5 credits)
  • EET 161 DC Principles of Electronics (5 credits)

Students who have limited or no previous experience with electronics and want to take a single class to assess their interest in electronics training are encouraged to take EET 161 DC Principles of Electronics. This course is the first in a series of lecture-lab courses designed for an in-depth study of electronics. Students gain practical, hands-on experience building circuits and can assess their level of interest more effectively. EET 109 Math for Circuit Analysis prepares students with the math foundation necessary to complete most electronics degree programs.

EET 105 Introduction to Technology is a 2-credit course offered in the fall quarter. It is designed to help students determine which electronics program pathway best aligns with their career goals through an exploration of disciplines within the field of electronics and technologies related to electronic occupations. A course substitution may be considered for students who have a clearly defined program pathway and prefer to take an approved technical course in place of EET 105.

Most electronics students identify a degree as their academic goal. The decision to pursue a certificate or a degree is based on each student’s respective goals. For optimal efficiency, students should work with the Electronics Department Navigator, or with an academic advisor, to build a plan. 

If shorter-term training is desired, students may focus on completing a stackable certificate, with the option to continue toward a more advanced certificate or degree, in the future. If a degree is the goal, then it is most efficient to build a plan early on that includes all required courses for that degree.

Each electronics course is offered either once, twice, or three times a year, and several courses must be completed in a particular sequence. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to work with the Electronics Navigator, or with an academic advisor, to build a plan.

Yes, you may attend full-time or part-time. 

  • Full-time: 12-20 credits per quarter
  • Part-time: fewer than 12 credits per quarter.

Full-time students will complete programs at a more rapid pace than their part-time peers. Working with the Electronics Navigator, or an advisor, is the best way to create a sustainable plan that considers your availability and goals.

Frequency

  • Most classes meet twice a week on Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs. 
  • A few “hybrid” courses meet once a week. Students in hybrid courses must complete work on their own, equivalent to a second weekly class meeting. 
  • There is only one electronics course that meets on Fridays, EET 106 Introduction to Soldering, a 1-credit course. This course meets the first four weeks of the quarter and then concludes early in the term.  Most electronics courses are 5 credits.
  • Each electronics course is offered once, twice, or three times per year. 
  • Annual schedule modifications may be necessary to adapt to enrollment trends.

Hours

  • Electronics classes tend to start in the late morning (10:30am or 11:00am), mid-afternoon (2:30 or 3:00pm) and evening (6:00pm). 
  • The most common electronics class meeting hours are: 11:00am-2:20pm, 2:30pm-5:50pm, and 6:00-9:20pm. Those hours include lecture and lab time.
  • We typically vary the hours for courses that are offered in multiple quarters. For example, a class may start at 2:30pm one quarter and then at 11:00am or 6:00pm when it is next offered.

Classes combine lecture time with hands-on (“applied”) lab time. This model is a core feature of all Electronics Department programs. For example, EET 161 DC Principles of Electronics, the first in a series of lecture-lab courses designed for an in-depth study of electronics will meet in a lecture classroom for the first 1 hr. 20 min. Following a 10-minute break, the class will resume in one of our electronics labs for the next 1 hr. 50 minutes. Some classes meet in an electronics lab for the full duration of class meeting hours.

Lecture and lab spaces are conveniently located in the same building on campus.
 

We accept rolling admissions which means that students may begin electronics program any quarter. A fall or winter quarter start is encouraged for optimal efficiency in scheduling the classes needed for your intended degree and/or certificate. Our recommended course sequencing is based on a fall quarter start; however, we have students begin electronics programs every quarter. 

Students should work with the Electronics Navigator to create an academic plan built around your start quarter and availability as well as course sequencing and the frequency with which each course is offered. If they have met the placement requirements, most students begin by taking two courses that are the common prerequisites for later electronics courses:

  • EET 109 Math for Circuit Analysis (5 credits)
  • EET 161 DC Principles of Electronics (5 credits)
     

Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees can usually be completed in 8 quarters, with full-time attendance. Certificate completion ranges from 3-5 quarters, with full-time attendance. If foundational math or English courses are needed, this may add to the time required to complete a program.

You may apply to North Seattle College at any time. Some college programs use a cohort model in which students must begin their program in a specified quarter, progress through the same classes with their program peers each quarter, and complete in the same final quarter. Electronics programs do not follow a cohort model. Our students begin any quarter and progress at a variable pace depending on the student’s availability, which program they select, and course availability. Although starting in the fall or winter quarter is optimal, students may begin any quarter.

