Venango College of Clarion University offers a concentration in Natural Gas Technology within its Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology (AAS-IT) degree in partnership with Precision Manufacturing Institute (PMI) in Meadville.
The unique 19-month program prepares students for a wide range of entry-level employment opportunities in the growing fields of natural gas and Marcellus Shale-related industries, with the added value of providing the educational foundation for upward career mobility or further education. Students earn transcripted university credit for technical as well as general education courses and graduate with a Clarion University associate degree. In this way, graduates will have an advantage over other job applicants in this increasingly competitive employment environment.
19-month program offerings begin periodically, and times of technical courses at PMI vary to accommodate students' schedules.
Technical Curriculum
INDT 299: Introduction to the Natural Gas Industry (1 Credit) Covers industry terminology and the topics that are important for a novice to understand: how oil & gas is found and how it is extracted from the ground and the various processes used to move it to storage and on to the final product.
INDT 299: Industrial Safety (5 Credits) Introduces a variety of topics related to the natural gas industry, including confined space, Hydrogen Sulfide Hazards, Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), Hazard Communication Program, Hazards Material, Personal Protective Equipment, Fall Protection and Walking-Working Surfaces, Rigging, Respiratory Protection, Fire Protection, Electrical Safety, Process Safety Management and Welding Safety.
INDT 299: Principles of Mechanics (5 credits) Introduces the mechanical skills necessary in industrial facilities and includes an overview of engines and mechanical drive systems.
INDT 299: Instrumentation & Controls (1 credit) Surveys industrial process control instrumentation concepts, devices, and systems. Topics include process control devices and process control applications associated with industrial instrumentation. Upon completion students should be able to demonstrate basic understanding of the various industrial process control and instrumentation systems.
INDT 299: Electrical and Preventative Maintenance (5 credits) Introduces the theory of maintenance and the skills necessary to maintain equipment used in industrial facilities. Topics include maintenance theory, predictive and preventative maintenance, electrical/mechanical equipment operations and maintenance, and maintenance documentation. Upon completion students should be able to perform maintenance on electrical/mechanical equipment in industrial facilities.
INDT 299: Programmable Logic Controllers (6 credits) Covers industrial programmable controllers and program writing including, but not limited to, basic relay logic programming, program control instructions, sequence instructions, data manipulation, math instructions, program editing and troubleshooting.
INDT 299: Maintenance Welding (3 credits) Covers the principles and procedures necessary for maintenance welding in the field.
INDT 299: Industrial Fluid Power (4 credits) Covers the basic principles of fluid science, component operation, circuit design, and applications. Hydraulic components include fixed pumps, cylinders, motors, flow control valves, pressure-compensated flow control valves, pressure control valves, gages, flow meters, directional control valves, check valves, and accumulators. Pneumatic components include cylinders, motors flow control valves, pressure regulators, gages, flow meters, check valves, and directional control valves.
General Education Courses
ENG 111: Writing II (3 credits) Emphasizes the development of critical thinking through analytical and argumentative writing.
MATH 112: Excursions in Math (3 credits) Acquaints students with the nature and scope of modern mathematics and its applications. Emphasizes concepts and understanding rather than acquisition of techniques.
CIS 217: Application of Microcomputers (3 credits) Introduces the basic concepts of microcomputers and software applications.
PHSC 112: Basic Physical Science (3 credits) Intended for students not majoring in the sciences or mathematics, and does not presume any prior familiarity with the subject. Science and math majors will not receive credit for this course. Discusses the nucleus of the atom and radioactivity, fundamentals of electricity and simple circuits, and descriptive astronomy. Integrates experiments with the subject matter to develop theory from an experimental basis. Uses the Planetarium extensively in conjunction with the section in astronomy.
ECON 211: Principles of Macroeconomics (3 credits) Introduction to macroeconomics, national income analysis, money and banking, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, unemployment, and international finance.
CMST 113: Public Speaking (3 credits) Introduces the long tradition of public speaking, examines the role of public speaking in a multicultural world, applies the principles of research, organization, and delivery to preparation and presentation of speeches, presents techniques students can use to combat stage fright, teaches applications of listening and critical thinking skills, and provides coaching for delivering a minimum of three in-class speeches designed for a variety of contexts.
HPE 111: Health & Wellness (2 credits) Focuses on wellness and health promotion. Emphasizes healthy behaviors in each of the five "Dimensions of Health" (mental, physical, social, emotional, environmental). Stresses skills and application of health knowledge for optimum wellness and disease prevention.
MGMT 120: Intro to Business (3 credits) Introduces/surveys the philosophical and historical background of business institutions. Emphasizes the full range of business functions as it relates to the overall framework of society.
MGMT 320: Management Theory and Practice (3 credits) Focuses on the development of management thought and its application. Includes planning, organizing, controlling, decision-making, motivation, leadership, work groups, and organizational change and development. Considers the domestic and international environments and changing societal values.
BSAD 240: Legal Environment I (3 credits) Surveys law and society. Orients students to the judicial systems of the United States and the legal remedies and mechanisms at their disposal. Compares and contrasts both civil and equitable court functions through the illustrations of common law contracts, torts, criminal law, property law, and the administration of decedents' estates.
INDT 301: Issues in Industrial Technology (3 credits) This capstone course to the Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Technology degree will prepare students for the career opportunities that exist upon graduation. Students will apply technical writing and present oral technical reports as they conduct research in the field of industrial technology. Problem solving activities related to industrial situations will be presented and analyzed, as well as current topics in industrial technology.
