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Telecommunications Engineering Technology
Texas A&M University offers a telecommunications program, which includes
nine
required courses, to prepare undergraduate students for employment as
telecommunications analysts and engineering technologists in the non-broadcast
sector
of the telecommunications industry. This program, established in 1976,
covers voice and data communications as transmitted on LAN, WAN, and wireless
systems.
In addition, required electronic courses in the curriculum provide a strong
background
in computer hardware and C-language programming. All these topics are
taught with an
applications emphasis. A project management course as well as a Senior
Project is also required.
Technical writing, in the form of reports and term papers, is an
integral part of most of the courses. Several courses also entail oral
and PowerPoint presentations.
Students who complete the 4-year requirement of the telecommunications
program
receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology. Their
interests are
typically in the applications of telecommunications to solve current industry
problems,
and they commonly start with a position of "telecommunication analyst".
The
Telecommunications Engineering Technology program is accredited by the
Technology
Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation board for Engineering and
Technology
(TAC/ABET). The students are allowed to sit for the Fundamental of Engineering
exam in their Senior year and can in later years take the Professional
Engineer (PE) exam.
Graduates are ready for entry level employment with companies which use
public and
private telecommunications systems, or which sell goods or services in
support of
telecommunications operations.
This Telecom program is the beneficiary of the Louise Merrick and Victor
Thompson Endowment. Most of the
equipment in the telecommunications laboratory has been donated by industry.
Recent
major equipment donations were made by Cisco Systems and Adtran. Scholarships
are
provided by Fort Bend Telephone, Ganado Telephone, Chevron-Texaco, and
the Independent
Telephone Pioneer Association. Involvement with industry is ongoing in
the
form of sponsored senior projects, guest lecturers, and an Industry Advisory
Committee (IAC).
A student chapter of IEEE-COMSOC is active in the ETID Department and
most telecom
students are members of COMSOC.
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