Sustainable Construction and Design AAS Degree Courses

Students will be introduced to basic residential construction safety, history, terminology, materials, and basic construction techniques. This course will cover basic information and develop manual skills needed to begin construction of a new home.

The Construction Safety course will provide students with the requirements and expectations required to work safely in the numerous occupations of the construction industry. The course will introduce students to the national OSHA safety standards for General Construction and upon their completion of this course will receive the OSHA 10 hour General Construction certification.

The concrete theory course will provide students with a basic understanding of concrete, and its relationship to residential construction.

The Site Layout & Blueprint Reading course will train students to interpret and use site plans and other working drawings. Students will learn how to interpret construction symbols and building specifications. Students will develop site layouts for various projects utilizing lasers, builder’s levels, and transits using site plans and other working drawings.

The Construction Technology Laboratory course offers students the opportunity to further develop their skills with hand and power tool operations and to devote more time to hands-on construction projects while improving their skill competencies.

The Concrete Lab course will provide students with hands-on experience in estimating, ordering, forming, working, and finishing concrete.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-130.

The Framing Techniques and Lab 1 course will introduce students to the methods used to layout wall lines and plates, measure and cut all required parts, and assemble a floor deck, walls, roof/ceiling, and stair framing with an emphasis on air sealing and advanced framing techniques.

Students will learn building science principles and methods to determine how thermal energy transfer, air infiltration and exfiltration, internal and external air pressures, moisture migration, and durable design strategies apply to today's residential design and construction industry.

This course is designed to present basic facts of arithmetic including whole numbers, fractions, decimals, powers, roots, English and metric measurement, ratio-proportion, percents, introduction to algebra, introduction to geometry, and applied statistics. Instruction includes use of scientific hand-held calculators and emphasis placed on critical thinking, problem solving skills.

This course will serve as a review and preparation for the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Level One Carpentry objectives and performance tasks as defined by NCCER. This will include level one necessary skills for the trade.

Prerequisite(s): CON-102

The Construction Technology Lab 2 course will provide students with the opportunity to utilize the knowledge gained in previous construction courses with hands-on applications to construction projects. This course will reinforce construction competencies in applied mathematics, site layout, blue print reading, framing, exterior finishing, and building science.

Prerequisite(s): CON-133.

This course will present the various materials used for residential exterior finishes. Topics will include insulated sheathing, building wraps, drainage planes, shingles, soffits, venting, windows, and exterior doors. Emphasis will be on sustainable construction techniques and building science principles.

The Utility Equipment Operations Course will introduce students to the machines used in the residential construction industry when working in close proximity to buildings, underground utilities and job-sites with limited operational space. Pre-operation inspections, methods of loading and securing equipment for transport and safe operations will also be discussed.

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in CON-108.

Human Relations is the study of self and social behavior. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and application of social science theories and research for the development of effective interpersonal and organizational relationships.

This course provides an introduction to the study of behavior and mental processes with emphasis in such areas as learning, cognition, motivation, personality, behavioral disorder, therapy, and social influence. An understanding of the impact of both theoretical perspectives and experimental evidence on the formulation of the science of human behavior is also stressed. Psychological theories and principles are utilized to explain and predict behavior.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course surveys the basic principles, concepts, and research findings of social life from small groups to societies. The course examines a range of sociological explanations for the various forms of social behaviors and establishes a basis for reflection and further study in the field.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course introduces students to the oral communication process and how it affects human interaction There will be an emphasis on developing interpersonal, small group, and public speaking skills. Students will be involved in activities that provide opportunity for the understanding and improvement of their oral communication skills.

This course studies the fundamentals of public speaking, emphasizing the process of speech preparation and delivery in various contexts.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course provides students with opportunities to gain on-the-job experience in the construction industry. Students will gain an understanding of the qualities and skills needed to be successful in the construction industry. Coordination and guidance will be provided by Department Instructors.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-102

An introductory survey course which provides an overview of the major functions in business with relation to current social, economic, global, and environmental concerns.

The CAD SoftPlan course will introduce students to an object-based CAD program and the process involved in generating a complete set of residential working drawings. Emphasis will be placed on setting up a drawing, using file management, organizing architectural information, paying attention to detail, converting sketches to CAD, modifying CAD drawings, and applying problem solving skills.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-102.

In the Methods of Interior Finishing course, students will discuss the theory and history of the residential interior system. The lab portion of this course will focus on gypsum wallboard installation, taping, finishing, texturing, and painting. The gypsum wallboard work will be followed by the installation of pre-hung door units, casing, base molding, custom trim, closet finishes, hardware, and cabinetry. Universal Design and a focus on indoor air quality will be stressed. Custom interior finish packages may be included.

This course will utilize resource efficient advanced framing methods that stress energy efficiency and sustainable design. The "Whole Systems Approach" to residential design and construction will be teamed with Universal Design principles and Optimum Value Engineering techniques.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-201.

This course builds upon concepts learned in CON-302 Building Science. Students will focus on applying advanced building science concepts to actual design applications.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-302, MAT-772, or equivalent placement score.

