ECT Courses (Download PDF)
Course Plan
New students should register for First Semester Course. Continuing students should register for Second, Third, or Fourth Semester Courses.
Download the four-semester course plan for ECT students.
Physics for Building Science
(For High School Summer Program)
Course Number: ECT 1
Units: 4
Class: 3 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation MATH 200B or 201 or 210D Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in PHYS 99.
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Principles of physics relevant to environmental control technologies: Thermodynamics, electricity and power conversion, and properties of light; emphasis on laboratory applications and safe practices for working with chemicals, electrical devices, and compressed gases. 0946.00
AA/AS area 1
Fundamentals of Building Science
(For BAS Students)
Course Number: ECT 101
Units: 3
Class: 3 hours lecture (GR)
Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in ECT 101.
Prerequisite AT 201
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Principles of physics relevant to building’s indoor environment and its control Thermodynamics, uid mechanics, refrigeration cycles, electricity and energy conversion, and properties of light. Emphasis will be on the basic principles of physics and their application to building and their environmental control. 0946.00
Mechanical and Electrical Devices
Course Number: ECT 11
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Corequisite: ECT 13
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to fundamentals of electricity and electronics as applied to HVAC&R operations: Ohm’s law, power and electrical instruments, basic electrical AC and DC circuits, electrical and mechanical devices, and electrical and electronic controls. 0946.00
Blueprint Reading and Interpretation for ECT
Course Number: ECT 12
Units: 1.5
Class: 1.5 hours lecture
Corequisite: ECT 13
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Basic techniques for reading and interpreting typical design documents, drawings, and specifications: Emphasis on interpreting HVAC mechanical and electrical drawings, symbols and abbreviations. 0946.00
Fundamentals of Refrigeration
Course Number: ECT 13
Units: 4
Class: 3 hours lecture 3 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation: ECT 1
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Principles and processes of refrigeration systems: Thermodynamics, heat transfer, refrigeration cycle, types of systems and piping, energy efficiency, electrical and mechanical components, tools and instruments, brazing and soldering; methods for charging, recovering, and evacuating refrigerants; EPA laws and regulations, and safe handling of refrigerants. 0946.00
Advanced Refrigeration
Course Number: ECT 14
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 13
Recommended preparation: E/ET 202
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to more complex and detailed methods of investigating and servicing refrigeration system components: Heat pumps, low-temp defrost methods, evaporative condensers, capacity controls, multiplex and multistage systems. 0946.00
Refrigeration Equipment Troubleshooting
Course Number: ECT 15
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 14
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to troubleshooting practices on commercial refrigeration equipment: Electrical diagrams, service diagnostic procedures, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair, proper charging, leak testing, evacuating and recovering methods, including safety practices. 0946.00
Fundamentals of Residential and Light Commercial HVAC Systems
Course Number: ECT 16
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Corequisite: ECT 14
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning components and functions: Natural gas, propane gas, forced air, and hydronic equipment; emphasis on reading electrical diagrams, sequences of operation, mechanical principles of operation, and application and safety procedures. 0946.00
Residential and Light Commercial
HVAC Systems Troubleshooting
Course Number: ECT 17
Units: 1
Class: 0.5 hour lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Corequisite: ECT 16
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Troubleshooting heating and air conditioning equipment: Components and accessories and their relation to the functions of residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning; practical instruction on electrical diagrams, sequence of operation, service diagnosis procedures, and maintenance; special emphasis on safety procedures. 0946.00
HVAC Installation Practices
Course Number: ECT 18
Units: 1
Class: 0.5 hour lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation: ECT 16
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to practical applications of residential and light commercial HVAC systems: Proper procedures for sizing and installing electrical and mechanical devices, HVAC equipment, ventilation, filtration, flue pipes (flex, square and rigid duct pipes). 0946.00
Psychrometrics and Load Calculations
Course Number: ECT 19
Units: 2
Class: 2 hours lecture
Corequisite: ECT 22
Description: Analysis of the physical properties of air in refrigeration and air conditioning: Use of proper analytical instruments and manual load calculation, and software for calculating cooling and heating loads. 0946.00
Introduction to Direct Digital Controls
Course Number: ECT 21
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 11
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to direct digital control systems and building automation systems: Basic electricity and electronics and overview of the various approaches to system architecture, hardware, software, and system components. 0946.00
Commercial HVAC Systems
Course Number: ECT 22
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 16
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to the physical properties, interactive components, and methods for operating and controlling commercial HVAC systems: Thermodynamic principles of pressure, specific heat, specific volume, density and enthalpy; hydronic systems including boilers, chillers, cooling towers, water pumps, ventilation, filtration, air distribution, controls and instruments. 0946.00
