Process Technology

Program Description

The mission of this program is to provide classroom instruction and practical shop experience to prepare students for employment in a variety of jobs in the field of Process Technology or to provide supplementary training for persons previously or currently in related process operations.

Accredited by ATMAE - The Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering

The program generally prepares individuals to monitor, operate, and maintain equipment used in the processing of raw material into marketable chemical/petrochemical products. Includes instruction in the following: material handling, crushing, grinding and sizing, extraction, distillation, evaporation, drying, absorption, heat transfer, cracking, and reaction processes. It also includes codes and standards, chemical and fire safety, and general plant operations.

Students in the Process Technology program enhance their skills through hands-on training with a variety of state-of-the-art equipment, such as an LNG training skid (shown above); Simtronics (Operator Training Simulator); glass labs for Distillation, Reaction, Wastewater, Deionized Water, and Extraction; and much more.

The program emphasizes safe and efficient work practices, basic occupational skills, and employability skills.

Random and For-Cause Drug Screening may occur for students enrolled in the Process Technology courses.

Degree Options

Process Tech-150699-AAS
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Cr Hrs
Semester 1
MATH 1100College Algebra303
PTEC 1010Introduction to Process Technology303
PTEC 2030Plant Safety, Health and Environmental303
ENGL 1010English Composition I303
Approved Computer Science Course303
15
Semester 2
CHEM 1010General Chemistry I303
CHEM 1011General Chemistry I Lab011
PTEC 1330Process Instrumentation202
PTEC1331Process Instrumentation Lab022
PTEC 1630Process Equipment202
PTEC1631Process Equipment Lab022
PTEC 2070Statistical Quality Control303
15
Semester 3
PTEC 2420Process Systems303
PTEC 2421Process Systems Lab011
Physical Science or Process Physics303
Physical Science Lab or Process Physics Lab011
Humanities303
History303
Social/Behavioral Science303
17
Semester 4
PTEC 2440Process Troubleshooting213
PTEC 2630Fluid Mechanics303
PTEC 2430Unit Operations202
PTEC 2431Unit Operations Lab022
PTEC 2911Campus Internship033
or
PTEC 2912Industrial Internship033
AAS – Process Technology (60)13
Total Clock Hours1140
Process Tech-150699-Diploma Certificate Options
Course No.Course TitleLectureLabTotal Credit Hrs
PTEC 1010Introduction to Process Technology303
PTEC 2030Plant Safety, Health, and Environmental303
PTEC 1330Process Instrumentation202
PTEC 1331Process Instrumentation Lab022
PTEC 1630Process Equipment202
PTEC 1631Process Equipment Lab022
PTEC 2070Statistical Quality Control303
Approved Computer Science303
CTS – Process Technology Support Technician (20)  20
PTEC 2420Process Systems303
PTEC 2421Process Systems Lab011
PTEC 2440Process Troubleshooting213
PTEC 2630Fluid Mechanics303
PTEC 2430Unit Operations202
PTEC 2431Unit Operations Lab022
PTEC 2911Campus Internship033
or
PTEC 2912Industrial Internship033
MATH 1100College Algebra303
CHEM 1010General Chemistry I303
CHEM 1011General Chemistry I Lab011
Physical Science or Process Physics303
Physical Science Lab or Process Physics Lab011
TD - Process Technology (48)48
Total Clock Hours915

The Process Technology (PTEC) Fast Track program is designed to help those with an Associate's degree or higher attain the Associates of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Process Technology within as little as one semester.

Program Design

  • The program is 16 weeks in length and takes place from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday.
  • The program cost (which includes tuition and fees) is approximately $7,186.40. The cost of books is approximately $1,100 if purchased new; however, books may be rented or purchased used.
    • The costs of the program are approximate costs and do not reflect any tuition increases that may occur but will remain consistent with the cost of tuition and fees at SOWELA Technical Community College.

The PTEC Fast Track program includes all of the Process Technology courses required for the AAS degree. Upon successful completion of all the courses offered in the program, the student will have earned 38 college credits toward their degree (60 credit hours total).

