1. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
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Electrical Engineering Technology
Solving Today’s Problems for Industry

2. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
The mission of the Electrical Engineering Technology program is
to provide a quality education for its students and an outstanding
professional development environment for its faculty and students.
To accomplish this mission, the Department has set the following
educational objectives for its Electrical Engineering Technology
curriculum.
To prepare students to immediately contribute in the workplace upon graduation through
exposure to state of the art industrial equipment, internship experience and design project
experience.
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E To prepare students in the business of engineering technology through the understanding
of economic and business principles and effective project management techniques.
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To prepare students for the increasing computer requirements of industry through the use
of computing hardware and software throughout the technical curriculum.
To provide students with an appreciation for the ethical, legal and professional
obligations necessary to function effectively in a contemporary business environment.
To develop students’ communication skills to a level that they can present complex ideas
in a clear, logical and concise manner both orally and in writing.

3. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Program Description
The Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) program at
the University of Maine prepares students for professional
electrical engineering careers in industry. The program
E provides students with the theory and “hands-on” experience
E necessary for them to quickly become productive in their
T jobs after graduation. The EET program offers two distinct
paths to pursue the degree. These are the Electrical Option
and the Information Technology Option.

4. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Electrical Option
This option provides students with a traditional electrical
and electronic engineering curriculum with extra
concentration in subject areas that are particularly important
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to industry in the Northeast. These subject areas are: analog
E electronic design, integrated motion control, electrical
T machinery operation and microcomputer applications.
All courses in the program are taught in a way that includes
a strong component of practical applications, along with
basic theoretical concepts.

5. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Information Technology Option
An increasing industry demand for engineers with basic
electrical hardware knowledge along with advanced
E network communication and management skills has led to
E this option. This pathway requires students to take the
basic electrical courses during the first two years of the
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program and then branch to information technology
courses in the last two years of the program. The eight
information technology electives are taken in the areas of
information science, management information systems,
computer science and computer engineering.

6. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Engineering Technology Combines Engineering Theory
with Practical Industrial Management Principles
Regardless of option selection, the EET degree requires
students to gain an understanding of engineering
E management principles. Courses in engineering economics,
statistical process control and project management are
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required of all graduates. This highlights the program's focus
T on preparing graduates for entry into the work force upon
graduation. The program is constantly updated in response
to input from an Industrial Advisory Committee that has
representatives from manufacturing, power utilities, process
industries, data communications and electronics companies.

7. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Program Faculty
The faculty in the EET program focus upon teaching the
students. They all have significant industrial experience
and serve actively as consulting professional engineers when
E not teaching. Program faculty teach all classes and
E laboratories. Thus, students learn first-hand about current
industry trends and the latest engineering equipment.
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8. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Senior Design Experience
A very important part of the education of all EET students
is a Senior Design Project course that is taken during both
semesters of their senior year. Design projects are required
in most of the EET courses to prepare students for their
E capstone project. The Senior Design Project requires
E student teams to solve a design problem while utilizing
T good engineering design and reporting procedures.

9. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Concentration in Computer Engineering Technology
Students who wish to pursue the electrical option but still
gain some experience in computer and data networking
applications may pursue a concentration in computer
engineering technology. To achieve the concentration
E students are required to take 12 credits of approved
E courses offered by the computer engineering,
T information science and computer science departments
for their free and technical elective choices.

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Minor Options
The EET students can also enrich their academic experience
by completing minors that complement their program
E such as business administration, math, engineering
E entrepreneurship or pulp and paper technology.
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11. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Cooperative “Work Experience” Program Option
All EET students who have achieved sophomore status are
encouraged to participate in a well-established co-op
program that allows students to receive course credit while
gaining valuable experience with an industry of their choice.
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The department faculty work closely with key industrial
E partners to maintain cooperative education opportunities that
T are technically challenging and offer strong economic
benefits.

12. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the EET program fill a wide variety of
professional technical positions in industry. Typically, they
E take jobs that involve designing and manufacturing a product
E or operating a plant. EET graduates are the electrical back-
T bone of the manufacturing community and often manage
project and maintenance teams of electricians and engineers.
Their responsibilities lean toward design and production
rather than research.

13. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Scholarships
The program offers scholarships for outstanding students
majoring in Electrical Engineering Technology. In
addition, students can apply for scholarships through the
College of Engineering.
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14. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Questions and answers:
Where can I find employment? Just about anywhere a graduate wants
to live. Logically, there will be more opportunity in Portland than Fort Kent.
Graduates have gotten jobs all over the United States from Hawaii to
Florida, Maine to California.
What jobs can I get as a graduate of Electrical Engineering
Technology? There are numerous jobs in the manufacturing sector with
E equipment manufacturers, semiconductors, electronics, paper, power
E delivery and consulting firms servicing those industries. The most common
jobs are project engineer, electrical and instrumentation engineer, equipment
T engineer, field engineer and applications engineer.
What is the starting salary? Salaries depend on the location of the
employer. The Boston area pays more than Fort Kent. Starting salaries last
year ranged from $45,000 to $55,000.

15. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
Questions and answers:
Where do graduates work? Graduates work across the United States
though many choose to stay in Maine. They work in small towns and large
cities. Location is largely based on where manufacturing firms are located.
Graduates can generally work where ever they desire, in whatever size firm
they feel comfortable.
How hard is it to get jobs? The EET faculty have built a strong
network of contacts consisting of firms that typically hire our students. We
work with students personally to help place them in positions that fit their
E interests. Over the last several years, we have had an almost 100%
E placement rate within three months of graduation.
T How difficult is it to find summer jobs? With a little effort, students
can obtain summer positions with prospective employers the summer after
their second or third year in firms near their home. A typical student will
work as an electronics technician or update electrical drawings during their
first year. The summer after their third year they are assigned regular
engineering duties so they can get a feel for engineering careers with that
firm. A very high percentage of student internships lead to full time jobs
after graduation.

16. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
♦ Questions and Answers
♦ Will I be “small fish in a big pond” at the University of Maine?
The University of Maine has almost 10,000 students. As a result, the
University of Maine has a well-staffed medical facility, comfortable
dorms, large library, spacious concert center, numerous recreation
opportunities, nationally recognized sports teams (e.g., ice hockey),
free tutoring, and a friendly atmosphere. Situated within the University
E of Maine is a small, close-knit family of students that comprise
E Electrical Engineering Technology. The Electrical Engineering
T Technology program has approximately 80 students total. That is less
than most high school classes that students come from. The average
class size in an Electrical Engineering Technology class is about 19
students. The program is more like a one-room school house. With a
cadre of four full-time faculty, the faculty are able to work closely
with the students throughout the four-year program.

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♦ Can an EET graduate go to graduate school? Yes. While most
graduates grab the many of the lucrative offers made to them at
graduation, a few have gone on to earn a graduate degree. Most of the
graduates that have gone on to graduate school have pursued a Master
of Business Administration (MBA). Through a unique partnership
with the UMaine ECE program, strong students may pursue a master
of science in electrical engineering with minimal additional
E coursework.
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♦ Can an EET student get a professional engineering (PE) license?
T Yes. Many electrical engineering positions do not require a
professional engineering license, but most graduates pursue licensing
to enhance their career opportunities. Maine makes no distinction
between a regular engineering graduate and a technology graduate in
pursuing an engineering license.

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♦ Are the courses difficult? All engineering courses are difficult. Electrical
Engineering Technology courses are no exception. The difference with our
program is the exceptional access that students have to our faculty. While
some institutions may only have 1-2 hours available for students to see
faculty, we average 10-15 hours weekly. Students who put sufficient effort
into their studies generally perform well. There are tutoring services available.
Students with learning disabilities are provided with help and faculty provided
with instructions on how to help the student learn.
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♦ Who are the faculty?
There are four full-time faculty and one part-time faculty within the
Electrical Engineering Technology program. All our faculty are
licensed professional engineers. They are required to have both a
bachelors and masters degree in engineering to receive tenure. All
have several years of engineering practice before teaching in the
program.
E Scott Dunning specializes in power systems, electric machines, and
E energy efficiency.
T Paul Villeneuve specializes in analog circuit design, control systems and
robust instrumentation design.
Jude Pearse specializes in digital systems, microprocessor application
and project management.
Spider Williams specializes in digital circuit design and electric circuit
design.
Tom Christensen specializes in sequential motion control.

20. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
♦ Contact Information:
♦ Scott Dunning – (207)581-2349 Tom Christensen – (207)581-2717
♦ scott@eece.maine.edu thomas.christensen@umit.maine.edu
♦ Paul Villeneuve – (207)581-2271 Jude Pearse – (207)581-2346
♦ paul.villeneuve@umit.maine.edu jude.pearse@umit.maine.edu
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♦ Spider Williams – (207)581-3395
E ♦ spider@eece.maine.edu
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♦ School of Engineering Technology (207)581-2341
♦ 5711 Boardman Hall www.umaine.edu/set
♦ University of Maine (207)581-2113 fax
♦ Orono, Maine 04469

21. Helping to Forge Maine’s Future
The Electrical Engineering Technology
Program is anxious to help you meet
your educational goals!
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