Plastics Technology
Overview
Plastics technology programs prepare people to help engineers who develop plastics and polymers.Plastics technology programs prepare people to apply engineering principles to help plastics engineers. Students learn to design and test plastics. They also learn to maintain and repair equipment.
Plastics technology programs include topics such as:
- Principles of macromolecular chemistry
- Polymerization and plastic manufacturing processes and equipment
- Design and operational testing procedures
- Safety procedures
- Equipment maintenance and repair
- Applications to specific products
- Report writing
Schools
Several community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in plastics technology. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete.
A few colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in plastics technology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Automotive Engineering Technology
- Chemistry
- Composite Technology
- Engineering Technology, General
- Industrial Technology
- Manufacturing Technology
- Materials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Polymer and Plastics Engineering
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science and Programming
- English Composition
- Physics
- Trigonometry
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
An associate degree program in this field typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- Chemistry
- College Algebra and Trigonometry
- Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD)
- English Composition
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Manufacturing Processes
- Mold Design and Maintenance
- Plastic Processes
- Process Improvement
A bachelor's degree program often assumes that you have taken pre-algebra while in high school. It typically includes the other courses listed above, plus the following:
- Calculus
- Statistics
- Engineering Economics
- Engineering Physics
- Mechanics
- Fluid Mechanics
- Organic Chemistry
- Strength of Materials
- Polymer Analysis
- Polymer Synthesis
- Tooling for Plastics Processing
- Industrial Project Management
- Industrial Quality Assurance
Things to Know
Many jobs in this field require a lot of writing and clear communication. Taking writing and speaking courses will develop your communication skills.
With an associate degree, you can work as a technician in a manufacturing setting. You might run tests to make sure of the quality of the plastic being produced. With a bachelor's degree, you can work as an engineering technologist with engineers.
Schools
West Side Area
Western Washington University
- Plastics and Composites Engineering