Minimum Requirements for Acceptance into the Fast Track PTEC Program

  • Must meet admission requirements.
  • Must have an Associate's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution
  • Minimum GPA of 2.7 from the most recent or highest degree earned
  • Military and industrial experience preferred as well as evidence of mechanical aptitude
  • Must have successfully completed or be enrolled in the remaining General Education courses required (22 hrs.) for the AAS degree in the semester prior to entering the program

Acceptance into the Program and Graduation

Applying to SOWELA
  • Interested applicants need to first apply to SOWELA Technical Community College with Process Technology (PTEC) as their major.
  • Submit the following items to the SOWELA Office of Admissions:
    • Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended - sent directly from the institutions.
      • Note that transcripts from all previously attended schools will be reviewed/evaluated and articulated following the same policy as all other transfer students.
    • Required immunization records.
    • Placement test scores - if applicable.

Being accepted to begin enrollment at SOWELA does not mean that the applicant is accepted into the PTEC Fast Track program.

Applying to PTEC Fast Track Program

Submit the items below by emailing information to pteccohort@sowela.edu

  • Cover letter explaining why the applicant feels that he/she is a good candidate for the PTEC Fast Track program
  • Resume
    • Must include degrees earned along with GPA
    • Must include associated/relevant work experience
  • Date applied to SOWELA Technical Community College
  • A copy of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
Application Deadline
  • Spring Cohort deadline - June 30th of the year prior to the Spring semester
Acceptance
  • Applicants that meet the minimum requirements will be ranked based on a predetermined rubric and will be awarded according to the available seats for each cohort.
  • The Support Coordinator will contact all applicants within one week following the deadline for application submission.
  • Process Technology Fast Track Acceptance Policy (PDF)

In the event that openings have not been filled for the Fast Track program, the Dean of the School of Industrial Technology reserves the right to consider applicants who did not meet the initial deadlines and GPA requirements. All applicants considered must meet the degree requirement.

Upcoming Cohorts

Upon acceptance into the program, the student will be responsible for ensuring that the remaining general education courses (22 credit hours) have been taken or the student is enrolled in the remaining classes in the semester prior to starting the program.

  • Each applicant that is accepted into the program may have varying and specific remaining general education courses that will be needed in order to graduate with the AAS in Process Technology.
Funding
Refunds and Withdrawals

Refunds and withdrawals will be in accordance with the SOWELA Technical Community College traditional semester refund and withdrawal process.

Unsuccessful Course Attempts

If a student does not successfully complete a course, that student will be allowed to continue in the program if the course that was failed is not a prerequisite to any remaining courses. The Process Technology Program Coordinator or the Dean of the School of Industrial Technology will decide whether or not to allow the student to continue.

Financial Aid

Please note that students with a Bachelor's degree are no longer eligible for Pell grant funding.

Graduation

To successfully complete the Process Technology Fast Track program, students must meet SOWELA Technical Community College's requirements for graduation.

In the event that openings have not been filled for the Fast Track program, the Dean of the School of Industrial Technology reserves the right to consider applicants who did not meet the initial deadlines and GPA requirements. All applicants considered must meet the degree requirement.

Graduation Requirements

  • All graduating students within the School of Industrial Technology (INDT) are required to do the following to fulfill graduation requirements:
  • All graduating students must also meet the institution's Graduation Requirements.

Program Information

CIP Code: 150699

Program Type: Associate of Applied Science

Program Length: 67 Semester Credit Hours

Program Resources

Awards Per Highest Degree/Certificate Earned
YearAAS Level% AAS LevelDiploma Level% Diploma LevelCTS Level% CTS LevelTCA Level% TCA LevelGrand Total% Grand TotalEnrollment
2018-201911320.55%10.18%6712.18%8515.45%26648.36%550
2017-201814222.36%20.31%9915.59%14222.36%38560.63%635
2016-201717122.29%0.00%8811.47%18924.64%44858.41%767

Contact Information

Richard Louviere

Program Coordinator

richard.louviere@sowela.edu

(337) 421-6595 ext. 4420

Pattie Duhon

Support Coordinator

pattie.duhon@sowela.edu

(337) 421-6979