Academic Curriculum

CTLTI Curriculum Swim Lanes

Convergence Technology
In general, convergence is a coming together of two or more distinct entities or phenomena. According to Wikipedia: “Technology convergence is the tendency that as technology changes, different technological systems sometimes evolve towards performing similar tasks.”  

In the context of the institute’s curriculum integration strategy, convergence technology is the coming together of information technologies, telecommunications, consumer electronics and entertainment into a single digital bit-stream such that the synergistic interaction and interoperability can then be deployed in smart homes to provide home automation, digital video surveillance, standard home security monitoring, home entertainment, home health services and home energy management services.  

The convergence is both technical and functional, with the technical side referring to the ability of any infrastructure (wireline and wireless) to transport any type of data, while the functional side refers to the ability of the consumers to integrate in a seamless way the functions of computation, entertainment, video and voice in a unique integrated system of devices able to execute a multiplicity of tasks.

Terotechnology
Terotechnology derives its meaning from the Greek word “terein”, which means “to guard or to care for”.  

Developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s, Terotechnology is a “multidisciplinary approach to obtaining maximum economic benefit from physical assets. It involves a systematic application of engineering, financial, and management expertise in the assessment of the lifecycle impact of an acquisition (buildings, equipment, machine, plants, structures, and products) on the revenues and expenses of the acquiring organization. The practice of terotechnology is a continuous cycle that begins with the design and selection of the required item, follows through with its installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, until the item’s removal and disposal and then restarts with its replacement.” (businessdictionary.com) 

An alternative definition of Terotechnology is provided by Wikipedia as:  

“The technology of installation, commissioning, maintenance, replacement and removal of plant, machinery, equipment and products, of feedback to operation and design thereof, and to related subjects and practices. Focused on the reliability, maintainability and maintenance of assets in an optimal manner and the pursuit of economic life cycles, it is the combination of management, financial, engineering and other practices applied to physical assets through the stages of installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, modification and replacement.” 

In the context of the institute’s integrated curriculum strategy, the approach is embedded in the selected education and training courses for the students to enhance their ability to handle the systems and devices within their scope of work from cradle to grave.

Target Core/Common Skills 

1. Critical reading and writing
2. Speaking and listening
3. Computer literacy
4. Quantitative reasoning
5. Qualitative reasoning & research
6. Scientific discovery and sustainability
7. Skills for total and naturopathic health & wellness
8. Self & community awareness, humanity and the aesthetic experience
9. Balanced views of critical issues in local, national and global contexts
10. Creativity- the ability to see things differently and come up with new breakthroughs

Academic Studies and Vocational Skill Training and Certification Sequences

 Pre-Program Studies: Personal Computer User Certificate

1. Required Academic Studies: 42 Credit-Hours of Texas Common Core
2. Required AAS Vocational Skill Courses for chosen field
3. Required Certification Training for chosen field
4. One-Year Optional Practical Training
5. Required Management, Entrepreneurship and Logistics Technology Electives
6. Recommended Additional Transferable Academic Courses
7. Required Bachelor’s degree academic courses in chosen field
8. Recommended Certification Training Programs
9. Internships and Additional Practical Experience
10. Required Master’s degree academic courses in chosen field
11. Permanent Job Placement after (6) or (9) or (11)
12. Lifetime Continuing Education for continuous skill improvement 

Notes:

a)     Pre-Program Computer User Training to be completed during 12 weeks of training before the beginning of first semester of required academic studies

b)    For local students (i.e. U.S citizens and green card holders who already have the authority to work), the pre-program training will include training in logistics, technology devices test and repair and work tools like MS Visio. Then this cohort of students will be placed in paid employment under a work-study program, with college classes taken when not working and during weekends. A take-home pay of about $13K per year is expected which will allow the students to cover the basic costs of living plus study materials.

c)     Required certification training to be undertaken during the summer period after two semesters of academic studies

d)    AAS vocational skill courses completed by the end of the second academic year

e)     One-Year Optional Practical Training undertaken after AAS graduation

f)      Required Management/Entrepreneurship/Logistics Technology Electives to run concurrently with the OPT year as mandatory evening/weekend classes

g)     Recommended Certification Training Programs to be undertaken during the summer between the junior year and the senior year in the bachelor’s degree program

Pre-Program Studies: Personal Computer User Certificate 

1. ITSC 1401  Introduction to Computers
2. ITNW 1437 Introduction to Networking and the Internet
3. ITSW 1401 Introduction to Word Processing
4. ITSW 1404 Introduction to Spreadsheets
5. ITSW 1407 Introduction to Database
6. ITSW 1410 Introduction to Presentation Graphics Software
7. POFI 2440  Advanced Word Processing
8. ITSW 2434 Advanced Spreadsheets
9. ITSW 2437 Advanced Database
10. ITSE 1429  Programming Logic and design
11. ITSE 1350  System Analysis and design
12. IMED 1416 Web Design I

