Electric Transmission Systems Technology

Certificate and AAS in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology

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Overview

The courses in the EPCE-sponsored online Electrical Transmission Systems Technology (ETST) program are:

  • Flexible to accommodate personal and professional schedules.
  • Offered every 3-5 weeks on a rotating schedule with the ability to enroll at any time.

The technical courses in this online program can count towards an Associate’s of Applied Science Degree or Certificate in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology.  Courses can also be taken individually for professional development or certification requirements.

BSC-NECE is an NERC-approved CEH Provider. This program is approved to offer North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) continuing education hours (CEHs) combined with college credit for those who wish to maintain certification requirements and work towards a college degree. Learn more about NERC CEH courses.

Course Information

Students choosing to complete all courses within the Electrical Transmission Systems Technology program can follow the recommended sequence below or create a customized schedule based on their needs.  The NECE recommends that students consult with their academic advisor prior to registration for academic advice based on individual educational plans.

Recommended Sequence – 1st Semester

ETST 240 Power Industry Concepts
ENRT 106 DC Fundamentals
ENRT 108 AC Fundamentals
ETST 250 Electrical Generation Theory

Recommended Sequence – 2nd Semester

ETST 254 Substations
ETST 256 Transformers
ETST 258 Protective Relaying
ETST 260 Electrical Diagram Interpretation

Recommended Sequence – 3rd Semester

ETST 262 Power System Operations
ETST 266 Interconnected System Operations
ETST 268 Power Flow
ETST 270 System Operator Work Practices

Recommended Sequence – 4th Semester

ETST 272 Power System Safety
ETST 274 SCADA Systems and Communications
ETST 276 Power System Economics
ETST 278 Power System Emergency Concepts
ETST 280 Reliability Policies & Procedures

In addition to the courses listed above, 15 general education credits are required.

Please visit the Education Plan link for additional information.

For more information on the types of CEH hours available with each course go to NERC Flyer.

1st Semester Courses

ETST 240 – Power Industry Concepts – 3 Credits
This course covers the basic role system operators and electrical dispatchers play in the electric power industry. In addition, students will study the history, development and evolution of the electric industry since inception. This course also explores the effects of deregulation of modern day electrical markets. This course concludes with the working environment of system operators, including some of the challenges they face, such as shift work, certification and the tremendous amount of responsibility operating in a real time market.

ENRT 106 – DC Fundamentals – 2 Credits- 30 CEHs
This course covers basic direct current theory and application. Students will study methods of producing direct current voltage, including batteries, and magnetic fields. Students will learn to calculate voltage, current, resistance, and power in series, parallel, and combination DC circuits. The construction and operation of rotating DC machines including DC generators and DC motors will also be covered.

ENRT 108 – AC Fundamentals – 3 Credits – 32 CEHs
This course covers basic alternating current theories and applies those theories to electrical systems and related equipment. Students will also study basic generator and motor design, construction and operation principles.

ETST 250 – Electrical Generation Theory – 4 Credits – 35 CEHs
This course covers the design and construction of large electrical generators. Students study the sources of voltage and the design and types of A.C. and D.C. generators and related auxiliary equipment. Students also study the design and operation of A.C. and D.C. motors.

2nd Semester Courses

ETST 254 –  Substations – 3 Credits – 39 CEHs
This course covers the basic equipment found in switchyards and substations. Also included are the function and types of substations, related transmission and distribution systems and how each system is tied to one another.

ETST 256 – Transformers – 3 Credits – 46 CEHs
This course furthers a students understanding by introducing basic diagrams, transformers, and basic substation safety and inspection. Topics covered in this course will include interpreting one-line diagrams, exploring power and specialty transformers, and lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedures for transformers.

ETST 258 – Protective Relaying – 3 credits – 54 CEHs
This course focuses on protective relaying of substation equipment and transmission lines. Details found in this course include practical understanding and identification of protective and control equipment, zones of protection, protection schemes, and relay communication systems.

ETST 260 – Electrical Diagram Interpretation – 2 Credits – 31 CEHs
This course covers electrical diagrams including single line diagrams, schematic diagrams and logic diagrams. This course focuses on the system operators perspective and the role diagram comprehension plays in an operators job performance.

3rd Semester Courses

ETST 262 – Power System Operations – 3 Credits – 30 CEHs
This course covers the basic roles and responsibilities of system operators including transmission operations, market operations, reliability, balance and interchange and scheduling. The goal of this course is to introduce the multitude of positions found in a typical transmission control center. 

ETST 266 – Interconnected System Operations – 3 Credits – 35 CEHs
This course covers the operation of power pools, regional reliability organizations and independent system operators and the role of each. In addition, this course covers interconnected switching procedures between utilities.

ETST 268 – Power Flow – 3 Credits – 40 CEHs
In this course, students study the control of power flow through interconnected systems and the operation of parallel power systems. The topics include generator synchronization, phase angle, VAR control and line voltage regulation. Procedures for controlling electrical power flows to maintain steady state conditions across the power grid are also a focus of this course.

