| Formal and informal research conducted by Reading Area Community College has indicated that the greater Berks county area has a definite need for individuals trained in the technical areas of telecommunications. Reading Area Community College has met this need by developing a high-technology curriculum in Telecommunications Engineering Technology. This research has also shown that the curriculum is unique in its approach to addressing not only traditional forms of telecommunications, but the new, state-of-the-art forms of telecommunications as well.; Telecommunications technology is a term that has been used to define many areas of communications. Many colleges, four-year colleges, and universities claim to offer programs of study in telecommunications technology. These programs range from two-year technical curricula in communications electronics and telephone technologies to four-year programs in television production and mass communications.; The Telecommunications Engineering Technology program at Reading Area Community College addresses the many forms of telecommunications including radio and television, electronics, troubleshooting for telecommunications systems, as well as the technologies of laser, satellite, microwave, and fiber-optic telecommunications.; The development and implementation of high-technology curricula is expensive. For this reason, Reading Area Community College pursued and was awarded two years of developmental funding to assist in the research, development, and implementation of the Telecommunications Engineering Technology program. This funding was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Vocational Education. First-year funding provided for the hiring of a coordinator/curriculum development specialist for the program, as well as for supplies and some basic equipment to be used no matter which direction the curriculum took. Activities throughout this first year of funding resulted in the development and approval of a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree program in Telecommunications Engineering Technology.; Second-year funding for the implementation of the newly-developed curriculum was awarded to Reading Area Community College for the 1984-1985 fiscal year. This funding provided for the purchase of major equipment packages necessary for the hands-on instruction required by the program. Additional monies were provided for salaries, and related materials and supplies.; The purpose of this study is twofold: to describe the process whereby a curriculum in Telecommunications Engineering Technology was developed, as well as the process through which Reading Area Community College was awarded grant funding to aid in the development and implementation of the curriculum. |