The Construction Technology Lab 3 course will provide students with the opportunity to utilize the knowledge they have gained in their previous construction courses with hands-on applications to construction projects. This course will require that students use their knowledge of construction codes and construction documents and computer aided drafting to provide detailed drawings adhering to the International Energy Conservation Code and Universal Design Principles.

Prerequisite(s): CON-146

The Utility Equipment Operations Course will allow students to operate machines used in the residential construction industry when working in close proximity to buildings, underground utilities and job-sites with limited operational space. Pre-operation inspections, methods of loading and securing equipment for transport and safe operations will also be discussed.

Prerequisite(s): Minimum grade of C in HEQ-190.

The Softplan 2 Course will introduce students to advanced Softplan skills involved in generating a complete set of residential working drawings. Emphasis will be placed on advance organization of architectural information, attention to detail, modifying CAD drawings, and applying problem-solving skills.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CAD-200.

This course focuses on applying the writing process to job application materials and workplace-related written communication.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in ENG-060 or appropriate placement score.

Composition I emphasizes fluency, thesis-driven organization, the use of supporting details, and research techniques. Writing is approached as a recursive process that includes prewriting strategies, drafting, revising, and editing. The course helps students shape writing to serve readers' needs and define a sense of purpose in their writing. It also gives students strategies for reading college-level material.

Lecture Hours: 48

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate placement scores or equivalent.

This course is designed to assist students in developing the skills necessary to obtain employment and to learn and practice the skills and attitudes required for job success. Students will practice resume writing, job application completion, and interviewing techniques. Additionally, students will practice workplace problem solving strategies, and demonstrate skills required to work in a diverse environment.

Lecture Hours: 48

This course includes the 30-Hour Construction Outreach Program as outlined by the OSHA Voluntary Outreach Program. Areas of study include General Safety and Health Provisions, Occupational Health and Environmental Controls (HAZCOM), job site safety, training requirements and an overview of the 1926 Standards (OSHA rules),with emphasis on developing, implementing and maintaining a comprehensive safety and health program.

The Construction Estimating and Project Management course will link construction estimating with project management and scheduling.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-510.

The Construction Technology Lab 4 course will provide students with the opportunity to utilize the knowledge they have gained in their previous construction, energy, building science, and design courses with hands-on applications to construction projects. This course will require students to use their knowledge of sustainable construction principles; adhering to the International Energy Conservation Code and Universal Design principles.

Minimum grade of C in CON-510

The Residential Energy Auditing course covers residential energy auditing and associated heating and air-conditioning equipment. The concepts of heat flow, energy audit software, building science, building envelope diagnostics, construction practices, material costs, moisture concerns, proper insulation and air sealing techniques, energy pricing, energy modeling, and residential HVAC systems. Equipment selection, layout, piping techniques, troubleshooting, codes, preventive maintenance, diagnostics, multiple systems, and accessories are also covered.

The Manual J and Manual D Residential HVAC Design course will provide students with the necessary skills to analyze a building's heating and cooling loads and design appropriate ductwork systems. Students will begin the process using manual worksheets and then finish by using Manual J and Manual D software programs.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C in CON-102.

This course will prepare the student for College Algebra and Trigonometry or other equivalent course work. Topics include properties of real numbers, linear and quadratic equations, graphs of polynomial functions, systems of equations, polynomial and rational expressions, inequalities, integral and rational exponents, radicals, and complex numbers.

This is a one semester, liberal arts mathematics course that satisfies the minimum general education requirement for math. The course is designed to impart math skills which are helpful in everyday life as well as to expose students to areas of mathematics they may not have seen before. Topics include problem-solving skills, set theory, algebra, consumer mathematics, probability, and statistics. Other topics may be included.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of D- in MAT-063 or appropriate placement score.

This course provides an intensified study of algebraic techniques and prepares students for future study in mathematics. The central theme is the concept of functions, their properties, graphs and applications. Functions studied include polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in MAT-102 or equivalent placement score.

This one-semester pre-calculus course is intended for the student with a solid algebra background who intends to take calculus. It is also beneficial (but not required) for the student to have a background in trigonometry. The course will emphasize functions using an analytical, numerical, and graphical approach. The student will study linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions along with their applications.

Prerequisite(s): Appropriate Placement Test Scores: ACT Math Score of 25 OR Compass Score of 51-100 in the College Algebra Domain or 31-50 in the Trigonometry Domain.

The second course of a two-semester pre-calculus sequence. Topics include trigonometry and applications, vectors, analytic geometry, and polar and parametric equations.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in MAT-121 or equivalent placement score.

This course is a study of descriptive statistics including graphical representation, central tendency, correlation and regression, intuitive treatment of probability and inferential statistics including hypothesis testing.

Prerequisite(s): MAT-063.

The first in a calculus sequence, this course covers topics including functions and their graphs, limits, derivatives, applications of the derivative, and integrals.

Prerequisite(s): A minimum grade of C- in MAT-128 or MAT-134 or appropriate placement scores (ACT: 27; COMPASS TRIGONOMETRY: 51-100).