HVAC System Design
Course Number: ECT 23
Units: 2
Class: 2 hours lecture
Prerequisite: ECT 22 and 214
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to concepts and principles for the design of commercial HVAC systems and system controls: All-air systems, all-water systems, and air-water systems. 0946.00
Commercial HVAC System Troubleshooting
Course Number: ECT 24
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 22
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to troubleshooting procedures for commercial HVAC systems: Methods used for repairing, servicing and installing electrical and mechanical devices, including ventilation, filtration, air distribution, and air and water treatment systems. 0946.00
Introduction to Building Commissioning
Course Number: ECT 25
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Corequisite: ECT 22
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to fundamentals of commissioning, re-commissioning, retro-commissioning, and mechanical and electrical building systems: Review of building equipment and building control systems and the commissioning, re-commissioning and retro-commissioning process. 0946.00
Advanced Building Commissioning
Course Number: ECT 26
Units: 3
Class: 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 25
Corequisite: ECT 29
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Advanced processes and applications of building commissioning, re-commissioning and retro-commissioning: Conceptual design through the construction process, acceptance testing, writing final commissioning reports, and training of building maintenance and operations personnel. 0946.00
Advanced Direct Digital Controls
Course Number: ECT 27
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 21
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to advanced concepts and operation of DDC controls: Input and output devices, programming strategies and translating sequence of operation documents for an HVAC system into an operations program for a DDC system. 0946.00
Energy Management and Efficiency in Building Systems
Course Number: ECT 28
Units: 2
Class: 2 hours lecture
Recommended preparation: ECT 16
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to technical and economic operating principles of electrical and mechanical devices for making cost-effective decisions and energy-efficient choices: Use of energy analysis software tools such as Energy+, Cal Arch, DOE 2, and others. 0946.00
Data Analysis for Performance Monitoring
Course Number: ECT 29
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 25
Corequisite: ECT 26
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to the methods of acquiring HVAC equipment performance data to improve operations and reduce energy consumption: Emphasis on data acquisition through the use of portable data loggers and DDC control systems; methods of trending and visualizing data through the use of electronic databases and spreadsheets such as Microsoft Excel. 0946.00
Introduction to DDC Hardware for
Building Automation Systems
Course Number: ECT 31
Units: 3
Class: 2.0 hour lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: E/ET 202 and ECT 214
Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in E/ET 31.
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to basic microprocessor/microcontroller operations: Analog and digital, input and output interfaces icroprocessor and microcontroller hard are and some simple process control software routines. Introduction to Programmable ogic Controllers (P Cs) 0946.00
Control Systems Design
Course Number: ECT 32
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 21
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to control systems documentation practices: HVAC system schematics, I/O tables, network diagrams, logic diagrams and other drawings. Use of Microsoft Visio and Auto CAD, and documentation of control sequences of operation. 0946.00
Control Systems Networking for Building Automation
Course Number: ECT 33
Units: 3
Class: 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory
Prerequisite(s): E/ET 37 or ECT 37
Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in E/ET 33.
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to global and local communication networks: Emphasis on design, installation and troubleshooting for building control systems using direct digital control systems. 0946.00
Control Routines for Energy Efficiency
Course Number: ECT 34
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Methods and practices for developing energy saving control routines: Energy efficient operating sequences for programming, testing, and troubleshooting; optimizing systems interactions; using metrics to drive sequences, fault detection diagnostics, and measurement and validation techniques. 0946.00
Control Systems Integration
Course Number: ECT 35
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 27
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to control system integration practices: Common open protocols such as BACNET, Modbus and Lonworks. Use of integration platforms such as Tridium Niagara, FieldBus device translators, and wireless protocol integration. Review of whole building systems integration strategies. 0946.00
Energy Issues, Policies, and Codes
Course Number: ECT 36
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Prerequisite: ECT 25
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to regional and global energy issues: Energy efficiency market sectors, impact of building energy use on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Overview of national and regional codes and policies regulating energy efficiency in buildings. 0946.00
Introduction to PC Hardware and Software for Building Technicians
Course Number: ECT 37
Units: 3
Class: 2.0 hours lecture, 3.0 hours laboratory
Not open for credit to students who have completed or are currently enrolled in E/ET 37.