Required Academic Studies: 42+ Credit-Hours of Texas Common Core 

1. ENGL 1301  English Composition I
2. ENGL 1302  English Composition II
3. SPCH 1315  Fundamentals of Public Speaking
4. MATH 1324  Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences I
5. MATH 1325  Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences II
6. MATH 1342  Elementary Statistical Methods
7. COSC 1401  Introduction to Computing
8. BCIS 1405    Business Computer Applications
9. PHYS 1401   College Physics I
10. PHYS 1402   College Physics II
11. PHIL 1301     Introduction to Philosophy
12. ARTS 1301    Arts Appreciation
13. HIST 1302      United States History I to 1876
14. HIST 1302      United States History II since 1876
15. GOVT 2305    American National Government (Federal Government)
16. GOVT 2306    State and Local Government (Texas Government)
17. ECON 2301    Principles of Macroeconomics
18. ECON 2302    Principles of Microeconomics
19. ACCT 2302     Principles of Accounting II- Management Accounting
20. ACCT 2301     Principles of Accounting I- Financial Accounting
21. PSYC 2301     General Psychology
22. PHED 1164     Introduction to Physical Fitness and Sport
23. BIOL 1322       Nutrition & Diet Therapy I

Required Management, Entrepreneurship and Logistics Technology Electives 

1. BUSI 1301     Introduction to Business
2. BUSI 2302     Innovation & Entrepreneurship
3. BMGT 1327   Principles of Management
4. LMGT 1319    Introduction to Business Logistics
5. LMGT 1345    Economics of Transportation and Distribution
6. LMGT 1325    Warehouse and Distribution Center Management
7. BMGT 1301    Supervision
8. BUSI 1307      Personal Finance
9. HRPO 2307    Organizational Behavior
10. BMGT 2303    Problem Solving and Decision making
11. BMGT 2309    Leadership
12. BUSG 1315    Small Business Operations
13. BUSI 2301      Business Law
14. BUSG 2309    Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship
15. BUSG 1303    Principles of Finance
16. MRKG 1301   Customer Relationship Management
17. CTLI 1401      Introduction to Quality Management
18. CTLI 2402      Introduction to Lean Six Sigma and Value Stream Mapping
19. ITSC 1415      Project Management Software

Selections from Additional Transferable Academic Courses 

1. ENGL 2311   Technical and Business Writing
2. SPCH 1321   Business and Professional Communication
3. SPAN 1411   Beginning Spanish I
4. FREN 1411   Beginning French I
5. MATH 1314   College Algebra
6. MATH 1316   Plane Trigonometry
7. MATH 1348   Analytic Geometry
8. MATH 2413   Calculus I
9. MATH 2417   Calculus I (Accelerated)
10. MATH 2414   Calculus II
11. MATH 2419   Calculus II (Accelerated)
12. MATH 2315   Calculus III
13. MATH 2420   Differential Equations with Applications
14. MATH 2418   Linear Algebra
15. MATH 2405   Discrete Mathematics for Computing I
16. CHEM 1411   General Chemistry I
17. CHEM 1412   General Chemistry II
18. PHYS 2425    Mechanics
19. PHYS 2426    Electromagnetism and Waves
20. ENGR 1201   Introduction to Engineering & Computer Science
21. ENGR 2406   Introduction to Digital Systems
22. BIOL 2316     Human Genetics
23. BUSI 2301     Business and Public Law
24. PHIL 2303      Introduction to Logic
25. PHIL 2306      Introduction to Ethics
26. PSYC 2306    Human Sexuality
27. ARTS 1311    Design I (2-Dimensional)
28. ARTS 1312    Design II (3-Dimensional)
29. MUSI 1301     Foundations of Music
30. MUSI 1306     Music Appreciation
31. PHED 1338    Concepts of Physical Fitness
32. HIST 2301      History of Texas
33. SOCI 1301     Introduction to Sociology
34. HUMA 1301   Introduction to Humanities
35. GEOL 1447    Meteorology
36. PHYS 1404    Solar Systems
37. PHIL 2307      The History & Comparative Studies of Modern Religions
38. ECON 2303    Development Economics
39. ECON 2304    Energy and Sustainability
40. ECON 2305    Health, Nutrition and Agricultural Production & Economics
41. HIST 1300      Introduction to World History
42. HIST 2302      The History & Philosophy of Science and Technology
43. GOVT 2300    The Social Contract and the Principles of Government
44. PHIL 3301      The Art & Science of the Artificial

 Required AAS Vocational Skills Courses 

1. Renewable Energy Technology & Entrepreneurship
2. Convergence Technology Electronics & Terotechnology
3. Computer Network Design & Security Optimization
4. Real Estate and Mortgage Banking
5. Smart Building Construction Technologies & Management
6. Applied Geographic Information Systems
7. Biomedics & Medical Diagnostics Terotechnology

Required Certification Training for selected fields of study 

See Training & Certification Programs page. 

Examples of Available Free Courseware Sites for Continuing Education