Overview
careers
Apprentice Electrician
Residential Electrician
Industrial Electrician
Estimator
The Electrical Construction and Maintenance program at Mitchell Technical College is designed to provide basic training in maintenance and new construction wiring—in both residential and commercial buildings. The program emphasizes a combination of theory and practical application necessary for successful employment. Additional coursework includes fiber optic and data cabling as well as programmable logic controls.
The program begins with a review of basic math as it relates to the electrical trade and an introduction to hand tools, materials, basic electrical resistive theory, wire sizing, circuit construction and troubleshooting. The program continues with basic through advanced motor controls, motor theory and maintenance, installation and maintenance of equipment, blueprint reading, estimating, electrical codes and instruction in job-seeking skills.
The successful student in this program will demonstrate a variety of skills and abilities including manual dexterity, arm-hand steadiness and multi-limb coordination; visual color discrimination and near vision; reasoning, information ordering and problem-solving; and communication with supervisors, peers and subordinates. In addition, students must be able to perform general physical activities like climbing, lifting, walking, stooping and handling materials and must be able to climb a 6-foot ladder.
Apprentice electrical jobs in residential, commercial and industrial areas are open to Mitchell Tech graduates. Positions are available with electrical contractors and maintenance companies and with regional substations and utility companies. Incoming students are licensed as apprentice electricians in South Dakota. Upon completion of the Electrical Construction and Maintenance program, a Mitchell Tech graduate receives 2,000 hours towards certification as a journeyman with a South Dakota electrician’s license.
Graduates will receive one year’s experience credit allowance for a Class A journeyman electrician, power limited technician, or maintenance electrician license in the state of Minnesota, or apprentice credit by the state of Iowa. Talk with a Mitchell Tech ECM instructor for more information.
Curriculum
Award: AAS Degree
First Semester
AC/DC electricity and its characteristics. A study of the basic components used in various electrical systems.
4 creditsElectrical blueprints. Current flow through circuits are studied using wiring diagrams and cable overlays. Work is conducted on wiring projects in student labs and project houses.
4 creditsHands-on study of AC/DC electricity behavior. Study of the NEC pertaining to general and residential wiring. Perform residential wiring tasks, including wiring of lab projects and complete wiring of project homes.
5 creditsAn overview of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards focusing on hazard recognition and injury and illness prevention. The 10-hour construction program is intended to provide entry-level construction workers with awareness of hazards in and around the construction work site. Emphasis is placed on recognition and prevention and helps create a culture of safety. Upon successful completion the student will receive OSHA 10 certification.
1 creditProvides a foundation for gaining the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for college success. Students will learn to make a successful transition to higher education by setting up a pattern of success that will last the rest of their lives. Students will define goals and develop thinking skills, learning strategies and personal qualities essential to both academic and career success. Please note: Students who have served active military duty (excluding basic training and AIT) may be exempt from the Student Success course. Student must provide a copy of DD214 or other official military documentation to the registrar for verification.
1 creditSecond Semester
Basic wiring systems used in commercial and industrial fields as well as related code construction regulations. Calculation of motor branch circuits, feeder circuits and protective devices required by the NEC. Motor overload protection and wiring methods are discussed. Equipment design and the use of electrical equipment are explored. Prerequisites: ECM 101, ECM 151.
3 creditsHome electrical systems using state and national wiring codes and regulations. Circuit-by-circuit review of unique electrical items and wiring methods installed in a home. Prerequisite: ECM 121.
3 creditsFormulas used in conduit bending. Application of the formulas is used with electrical metallic tubing (EMT) hand benders. Then the different types of conduit bends are installed on practice surfaces.
2 creditsContinuation of ECM 151. Basic wiring practices and methods used in residential settings are introduced. Install 100 and 200 amp breaker panels. Students work with a variety of cable wiring methods. Also studied are different electrical heating and basic control systems for motors. Safe electrical practices in the electrical industry are taught. Prerequisites: ECM 101, ECM 121, ECM 151.
4 creditsOverview of computer applications with emphasis on e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation tools and Internet-based technology. This course will cover the Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams and cloud-based technologies such as GoogleDrive and OneDrive.
3 creditsThird Semester
High voltage systems, transformers and their connections. The relationship between the primary and secondary sides of transformers are studied along with equipment selection and utilization. Generation, transportation and grounding of singlephase and three-phase power.
1.5 creditsElectronic circuits and the operation of electronic components. Diodes, SCRs, triacs, JFETs, MOSFETs, UJTs and industrial electronic devices are studied. Electronic controls are introduced.
2 creditsContinuation of ECM 149. Practical wiring applications of commercial and industrial are presented. All types of conduit bending are taught including hydraulic bending. An advanced level of industrial conduit bending is demonstrated.
4 creditsStudy of mechanical and electromagnetic starters, timers, switches and other control devices. Start/stop controls for motors and other industrial equipment. Learn control logic systems with ladder and wiring diagrams. Study connections and troubleshoot various circuits. Corequisite: ECM 255.
3 creditsHands-on use of apparatus studied in ECM 252 and ECM 202. Projects range from basic circuitry to advanced circuits utilizing motor starters, pilot devices and timing devices. Corequisite: ECM 252.