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to computer hardware and software: Practical computer skills, including computer components and functions; basics of Windows competency and file structure system; Excel, Vision and databases; Internet protocols and Ethernet cabling basics. 0946.00
Measurement of Building Energy Efficiency
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Course Number: ECT 38
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hour lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation: ECT 28
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Quantitative study of typical residential energy conservation options: Introduction to elements of residential wood frame construction; testing and evaluation of strategies to optimize residential building envelope and systems efficiencies; introduction to residential energy analysis software. 0946.00
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Energy Auditing and Computer Analysis of Building Efficiency
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Course Number: ECT 39
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hour lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation: ECT 28 and 38
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Application of techniques and processes in residential energy auditing: Field analysis procedures; inventorying of governmental and utility incentives for energy conservation; use of ACCA Manual J design software, DOE2.2 and other related computer modeling software; verification and computer model results with data collected in the lab and field. 0946.00
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Introduction to Control Systems Networking
Course Number: ECT 40
Units: 1
Class: 1.0 hour lecture
Prerequisite: ECT 21
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Installation and use of common digital control-system networks: Practices for the installation of some of the standards, such as MS/TP, ARCNET, LONWORKS, Ethernet networks, etc.; benefits of each type of network and diagnosis of common network problems. 0946.00
Energy Audits for Commercial Buildings
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Course Number: ECT 41
Units: 3
Class: 2 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR)
Acceptable for credit: CSU
Description: Introduction to commercial building energy auditing for conservation and implementation of energy efficiency measures Energy Accounting and Analysis, Instrumentation, Economics and Decision making, eating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Audit, Lighting and Electrical Systems Audit, Utility Energy Audit, National Codes and Safety. 0946.00
(Currently Not Being Offered)
Selected Topics in Environmental
Control Technology
Course Number: ECT 48GA-MZ
Units: .5-9
Class: 0-9 hours lecture, 0-27 hours laboratory (GR)
Acceptable for credit: CSU
See section on Selected Topics. 0946.00
The Financial Case for Clean Energy
Course Number: ECT 203
Units: 2.5
Class: 2 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Recommended preparation: MATH 201, BUS 043B, BUS 219
Description: Introduction to financial principles and policies for energy efficiency and renewable energy: Financial analysis software to identify cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; effective sales strategies and presentation skills for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. 0946.00
Mechanical and Electrical Codes
Course Number: ECT 211
Units: 1.5
Class: 1.5 hours lecture
Recommended preparation: ECT 12
Description: Introduction to national, state and local regulations and standards that govern the design, installation and operation of air conditioning, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration systems: Code development process and its adoption and enforcement by local building authorities. 0946.00
Testing, Adjusting and Balancing HVAC Systems
Course Number: ECT 212
Units: 2
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory
Description: Introduction to theory and practice necessary to properly test, adjust and balance HVAC systems: Air and water systems, and instruments used to properly balance the systems. 0946.00
Indoor Air Quality and Building Envelope
Course Number: ECT 213 Units: 1
Class: 1 hour lecture
Recommended preparation: ECT 22 Description: Introduction to building indoor air quality standards and maintenance procedures associated with comfort and health problems faced by workers and managers: Building envelope and testing procedures for proper service and maintenance of building heating, cooling and ventilation systems. 0946.00
Technical Mathematics for ECT
Course Number: ECT 214
Units: 3
Class: 3 hours lecture
Recommended preparation: Math 201 or 210D or 200B
Description: Selected topics in mathematics with specific application to the HVAC & R industry: Decimals and fractions, ratios and proportions, unit conversions, areas and volumes, application of algebraic equations in gas laws and load calculations, relevant trigonometric functions, and use of graphs to represent and analyze data. 0946.00
Preparation for BPI Certification
Course Number: ECT 215
Units: 2.5
Class: 1.5 hours lecture, 3 hours laboratory (GR or P/NP)
Description: Preparation for Building Performance Institute (BPI) certi cation Application of the theory and practice of Building Performance science and Energy auditing according to BPI National Standards 0946.00
Selected Topics in Environmental
Control Technology
Course Number: ECT 248GA-MZ
Units: .5-9
Class: 0-9 hours lecture, 0-27 hours laboratory (GR)
See section on Selected Topics. 0946.00
Occupational Work Experience in Environmental Control Technology
Course Number: COPED 466A
Units: 1-4
Hours to be arranged (GR) 0946.00