Students apply to attend North Seattle College via the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges Online Admissions Application Portal.  Once you have been admitted to North and have received your 9-digit student ID number, it is time to activate your ID, determine math and English placement, get funding in place, and enroll in classes. Be sure to contact the Electronics Navigator for assistance.

We need to verify that you have met English and math placement requirements to enroll in electronics courses. Having placement requirements helps us to ensure we are setting students up for success. 

English

Placement into ENGL 98 Integrated Reading and Writing II or above is required 

Math

Placement into MATH 84 Algebra I or above is required. Students must place into Level 2 or higher using North’s Math Directed-Self Placement (DSP) tool. If foundational math is needed, students may complete MATH 81 Basic Math and are then eligible to begin electronics classes in the following quarter.

ESL (English as a Second Language)

Placement into ESL level 5A is required. ESL leveling systems vary among colleges.  Therefore, students coming from a different ESL program will need to work with North’s ESL team to determine their level.

Computer Knowledge

Beginner-level comfort using computers is needed to get started. At a minimum, students should know how to use email, how to save/rename/upload documents, and should have introductory experience using word processing documents or spreadsheets before beginning electronics classes.  Students who do not have this experience may take BUS 169 Using Computers in Business.

Reach out to the Electronics Navigator for assistance verifying placement. If applicable, providing unofficial transcripts from a previously attended college may be sufficient to verify placement.

Most of our degrees are designed to prepare students for the workforce and are not transfer degrees. 

The Electronics Engineering Technology AAS-T is a “limited” transfer degree designed specifically for transfer to the Electronics Engineering Technology Bachelor of Science (BS) program at Central Washington University (CWU) in Ellensburg, WA.  North’s EET AAS-T degree combines practical applied electronics courses with multiple calculus-based math and engineering physics courses preparing students for employment or to apply to CWU’s BS program.

Several of the courses required for the EET AAS-T are transferrable to other colleges and universities as well. Students who want to join the workforce quickly with a higher number of transferable courses may select this degree over other electronics program options. Students interested in potentially pursuing an engineering bachelor’s degree should talk with the Electronics Navigator about the EET AAS-T degree pathway and should investigate the Associate of Science (AS) Track 2, a DTA (Direct Transfer Agreement) pathway.

Possibly. To get started, send your unofficial transcript to the Electronics Navigator for an unofficial transcript review. Although an official transcript evaluation by the North’s Credentials Office is required to transfer in general education course requirements, we can give you an idea what we suspect will transfer in and discuss prior electronics courses that may align to our requirements.

Possibly. Students wanting to complete an associate degree to transfer directly into an engineering bachelor’s program have options. 

  • The Electronics Engineering Technology AAS-T is a limited transfer degree designed to prepare students for transfer to Central Washington University’s Electronics Engineering Technology BS. Talk with the Electronics Navigator to learn more. 
  • The Associate of Science (AS) Track 2 degree is designed for transfer to most Washington four-year colleges. The AS Track 2 program is not housed in the Electronics Department and does not require electronics courses. Contact Advising at North for assistance planning for the AS Track 2 degree.

Students who are unsure which program is best aligned with their interests are encouraged to contact the Electronics Navigator to discuss the differences.

It may be possible to receive credit for prior employment or military experience. 

The ideal way to receive credit for prior relevant experience is to match prior courses completed, as listed on a college transcript, to specific courses required for your intended electronics program. This is ideal because there is no added cost to the student.  Send your unofficial transcripts to the Electronics Navigator for review. If needed, she will connect you with electronics faculty to discuss your prior experience and electronics knowledge.   If we can identify fitting course substitutions, then we can award credit on a course-by-course basis.

If you have extensive relevant industry experience but have not completed courses at an accredited college or university, it may be possible to establish prior learning and award credit. There is a financial cost to the student, ranging from $100-$300 per class, to award credit for prior learning when there is no supporting college or military transcript of related coursework. Students seeking credit for work experience should contact the Electronics Navigator to request electronics course descriptions. Then, if there are courses that you believe match your existing knowledge gained through substantial work experience, we can connect you with faculty to discuss further and determine if a course equivalency exam to very knowledge may be needed.

Costs will vary by program, residency status, and financial aid eligibility. See the tuition rates table for the cost per credit. Additional costs include student fees, books, or other materials. Full-time electronics students can add $475 per quarter to their tuition cost when estimating the total program cost. 

