July 14-15, 2005

ITEM 128-2801-R0705  Approval of Proposal to Offer an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical Technology; Montana State University-Northern

THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Montana State University-Northern to award an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical Technology.

EXPLANATION: The proposed Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical Technology is designed to satisfy part of the training and instructional requirements of a traditional apprenticeship in the field. Because the proposed Electrical Technology degree was developed with the assistance of the Department of Labor and an electrical advisory board made up of independent and union electricians from the state of Montana, it is expected that students who complete the degree will satisfy two years of the four-year apprenticeship period required of licensed journeymen electricians.

Although the Electrical Technology degree will be a traditional on-site, face-to-face program, Montana State University-Northern also plans to develop distance delivery courses for apprentice candidates who need additional coursework or current electrical apprentices employed in the field.The proposed Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical Technology is designed to satisfy part of the training and instructional requirements of a traditional apprenticeship in electrical. Apprentices in Montana are currently required to complete a five-year training program, and over 200 hours of "traditional coursework" each year before they can sit for the licensure examinations. Currently, the training occurs on the job, and the coursework is provided by the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton. The proposed AAS degree in Electrical Technology at Montana State University-Northern will provide some of the training and some of the coursework mandated by apprenticeship standards. Because the proposed electrical degree was developed with the assistance of master electricians in Montana and the Montana Department of Labor, it is expected that students who complete the degree will satisfy two years of the five-year apprenticeship period required of licensed journeymen electricians.

Although the Electrical Technology degree will be a traditional on-site, face-to-face program, Montana State University-Northern also plans to develop distant courses for apprentice candidates who need additional coursework following graduation as part of their training and for current apprentices who are already employed in the field.