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Computer Engineering Technology (CPET) Degree Program


Curriculum for students entering program in 2008-09.

Specific Admission Requirements

The Computer Engineering Technology Program at NHTI, Concord's Community College has graduated successful students since 1986. Great reasons to choose the CPET program include:

CPET Pie Chart
Each CPET graduate leaves with all 4 pieces of the pie

Four pieces of the pie for each CPET graduate, Programming, Networking, Continuing Education and Internet

Studying on campus * This program is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (TAC/ABET), 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202--Telephone (410) 347-7700

Mission Statement

The Department of Electronic & Computer Engineering Technology is committed to providing a broad base quality education and experience in the area of electronic and computer engineering technologies. The department shall guide the students in achieving their full potentials personally and professionally and contribute on a continuous basis towards the growing needs of the community.
Department Goals:

We as a department demonstrate high standards and take particular pride in our teaching pedagogy and continually assess with keen sensitivity the learning process that is in place.

We make sure that our class room instruction meets the needs of our students and attracts student interest. As a department we are aware of the fact that no longer can we engage in a mode of teaching which may result in half of our class performing below the average.

Thus our faculty is engaged in going beyond the formal class room instructions, we are empowering the students so that they are actively engaged in the process of learning. We, as role models, are involved in creating a culture of high standards and giving a new meaning to learning, that of life long learning.

Complete a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology
through new Dual Admission Program with UNH-Manchester

In July of 2002, NHTI and UNH-Manchester signed a "Dual Admission Agreement" enabling students interested in preparing for careers in the growing fields of computer, mechanical, manufacturing, and electronic and Broadband communication networking technology to be admitted jointly to both NHTI and UNH-Manchester. After earning requirements an associate degree at NHTI in one of these majors, students will automatically begin studies for their baccalaureate degree at UNH-Manchester without having to complete a separate application. The dual admission process also allows for faculty and advisors at both institutions to work with the students throughout their college experience, making the transition from NHTI to UNH-Manchester a seamless process.

More information on the "2 plus 2" Educational Path to Bachelor’s Degree Technology Fields.

For more information, contact NHTI Admissions Office at or (603) 271-7134, or UNH-Manchester Admissions, (603) 641-4150 or view the informational brochure (PDF or Printed Copy).

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader linkThe documents located above are available for downloading and printing in Portable Document Format (PDF). To view and print these PDF files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader which is free and available for downloading by clicking on this icon.

Meet the Faculty

Sterling Hough, Department Head, CPET/EET Sterling Hough, Department Head Computer Engineering Technology and Electronic Engineering Technology

Professor Hough earned an Associate of Science in Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) from NHTI in 1973 followed by a Bachelor of Science in EET from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and a Master of Science in Computer Engineering also from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. After almost 30 years with AT&T Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies developing telecommunication products, Professor Hough joined the NHTI faculty in 2001 in the EET/CPET department and became department head of the CPET/EET departments in 2005.

Lynn Darnell, Professor EET/CPET Lynn Darnell, Professor EET/CPET

Professor Lynn Darnell has ten years experience in the field and has taught in the EET/CPET program at NHTI for over twenty years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Ocean Engineering. You are most likely to encounter Professor Darnell in the Digital Electronics courses (EL115 or EL/CP215) or in Linear Electronics courses (EL110 & EL210)

William French, Associate Professor EET/CPET William French, Associate Professor EET/CPET

Associate Professor William French has 30 years' experience as an engineer, product manager and engineering manager in the telecommunications and computer industries, prior to joining NHTI as an Adjunct Professor in 2003. He has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. Professor French teaches Embedded Microprocessors (EL144), Advanced Topics in Electronics (EL251) , Senior Design Project ( EL305 & EL306) as well as analog and digital electronics courses.