Please note that this way of estimating does not include housing, food, or other basic needs expenses. Some classes require students to purchase or rent textbooks. Additional equipment, supplies, or software may be needed for some electronics courses, while others will require no additional materials cost.

You may be eligible for financial assistance. 

Students must work with funding experts at North to determine if they are eligible for funding for tuition and related costs. We encourage students to begin by exploring two common funding sources:

Workforce Education – Complete the survey located under “How do I apply for Workforce Education funding?”  This survey is a pre-screening tool used to determine if you are eligible for Workforce Education grant funding. If the survey indicates that you are eligible, follow the instructions to complete the application. It may be possible to renew this funding in future quarters.

Financial Aid – Students complete the FAFSA or the WASFA (directions here). The Financial Aid web page explained how to determine which application form to complete - the FAFSA or the WASFA. Students who qualify for

Workforce Education funding must complete the FAFSA or WASFA before their second quarter to determine if they are eligible for other state or federal grant funding. If you need assistance completing the FAFSA or WASFA application, please schedule an appointment with the Financial Aid Office.
 

Students may apply for a Seattle Colleges Foundation Scholarship. Students submit one application to be considered for hundreds of different scholarships for the next academic year. Foundation scholarship applications are accepted, each year, beginning in February. The application remains open for about 2 months. 

Students may apply for other scholarships as well.

Electronics programs at North prepare students with core electronics skills and knowledge relevant across multiple workplace sectors. Students learn theory and gain practical application experience needed to secure “technician” roles in electronics occupations. Common job titles include:

  • Avionics Technician
  • Biomedical Equipment Technician
  • Calibration Technician
  • Control Systems Technician
  • Electronics Technician
  • Electronics Engineering Technician
  • Electro-Mechanical Technician
  • Field Service Technician
  • Industrial Maintenance Technician
  • Mechatronics Technician
  • Robotics Technician

Electronics students and graduates are employed in many workplace sectors including aerospace, power and control, healthcare, and manufacturing fields. Electronics technicians work with complex electronic systems that control machinery, automation, and modern manufacturing processes. 

Most workforce sectors and employment fields involve electronics. To learn more about which employers have hired electronics program students and graduates, contact the Electronics Department Navigator.

This varies according to the program you are completing.

Healthcare Technology Management/Biomedical Equipment Technology AAS 
Students in this program must complete a clinical engineering internship in a hospital,     medical facility, or with a medical equipment manufacturer. Typically completed in     students’ final program quarter.

Mechatronics AAS 
Students in this program may choose to either complete an internship or select two additional approved electronics courses in place of an internship. 

Technical Elective Credits
If you are completing a degree that requires technical elective credits you may choose to complete an internship to fulfill that credit requirement.

Other Details

  • Students must apply for and secure their own internship; support is available.
  • To receive credit for an internship, students are required to enroll in an electronics internship course that provides a structure for completing the academic requirements.
  • We commonly use the term “internship” when referencing both internships and externships.

We encourage electronics students to attend guest employer presentations and review employment and internship opportunities related to our training pathways, starting in our entry-level courses. Limited assistance with resume and interview preparation is available within the Electronics Department. Students are encouraged to work with the college’s embedded career specialist and to utilize WorkSource employment services for optimal preparation; both are resources located on campus in the Opportunity Center. 

Yes! To schedule a tour please contact Electronics Navigator, Julie Lyderson:

  • Email: Julie.Lyderson@seattlecolleges.edu 
  • Phone: 206-934-4609, please leave a clear email address, if available, so we can provide additional relevant details and schedule a visit.
     

Electronics Navigator, Julie Lyderson, can address questions and work with you to build an academic plan. For in-depth curriculum questions, Julie will connect you with faculty. Students should also consult the following resources for their intended program of study:

Program Planning Guides

The program planning guide for each of our degree and certificate programs includes a table listing all the required courses for that respective program.  Planning guides for each program are linked at the bottom of electronics programs webpages.

Pathway Maps

Pathway maps for each degree and certificate program list the courses needed as well as other tasks students should complete as they are preparing for and progressing through their program.

Guides and maps are useful tools.  However, all students are strongly encouraged to work with the Electronics Navigator, or with an advisor, to build an academic plan that aligns to a combination of variables including start quarter, full-time or part-time attendance, and intended credential. Please reach out to schedule an appointment.