State’s First Wind Turbine Technology Program Approved by State Regents
A unanimous vote by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education this week established the state’s first wind turbine technology degree program.
OSU-Oklahoma City was granted approval by the Regents to offer an associate of applied science degree in wind turbine technology. The two-year degree focuses on training technicians to work on utility-scale wind turbines.
The wind turbine technology program consists of classes in electrical, power transmission, industrial safety, climbing, scheduled maintenance and general service. Students can begin enrolling in the new program immediately and will start classes in January 2009. Students can also earn a wind turbine technology certificate by completing the degree curriculum without taking the general education classes.
The purpose of the wind turbine technology degree program is to prepare individuals to work in the increasingly important field of wind energy.
According to Dr. Jerry Nielsen, OSU-OKC science and engineering division head, “The wind industry is such an important factor in Oklahoma’s economy right now. OSU-OKC is on pace to graduate students who can be ready to go to work in the wind patch at the exact time the industry is calling for trained professionals.”
An eight-week Introduction to Wind Turbine Technology course was offered this semester at OSU-OKC. Students currently taking engineering classes will be able to transfer some of those credits over to the new wind turbine technology degree program.
For more information on the newly approved wind turbine technology degree, go to www.osuokc.edu/wind.