roject Development Engineers
Project Manager
System Designer
Potential advancement generally requires
further education or training.
Admissions Procedures
To apply to the Renewable Thermal Energy
Technician program, please submit the
following to MSTC Student Affairs Admissions
Office:
1. WTCS application form and $30
non-refundable application fee
2. Completed Accuplacer test. (Other test
scores may be acceptable alternatives.)
Entrance exam requirements for the
Renewable Thermal Energy Technician
program are:
ReadingAccuplacer score of 55
or equivalent
LanguageAccuplacer score of 60
or equivalent
MathAccuplacer score of 34
or equivalent
If a student does not meet the required
scores in these academic areas, they may
Program Outcomes
Employers will expect you, as a Renewable
Thermal Energy Technician graduate, to be
able to:
Work safely with renewable thermal
systems
Install solar collectors
Install geothermal heat pumps
Install biomass boilers
Install water heater and storage tanks
Install piping, pipe insulation and connect
system piping
Install balance of system components
Install electrical control systems
Perform a system checkout and inspection
Maintain and troubleshoot a renewable
thermal system
Select a system design
Adapt a system design
Conduct a site assessment
remediate and retest or complete an
identified structured remediation course(s)
in the Academic Support Center.
3. High school transcript or GED/HSED
scores
Mid-State Technical College
Admissions
500 32nd Street North
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
mstc.edu
888.575.MSTC
Program Course Descriptions
10001148

People, Resources & Biosphere
3 credits
Global resource and environmental problems
from a historic, socioeconomic and biological
perspective.
10103106

Microsoft Office-Beginning
3 credits
Develops introductory skills in the Microsoft
Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint),
Windows Explorer, Internet and computer
concepts through demonstrations and lab
exercises.
10103124

Excel-Intermediate
1 credit
Develop skill to write and debug macros, create
custom menus, perform database functions
and develop graphs. Prerequisite: Microsoft
Office-Beginning 10103106 or Excel-Beginning
10103123
10468100

Alternative Energy Overview
2 credits
In this course, students will investigate the
need for renewable energy systems and
emerging careers in renewable energy.
Students will examine the basic design,
function, cost and other considerations
associated with various green energy
systems, including solar photovoltaic, solar
thermal, wind, geothermal and biomass.
Students will also explore the production and
use of alternative transportation fuels.
Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS)
Overview
The Renewable Thermal Energy Technician program will prepare
technicians who design, install, operate and maintain solar, geothermal
and biomass heating systems for both residential and commercial
applications. Technicians will perform site assessments and integrate new

renewable thermal systems with current existing energy sources.
Renewable thermal energy technician may be involved in the sale or
marketing of solar, geothermal and biomass thermal energy technologies.
The Renewable Thermal Energy Technician program is offered at
the Wisconsin Rapids campus.
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Mid-State Technical College 20082009 Catalog & Student Handbook 10482105

Building Codes & Standards
3 credits
This course will cover the building codes
and standards relevant to the installation of
renewable energy systems. Additionally the
LEED Certification and Wisconsin Green Built
Home standards will be presented.
10482107

Construction Fundamentals
3 credits
Students will study the concepts associated
with the theory, materials, and methods
used in construction to include footings and
foundations, walls, floors, roofs and roof
materials, exterior finishes, interior walls,
ceiling and floor finishes, insulation types,
vapor and air infiltration and sound protection.
Additionally, students will become familiar
with blueprint reading and examine all the
trades associated with construction including,
electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. The safe use
of the appropriate tools for each trade will also
be covered.
10483100

Intro to Renewable Thermal
Systems
3 credits
This course provides an overview of a variety
of renewable/alternative water and space
heating systems including, solar, geothermal
and biomass. This overview will include an
introduction to system design, installation and
operation.
10483101

Solar Hot Water Site
Assessor Training
2 credits
Students will learn how to assess a facility for its
potential for a solar hot water system. Students
will learn how to define a sites solar window,
interpret solar radiation and temperature
data, size a system, identify mounting and
engineering considerations relevant to the
installation; identify & recommend steps for
energy efficiency; perform a load analysis;
describe and identify components of a solar
water heating system; perform a general cost
estimate for a solar water heating installation;
list installers and equipment vendors;
provide information on financial programs in
Wisconsin. Prerequisite: Intro to Renewable
Thermal Systems 10483100
10483110