Terrance Simkin, CPET Terrance Simkin, Professor CPET

Professor Terrance Simkin is a Microsoft Certified Professional with Visual C++ Windows programming. He has over 20 years of teaching programming languages, algorithms and data structures, multithreading techniques, hardware interfacing, data communication and operating systems. Professor Simkin wrote his first program in 1965. Currently he is teaching a number of languages including Visual C++, Visual Basic, C# and Java.

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CPET Curriculum

Curriculum for Students entering program 2005-2006.

CL - Numbers in the CL column below designate the number of lecture/classroom hours per week for the course
LAB - Numbers in the LAB column below designate the number of simulation laboratory, laboratory or clinical hours per week for the course
CR - Numbers in the CR column below designate the number of credit hours for the course

Course NumberCourse TitleCLLABCR
FIRST YEAR
Fall Semester
# CP 107 Introduction to Programming
with C++		 2 3 3
# EL 101 Electric Circuits 3 3 4
# EL 115 Digital Fundamentals2 3 3
  EN 101 English Composition 4 0 4
 MT 133 Elementary Functions 40 4
 18
Spring Semester
# CP 235 Algorithms with Object
Oriented Programming 		3 3 4
# EL 144 Embedded Microsystems3 3 4
  EN 125 Communication and the Literature
of Science and Technology		 3 0 3
  MT 134 Pre-Calculus 4 0 4
  PH 133 Physics I: Mechanics, Heat 3 2 4
 19
SECOND YEAR
Fall Semester
# CP 240 Programming for Windows
Operating Systems 		3 3 4
# CP 260 Computer Real Time Interfacing 3 3 4
# CP 301 Computer Project Definition 1 0 1
 MT 205 Calculus I 4 0 4
 PH 135Physics II: Light, Sound, Electricity3 2 4
  XX xxx Social Science Elective* 3-4 0 3-4
 19-20
Spring Semester
# CP 215 Integrated Circuits and Interfacing3 3 4
# CP 222 Data Communications and Internetworking3 3 4
# CP 252 Networking and Internet
Technologies 		3 3 4
# CP 303 Computer Project 1 4 3
  XX xxx Humanities/Fine Arts/Foreign Language Elective30 3
  18
TOTAL CREDITS 74-75
The degree of Associate in Science in Engineering Technology with a major in Computer Engineering Technology will be awarded upon successful completion of the program. A 3-year version of this program is available. Contact the Department Head for details.

Please Note: EL 244 Embedded Microcomputers may be substituted for CP 112. EL 226 Digital Electronics may be substituted for CP 108. MT 206 is an additional calculus course recommended for those students planning to further their education.

# Indicates major field courses.
* Any course with a prefix of AN, EO, HI, PS, PY or SO (except HI 104 and HI 105).

A 3-year version of this program is available. Contact the Department Head for details.

Internship Considerations


The college must ensure that individuals (customers, employees, etc.) at internship and service learning sites are not adversely affected by students during learning experiences. Therefore, students participating in internship and field experiences must demonstrate the emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment, accept direction and guidance from a supervisor or faculty member and establish rapport and maintain sensitive interpersonal relationships with employees, customers and clients.

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Networking and Internet Technologies

CPET graduates are prepared to work as networking administrators and coordinators as well as web designers and web programmers. Our philosophy at the Associate degree level is to educate for today and tomorrow, and not just train students for the current job market. Students will gain a solid foundation of concepts and hands on practical experience that will enable them to prepare for specialization and specialized certification.

Some concepts covered in lecture are:

Hands on lab activities and assignments include:

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Two students by the pond

Programming Languages

Directly below you will find the programming languages learned and used in the CPET program.  You will also find below the listing of languages a review of programming techniques taught and mastered:

Programming Languages:

C++ language
C++ is the initial language learned in the CPET program. C++ is a programming industry standard and provides an "industrial strength" starting basis. C++ has the most flexibility of any language with regard to types of applications developed.