1.5 creditsProgrammable logic control systems for the control of electrical components and equipment. Projects using solid state devices in commercial and industrial applications are completed.
3 creditsFourth Semester
A practical hands-on course using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters and multimeters in testing and troubleshooting electric motors, components and wiring systems. A study of single and three-phase AC motors, their construction features and operating characteristics. This lecture/lab class emphasizes electric motor terminology, identification of motor types, enclosures, mounts, motor selection, connections, maintenance, testing and troubleshooting.
2 creditsContinuation of ECM 122. Commercial and industrial installations are presented along with code-related regulations. Commercial service and feeder calculations. Commercial print reading and estimating.
2.5 creditsIdentification of transmission mediums (UTP, STP, COAX, FIBER, etc.). Voice, data and video systems are reviewed. ANSI/EIA/TIA standards; proper terminating, splicing and testing of Category 5e and 6 copper cables; as well as terminating and splicing of fiber optic cables are covered.
4 creditsOperation of the solid state components found in electric motor drives. Students will learn the different types of electric motor drives, drive operating principles, and advantages to different types of motor drives to make the best selection. The course covers procedures for installation, basic and advanced programming, and start-up procedures for electric drives and motors. Students will learn to establish troubleshooting procedures to ensure minimal downtime.
1 creditContinuation of ECM 252. Applications of control devices are reviewed. Photoelectric controls, PLC logic modules, sequential motor starting, troubleshooting, reduced-voltage startup, acceleration and deceleration methods are studied. Prerequisites: ECM 252, ECM 255. Corequisite: ECM 257.
2.5 creditsContinuation of ECM 255. Higher level experiments and practical applications of advanced industrial control circuitry are presented utilizing lab experiments and control equipment studied in ECM 253. Student tasks include designing, constructing, wiring and troubleshooting of the mechanical and/or PLC operated projects. Corequisite: ECM 253.
2 creditsContinuation of ECM 259. More capabilities and applications of solid state control systems are integrated with text and lab projects. Logic networks solving typical industrial control problems are developed and programmed into a variety of controllers. Prerequisite: ECM 259.
3.5 creditsThis course trains participants to provide first aid, CPR, and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Students must complete the hands-on skill session. This class is offered for credit as a Pass/No Pass course.
0.5 creditsRequirements
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
This program requires a laptop computer so that you can effectively integrate computing skills with your technical education. Many resources that instructors assign are online or require specialty software. To address these needs, Mitchell Tech requires that students entering this program purchase their laptops from Mitchell Tech. The cost for a Mitchell Tech laptop averages about $1,100 for this program. Please be aware that our machines come fully loaded with the software required for this program.
Whether it’s Microsoft Office, or a specialty software for a technical program, your needs will be met by your Mitchell Tech laptop. And our laptops are serviced for free by our Technology office. You will not be able to bring a laptop from home into a Mitchell Tech laptop program as we cannot provide support services for every make and model of laptop. Please consider this carefully before making any laptop purchase and check with the Admissions office for more details.
LICENSURE DISCLOSURE
Most states require electricians to be licensed through a combination of hours of experience, exams, and training. Incoming Mitchell Tech students are licensed as apprentice electricians in South Dakota. Upon completion of the Electrical Construction and Maintenance program, a Mitchell Tech graduate receives 2,000 hours towards their journeyman license in South Dakota. Mitchell Tech strongly encourages prospective students to verify that Mitchell Tech’s coursework will meet the educational or training requirements, if any, for licensure in the state they plan to work.
Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in Alaska, California.
Mitchell Technical College has made no determination that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
You may also contact Director of Admissions Heather Kulm (605.995.7342) for questions regarding licensure.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate competence in practicing safety always and recognizing and correcting potential hazards.
- Demonstrate competence in work attitude and attendance.
- Understand the behavior and principles that govern AC and DC electrical circuits.
- Demonstrate entry-level skills for accuracy in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical installations and maintenance services.
- Use the National Electrical Code to legally and safely install electrical installations with supervision.
- Install and troubleshoot basic motors and control systems.
Annual Program Review
Check out the 2023-24 Annual Program Review for information on how faculty ensure the quality and effectiveness of the program.
Faculty
Instructor
Instructor
Program Director / Instructor
Instructor
Cost
Other Required Costs
Laptop/Software | $1,150 |
Books / Tools (estimated) | $1,873 |
Scholarships
$1000
1 AVAIL.
Learn Your Trade Scholarship
Asmus Family
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
Must complete the MTC online scholarship application
$500
1 AVAIL.
Rod Bowar Memorial Scholarship
Kennebec Telephone Company
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
$750
1 AVAIL.
SD Municipal Electric Association Energy Production & Transmission Scholarship
SD Municipal Electric Association
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
$500
2 AVAIL.
Central Electric Cooperative Scholarship
Central Electric Cooperative
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Heating & Cooling
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
$1000
7 AVAIL.
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Natural Gas Technology
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Wind Turbine Technology
$1000
1 AVAIL.
South Dakota Assoc. of Cooperatives Scholarship
- About
- Eligibility
- Criteria
Agricultural Business
Agronomy
Animal Science
Business Management
Diesel Power – Ag Power Technology
Electrical Construction & Maintenance
Electrical Utilities & Substation Technology
Power Line Construction & Maintenance
Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies
Wind Turbine Technology