Hands-on learning sets up students for careers and discipleship

Justin Miller talks about the Engineering Technology Department while Rustin Moon listens during an episode of the Fulfilling the Mission podcast.

BYU-Idaho Radio

Hands on learning is more than a casual statement when it comes to the Department of Engineering Technology, it's a way of life for students and faculty members.

Bachelor's degrees include Advanced Vehicle Systems, Automotive Engineering Technology, Automotive Technology Management, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Welding and Fabrication Technology and Welding Engineering Technology. Associate degrees include Automotive Technology, Engineering Technology and Welding and Fabrication Technology.

Department Chair Justin Miller says the big difference between the associate degrees and bachelor's degrees is a few more classes and a bigger payoff when students are ready to find a job.

"You go from being the skilled laborer to being the manager or the problem solver, the person behind it," Miller said.

Rustin Moon is a senior studying Automotive Engineering Technology. He's also the president of the Society of Automotive Engineers. He started at BYU-Idaho studying biomedical science but decided to switch to the automotive program. He's already had an internship with Teton Toyota in Rexburg and another internship lined up with Peterbilt as a design engineer where he'll get to use a 3D computer software called Computer Aided Design or CAD to design and prototype their packaging for after treatment systems in their exhaust systems.

Internships are important for the students in Engineering Technology. Miller says those internships often turn into jobs, especially when the internship aligns with what the student wants to do as a career.

"So as a senior, they have an offer or two or three or four sometimes," Miller said.

The students are able to get great internships because of the hands-on experiences they have in the classroom. For example, the automotive program has more than 20 stalls for students to work on vehicles. With 500 students in the program, they need that lab space to teach them.

"Just to be able to give each student hands on experience in the real world, we could simulate things at a desk or on a computer screen, but that just isn't the same," Miller said.

When Moon stepped into his first lab, he was excited. He enjoyed not having to be on a dirty floor of a garage but having the lifts, racks and other machines.

"I just thought it was pretty cool that they have it here," Moon said.

BYU-Idaho has the largest four-year program for automotive technology in the United States. Companies like Toyota, Ford, Tesla and Polaris consistently recruit the students.

"They know that they're going to have lots of students to hire from and there's enough students for more than one company to hire from," Miller said.

BYU-Idaho is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its mission is to "develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and in their communities." Miller says the hands-on nature of the department lends itself to also teaching spiritual truths.

"It isn't like you have to switch gears to go from automotive to spiritual," he said. "It's the same gear."

Learn more about the Department of Engineering Technology.

You can watch or listen to this episode of the **Fulfilling the Mission** podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The episode is also available below.

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