Solar Hot Water System
Installation I
2 credits
This course will involve students in the
installation of a solar hot water system.
Topics include safety, system design and
layout, component selection, mounting
collectors, plumbing and insulating copper
pipe, and installing a storage tank, heat
exchanger, circulation pump and other system
components. Prerequisite: Piping Fundamentals
10483121
10483111

Solar Hot Water System
Installation II
2 credits
This course is a continuation of Solar Hot Water
System Installation I and will involve students
as the lead installer in a solar hot water system
installation. Prerequisite: Solar Hot Water
Installation I 10483110
10483115

Heat Load Estimation
2 credits
This course will teach the student how to
use Manual J from ACCA. The student will
develop the skills to do residential heating and
cooling heat loads. Students will calculate heat
loss and also losses or gains due to infiltration,
sun loads etc. The student will do calculations
on actual buildings using ACCA industry
standard form J-1. The student will also
estimate energy upgrades such as insulation,
window improvements, etc. and calculating
payback and fuel savings.
10483120

Traditional Heating
& Plumbing Systems
3 credits
Heating system topics include introduction to
heat principles, temperature measurement,
fuels and other sources of heat, combustion,
basic heating systems, basic furnace design,
gas furnace design and operation, venting of
furnaces, chimney or exhaust gases and system
controls. Plumbing system topics include fluid
dynamics (pressure, resistance and flow), basic
system design, water heating and operation of
standard plumbing fixtures.
10483121

Piping Fundamentals
2 credits
This course will present the theory of basic
methods of plumbing and piping installation
practices. Laboratory activities will provide
students with basic pipe joining processes
associated with the plumbing field.
10483130

Electrical Controls & Systems
3 credits
Topics in this course include an introduction
to AC/DC electricity and the physical laws that
apply to electronic circuits. Direct Current (DC)
covers basic definitions of voltage, current and
resistance and analysis of series and parallel
resistive circuits. Alternating Current (AC)
includes an introduction to AC generation,
capacitors, inductors and transformers and
their applications in electronic circuits.
Additional topics include control circuits,
symbols, diagrams, protection devices, relays,
thermostats, single-phase motors, control
components and troubleshooting ACR system
wiring diagrams. Prerequisite: Electrical Circuits
I 10605105
Curriculum
First Semester
(17 credits)
10801195 Written Communication
3
10103106 Microsoft Office-Beginning
3
10482105 Building Codes & Standards
3
10482107 Construction Fundamentals
3
10483120 Traditional Heating &

Plumbing Systems
3
10606105 Intro to AutoCAD
2
Second Semester
(17 credits)
10001148 People, Resources & Biosphere
3
10103124 Excel-Intermediate
1
10468100 Alternative Energy Overview
2
10483100 Intro to Renewable

Thermal Systems
3
10483121 Piping Fundamentals
2
10605105 Electrical Circuits I
3
10804110 Elementary Algebra with

Applications
3
Third Semester
(18 credits)
10483101 Solar Hot Water Site

Assessor Training
2
10483110 Solar Hot Water System

Installation I
2
10483115 Heat Load Estimation
2
10483130 Electrical Controls & Systems
3
10801196 Oral/Interpersonal Communication 3

or
10801198 Speech
3
10809122 Intro to American Government
3
10809143 Microeconomics
3

or
10809144 Macroeconomics
3
Fourth Semester
(16 credits)
10483111 Solar Hot Water System

Installation II
2
10483131 Control Circuit Applications
3
10483140 Renewable Thermal Systems

Troubleshooting/Repair
3
10809172 Race, Ethnic & Diversity Studies 3

or
10809196 Intro to Sociology
3
10809198 Intro to Psychology
3

Elective
2

Total Credits
68
Please Note:
The Renewable Thermal Energy Technician
program has August and January starting
dates. However, we advise you to meet
with a counselor to successfully plan your
academic schedule.
Degree completion time may vary based
on student scheduling needs and course
availability.
For General Education course descriptions
(800 level courses), see section marked
under Course Descriptions.
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