C# with .Net
C# with the dot Net Framework is the newest of the major programming languages.  Microsoft has created this new language and framework to best meet the needs of web page and web services development.  This is the most powerful language and the most fun programming language of them all.  You will create major projects, including the most adaptable and capable web pages available.

Java
Java is a major language which arrived in the mid 90's. Java is very C++ like so students can quickly apply it to web related applets and graphical applications. Java allows only "Object Oriented Programming" concepts. Thus it makes a good environment to learn OOP, which is the standard for programming techniques in the industry today.

Visual Basic
Visual Basic is an easy language to learn! By the time you undertake the study of Visual Basic it will be most likely your third or fourth language. You will learn it very rapidly and become an advanced VB programmer quickly. The major application of Visual Basic is in the field of data base interfacing, which you will learn. You will also explore many advanced features.

Visual C++
In the "food chain" of programming environments, programmers writing Windows programs with Visual C++ are the highest paid! The Window applications written in Visual C++ are faster, smaller and more flexible in application than those written in Visual Basic.

Assembly language
Several billion microcomputers and microcontrollers are built and sold each year by such giants as Intel and Motorola. These are the hidden computers in cars to make the engines work, microwave ovens, in medical equipment, etc. Someone needs to program them! Learning assembly language also will provide you with basic fundamental knowledge about programming that will assist you in writing almost any other language.

Relay Ladder Logic language
Hidden in almost every manufacturing machine, robot and process control system is an industrial computer called a "Programmable Logic Controller." The language used by PLCs is Relay Ladder Logic. Not only is RLL a marketable skill to learn, but it provides the fundamentals of the programming technique called "multithreading." Multithreading is the ability of a computer program to do several things at the same time. This multithreading technique is then used in the CPET courses using Java and C++. A web server program with capabilities to handle many clients contacting the web site is a good example of multithreading in action.

Web related, HTML, CGI, etc.
Internet technology provides the field for the fastest evolving programming environment today. Languages seem to appear overnight! At this point in your programming career you are literally able to learn a language and apply it to a project as needed to solve a problem. This is what happens out in the "real world" of programming. Several of the most current languages will be utilized in CPET courses related to the internet.

Programming Techniques:

The CPET programming curriculum includes four major programming techniques:

Chatting on campus

Structured
Structured programming should be a major building block in the learning process of programming.  Structured programming techniques will be used in the initial programming course.  The CPET program uses an industrial standard language, C++, as a means to introduce this concept.  Structured programming utilizes the modularization of the code into functions (also called methods).  Each function can be called upon to take some action.  During the calling process, data can be sent to the function to assist in the process.  The function when complete returns control of the program back to the program location where the function was invoked.

Upon returning data again can be passed.  Design of the application code development is dependent on this concept.  These designing techniques are used in the real world of commercial programming

Object Oriented
The world of commercial programming has shifted almost totally to Object Oriented Programming.  The concept of Object Oriented Programming (OOP) represents the single most important technique learned and used in the CPET program.  The programming language Java is used as the initial introduction to OOP.  Java is completely object oriented.  OOP combines methods and data into reusable modules called objects. These objects cooperate with each other to make up a program.  OOP allows for teams of programmers to work efficiently on a large program.   Then the OOP techniques are applied in the C++, Visual Basic and Visual C++ languages.  The ability to design and program based on the use of objects is a highly desired job skill.

Event driven
In a graphical user environment, clicking a mouse pointer on a button is an example of an event.  Events created by the user or the operating system are the main driving force of graphical interfaces such as Microsoft Windows and Sun Java.  The programmer might have a dozen buttons, check boxes, radio knobs, or text boxes that the user can select.  The code must respond to the selected event but the program has no means to know which will be selected ahead of time.  Knowing the fundamentals of event programming which is introduced in Java better prepares a programmer to understand and utilize events in other languages like Visual Basic and Visual C++.

