The Science, Mathematics and Engineering (SME) division is comprised of nine departments offering over 50 degree and certificate programs. Student learning occurs in modern classrooms containing the latest technology and software applications. Within the division, there are numerous state-of-the-art laboratories that mirror the environments students will experience in community settings.
Architectural Technology – The department has a room specially equipped with combination drafting table/computer work stations to allow for teaching both hand and CAD drafting.
Automation & Control with Robotics – The department has well established labs with state-of-the-art equipment such as bench top robots, Human Machine Interface (HMI) systems, work cells, machine vision and several software packages for manufacturing applications, troubleshooting and repair of automation equipment, Programmable Logic Controllers and Industrial networking applications.
Automotive Technology – The department has a large 1,800 sq. ft. vehicle lab space with state-of-the-art equipment that is utilized to support student learning. There are also six classroom/lab spaces with a vehicle demonstration area. A dedicated automotive computer lab is used to support online course requirements for students of corporate sponsored programs.
Aviation Technology – The department has a dedicated flight simulator laboratory equipped with Personal Computer Aviation Training Devices (PCATDs). The department also has a Redbird full motion flight simulator and a GAT II multi-motion flight training device, both fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Our certified FAA program laboratory at the Miami Valley Career Technology Center has hydraulic electrical and sheet metal training aids in addition to propellers, turbines, and a jet aircraft.
Biology – The department has eight state-of-the-art labs for students taking classes in non-majors biology, majors biology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and physiology. The labs have computers for data processing (one lab solely dedicated to computer work), anatomical models for studies of the human body and evolutionary links to the past in human development, and equipment that services microbiological preparation and waste. All labs contain microscopes, as well as other essential biological equipment.
Biology Self-Help Lab – The department has a self-help lab housing computers, microscopes, and anatomical models to assist students outside of their regularly scheduled lab settings.
Biotechnology – The department has one dedicated lab that houses two sterile hoods, a minus 80 degree freezer, gel electrophoresis apparatuses, and various DNA and protein isolation equipment.
Chemistry – The department houses four academic laboratory instructional spaces and two instrument rooms adjacent to these spaces. All of the labs provide a fume hood space with natural gas to fuel Bunsen burners and tap water with a sink for filtering and chemical disposal. These are also available in a non-fumigated open area with chemically resistant counter space. Also available are deionized water and Reverse Osmosis water.
Adjacent to the four laboratories are two instrument rooms providing IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography, Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), UV Visible Spectroscopy and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AA). These are state-of-the-art industrial lab analysis instruments which gain students hand-on experience.
Civil Engineering Technology – The department has a fully equipped construction materials lab where exploration of the properties of various construction materials such as wood, concrete and metals can be accomplished. There is also a fully equipped surveying lab with basic and GPS-enabled surveying equipment. A soils lab is available for characterizing and testing soil properties in the Soil Mechanics class.
Computer Aided Manufacturing – This program has two labs: a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lab and a Manual Machining lab. The CNC lab contains three HAAS Lathes and three HAAS Vertical Machining Centers (a three, a four and a five axis machine) along with 15 desktop simulators to provide students access to the latest technology.
The manual machine lab has over 15,000 sq. feet of space and contains over 100 pieces of traditional machining equipment, including lathes, mills, drill presses and grinders. In addition, eight (8) Prototrak mills and one (1) Prototrak lathe to introduce students to basic machine programming are available.
Construction Management Technology – A construction lab consisting of high-bay space and a variety of hand and power tools allows students to do hands-on construction projects, including pouring concrete and working with bricks and concrete blocks. In addition, a construction assemblies display room exists to help students see various materials and subsystems used in construction.
Electronics Engineering Technology – The EET program is supported by ten specialized labs with state-of-the-art equipment, simulation and analysis software. Specialized independent labs support areas such as electrical circuits, analog, digital, PLCs, avionics, lasers and fiber optics, LabVIEW, computer assembly and repair, local area networking, high reliability soldering, microcontrollers and microprocessors, motors and controls, and RFID. A special Electronics Resource Center provides students with learning outside the class time as well as open labs where students can get help on a one-to-one basis.
Energy Management Technology – A state-of-the-art energy lab allows students to create biodiesel and ethanol, power a simulated house with photovoltaic panels or wind power, investigate solar thermal panels, and do performance testing on structures.
Engineering Technology Design General Labs – The department has six multi-user computer labs equipped with the modern software required for programs in Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Construction Management Technology, Energy Management Technology, Environmental Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Environmental Engineering Technology – An environmental lab is equipped with sampling and analysis equipment used to test water and air samples for contaminants.
Geology: The Geology program has two academic lecture/laboratory spaces containing numerous mineral samples stored in drawers. The central area provides student tutoring as well as access to computers for student use.
HVACR Engineering Technology – A fully equipped HVAC lab includes numerous trainers and pieces of equipment to provide hands-on experiences using various types of HVAC equipment. A state-of-the-art digital controls lab allows students to experience the latest in Direct Digital Controls. A sheet metal fabrication lab is available for students to learn soldering and brazing techniques. In addition, a computer lab with specialized software for system loads, equipment selection and troubleshooting is open to students.
Mathematics – The department has a large laboratory with 31 computers for student to access specialized software and has a separate room staffed by tutors for personal help. Tutorial help is provided for all levels of math instruction. The lab maintains textbooks, solutions, manuals, and tutorial videos for in-lab use. Also available to students are instructional worksheets and a website with specific information for every math course.
Mechanical Engineering Technology – A fully equipped laboratory allows students to fabricate, tune and test solid body electric guitars. A fluids lab allows students to explore fluid characteristics and flow. A materials lab has equipment for testing the properties of metallic and non-metallic materials through the use of such equipment as hardness testers, an impact tester, tension testers and ovens for heat treatment.
Operations Technology – The program has a manual Metrology lab for training in the use of basic manual measurement tools such as calipers, micrometers, gage blocks, etc. In addition, the program has a state-of-the-art Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) which allows students to learn and use more advanced measuring techniques.
Also available is a lab dedicated to hands-on-learning in areas as Lean workplace design. Time and Motion studies, Computer Simulation, and Ergonomics. The lab is supplied with a collection of ergonomically correct hand tools and an adjustable ergonomic workstation.
Physics – The department has embraced the integrated lecture/laboratory learning environment and therefore conducts laboratory activities in traditional lecture spaces. The department also utilizes two primary laboratory rooms which house computers for data collection and laboratory tables/benches for conducting experiments. To augment the static computers in the two laboratory rooms, the department has two laptop carts with 20 laptops each that can be utilized in any room.