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Chemical Process Operator

Chemical Process Operator

A.A.S. Degree (S)

The Chemical Process Operator curriculum prepares students for employment in industrial plants in the chemical, petroleum, polymer, and pharmaceutical industry. The chemical industry throughout the state has a great need for trained chemical operators to adjust and optimize conditions for the production of large quantities of products in local chemical plants and pilot plants. Graduates are readily employed by these local plants at competitive salaries. The program provides a practical education in the various aspects of plant operations such as hands-on training in process operations and control, regulatory compliance, and preventive maintenance skills. Laboratory facilities include not only standard lab equipment, but also modern instrumentation in pilot plant technology and computer simulations.

Program Graduate Competencies

The Program Graduate Competencies listed below identify the major learning goals related to your specific program of study and identify the knowledge and skills you will have when you graduate to be successful in your chosen field.

  1. Maintain safety, health, and environmental standards during simulation exercises or in a chemical plant.
  2. Handle, store, and transport chemical materials according to all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
  3. Apply chemical process and quality systems in a simulated chemical process environment or a chemical plant.
  4. Operate, monitor, control, and troubleshoot batch and continuous chemical processes.
  5. Analyze samples of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products in a simulated chemical process environment or a chemical plant.
  6. Perform routine, predictive, and preventive maintenance and service to process equipment and instrumentation.
  7. Use computers or computerized equipment for communications and chemical process control.

Core Curriculum Competencies

The Core Curriculum Competencies listed below identify what you will be able to do as a graduate, regardless of your program of study. You will acquire these core competencies through general education courses and program-specific coursework. You will be expected to use relevant technology to achieve these outcomes:

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Graduation Requirements

General Education

ENG 101Composition I

3
ENG 102Composition II

3
MAT 183Reasoning with Functions I

5
SSC 100First Year Seminar

1

Select 2 course(s) from:

ECO 111Macroeconomics

3
POL 111Political Science

3
PSY 121General Psychology

3
SOC 111Sociology

3

Program/Major Concentration

CHM 110General Chemistry

4
CIS 107Introduction to Computers/Application

3
CPO 100Introduction to Chemical Process Operator Technician

3
CPO 125Safety, Health & Environment

3
CPO 135Chem Proc Tech-Equipment

3
CPO 151Chemical Process Tech I-Systems

4
CPO 240Quality

3
CPO 252Chemical Process Tech II-Operations

4
CPO 253Process Troubleshooting

4
CPO 260Work Experience

4
ELC 101Introduction to Instrumentation

3
ELC 270Process Instrumentation I

4
PHY 111Conceptual Physics

4

Suggested Pathway to Graduation (Course Sequence Sheet)

Semester 1

SSC 100First Year Seminar

1
CPO 100Introduction to Chemical Process Operator Technician

3
CPO 135Chem Proc Tech-Equipment

3
CIS 107Introduction to Computers/Application

3
MAT 183Reasoning with Functions I

5
CHM 110General Chemistry

4

Semester 2

CPO 125Safety, Health & Environment

3
ELC 101Introduction to Instrumentation

3
ENG 101Composition I

3
PHY 111Conceptual Physics

4
CPO 151Chemical Process Tech I-Systems

4

Semester 3

ENG 102Composition II

3
ELC 270Process Instrumentation I

4
Elective Social Science Elective

3
CPO 252Chemical Process Tech II-Operations

4

Semester 4

CPO 240Quality

3
CPO 253Process Troubleshooting

4
CPO 260Work Experience

4
Elective Social Science Elective

3

Approved Electives

Select two (2) social science electives.

POL 111Political Science

3
PSY 121General Psychology

3
ECO 111Macroeconomics

3
SOC 111Sociology

3

To complete program requirements, you must pass the above courses and earn at least 64 credits. The number of courses and credits required for graduation may be more depending on college readiness and the elective courses offered in your program major (if electives are a part of the program).

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