Multithreaded
The technique of multithreading is the ability to have a single program handle more than one thing happening at a time.  Most serious commercial applications are multithreaded.  For example, Microsoft Windows Explorer uses three threads of operation to allow the user to search and display the files on the drives. A web server that is multithreaded is another example in which several clients can contact the web server and a new thread is created to handle the needs of each caller. Multithreading has typically been reserved for upper level college courses.  However the CPET program, to better enable the student to function as a commercial level programmer, includes multithreading techniques in the curriculum.  

Both Relay Ladder Logic and Java are used to introduce multithreaded programming.  This technique is then applied to Visual Basic and Visual C++ courses.

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Continuing Education

Here are some very good reasons why the CPET degree at NHTI is a good place to start: Based on the CPET curriculum, a graduate has the ability to step into many prestigious universities or colleges with full Junior status - depending upon the school and the major. The CPET accreditation by TAC/ABET (Technology Accreditation Commission/Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.) assures transferability to any other TAC/ABET accredited school (almost 1000 technically based schools in the United States). NHTI has a number of transfer agreements with other colleges. The list includes:

In the past, about one half of our CPET graduates directly entered a four year degree program the following fall, with the other half opting to go to work. With the expansion of the Internet into businesses and the unprecedented increased demand for programmers in all computer-related fields, many of our graduates are now faced with the pleasant prospect of choosing a company that will also pay their tuition toward the four year degree while they attend part time in the evening or on weekends. Starting salaries for our graduates are extremely good, but most students will start working on their next degree within a few years of graduation from NHTI. It is said of computers and technology that "the more you know in this field, the more you realize that you don't know." A two year degree is an excellent start and a good job afterwards is something to look forward to, but the learning and the opportunities expand with each additional topic learned and degree earned. Though it may not seem too important to a prospective student facing two years of our program to think about what happens after NHTI, it is really a very important decision to make. If a program is new or is not accredited, or it doesn't have a past history of accomplishment, prospective students need to consider what happens when they want to attend a four year school in the future. Will any courses be transferable? Do they literally have to start all over again? Be sure to ask those questions when interviewing or visiting colleges.

What our Graduates Say

Charles W. Greely, Graduate NHTI CPET Progam Charles W. Greeley
Managing Member
Digital Data Xperts, LLC.
NHTI Class of 1997
CPET

     "I believe the education I received at NHTI is a key ingredient of my professional success. I'm a 1997 CPET graduate. I found the core courses to be very challenging and rewarding. Most of the instructors have in the past or are currently working in the technology industry and know what it takes to succeed in the real world.
     I have worked with many Computer/Electrical Engineers with 4 year degrees that have never seen the inside of a computer or even hooked up a small network.
     The CPET program gives the student a good balance of hardware and software knowledge. The successful student will have a firm understanding of some of the finer points of how hardware and software must communicate in a real world environment.
     I own and operate a computer and network service company. I specialize in computer and network support for small businesses. One of the reasons for our success is our ability to diagnose and repair hardware and software problems. Most companies will only do one or the other."

Richard LaPlante, Graduate NHTI CPET/EET Progam Richard LaPlante
Sr. Project Manager
Dumont Associates
NHTI Class of 1993

     "My time at NHTI was the most rewarding and self-fulfilling of my life. After earning a CPET degree, I went on to receive my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. However, 90% of what I use everyday in my job I learned at NHTI. I am not speaking strictly of the factual knowledge I gained but also of the analytical skills to overcome everyday technical challenges. The faculty works hard to stay current and deliver to each graduate a skill set that is state-of-the-art. I have stayed involved as a member of the CPET/ET Joint Advisory Committee and have witnessed how dedicated the faculty and staff are to fulfilling the school mission statement. I would highly recommend that anyone, at any age, who is interested in computer technology take advantage of this excellent resource. I enthusiastically say that as a final educational step to a career or as a stepping stone to further education there is no better return on your educational investment of time and money than at NHTI in the CPET program."

Revised May 30, 2008
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