ETST 270 – System Operator Work Practices – 3 Credits – 38 CEHs
In this course students gain the operational knowledge how the North American Transmission Grid is managed. Emphasis is placed on the understanding and use of various applications available to system operators for predicting and managing real time operations. Other areas of focus include the effect of voltage on power system stability, the effect of megawatt flow on voltage and reactive power requirements, and the effect of system voltage on static reactive resources and the NERC requirements for reactive power.

4th Semester Courses

ETST 272 – Power System Safety – 3 Credits – 34 CEHs
This course covers the safe operating practices, system isolation procedures, and accident prevention procedures used in the transmission and distribution of power. Emphasis will be placed on electrical system lock out and safety procedures.

ETST 274 – SCADA Systems and Communications- 3 Credits – 40 CEHs
This course covers supervisory control and data acquisition systems and the application of various communications technologies used in the electric industry.

ETST 276 – Power System Economics – 3 Credits – 48 CEHs
This course covers economic factors governing electrical system operations. Costs of generation, transmission and distribution are explained. The organization of markets for electrical energy and how this structure affects participating companies’ operational and investment decisions are discussed. The effects of congestion, transmission losses and penalty factors are studied. Load management, scheduling and pricing are a focus as well.

ETST 278 – Power System Emergency Concepts – 3 Credits – 40 CEHs
This course concentrates on the concepts involved in the emergency operations of the interconnected power system. Learners will study all of the NERC Emergency Preparedness and Operations Standards (EOP) that govern those operations. Topics include emergency planning, recognition of, and reaction to, power system emergencies and abnormal conditions, as well as system restoration and the implementation and coordination of the proper procedure to restore the electrical system to a safe operating condition.

ETST 280 – Reliability Policies & Procedures – 3 Credits – 35 CEHs
This course familiarizes and helps students understand the policies and procedures that ensure the reliability of the power system. North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards, as well as other regulatory agency policies, are explained and discussed. Government agencies, reliability regions, and state reliability concerns also are defined and discussed.

AAS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology requires 66 credit hours.

  • Technical program: 51 credit hours
  • General Education: 15 credit hours

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

The Certificate in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology requires 55 credit hours.

  • Technical program: 51 credit hours
  • General education: 4 credit hours

Semester 1

Power Industry Concepts
Catalog # ETST 240
Class # 11618
Dates: 1/9/2023 – 2/12/2023
Credits: 3

DC Fundamentals
Catalog # ENRT 106
Class # 11634 or 11715
Dates: 2/13/2023 – 3/5/2023
Credits: 2

AC Fundamentals
Catalog # ENRT 108
Class # 11636 or 11716
Dates: 3/6/2023 – 4/9/2023
Credits: 3

Electrical Generation Theories
Catalog # ETST 250
Class # 11619
Dates: 4/10/2023 – 5/12/2023
Credits: 4

Semester 2

Substations
Catalog # ETST 254
Class # 11620
Dates: 1/9/2023 – 2/12/2023
Credits: 3

Transformers
Catalog # ETST 256
Class # 11621
Dates: 2/13/2023 – 3/12/2023
Credits: 3

Protective Relaying
Catalog # ETST 258
Class # 11622
Dates: 3/20/2023 – 4/23/2023
Credits: 4

Electrical Diagram Interpretation
Catalog # ETST 260
Class # 11813
Dates: 4/24/2023 – 5/12/2023
Credits: 2

Semester 3

Power System Operations
Catalog # ETST 262
Class # 11623
Dates: 1/9/2023 – 2/12/2023
Credits: 3

Interconnected System Operations
Catalog # ETST 266
Class # 11624
Dates: 2/13/2023 – 3/12/2023
Credits: 3

Power Flow
Catalog # ETST 268
Class # 11625
Dates: 3/20/2023 – 4/16/2023
Credits: 3

System Operator Work Practices
Catalog # ETST 270
Class # 11814
Dates: 4/17/2023 – 5/12/2023
Credits: 3

Semester 4

Power System Safety
Catalog # ETST 272
Class # 11626
Dates: 1/9/2023 – 2/5/2023
Credits: 3

SCADA Systems and Communication
Catalog # ETST 274
Class # 11627
Dates: 2/6/2023 – 2/26/2023
Credits: 2

Power System Economics
Catalog # ETST 276
Class # 11628
Dates: 2/27/2023 – 3/26/2023
Credits: 3

Power System Emergency Concepts
Catalog # ETST 278
Class # 11629
Dates: 3/27/2023 – 4/16/2023
Credits: 3

Reliability Policies and Procedures
Catalog # ETST 280
Class # 11815
Dates: 4/17/2023 – 5/12/2023
Credits: 3

Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

Bismarck State College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Visit the accreditation page for more details.

All courses are delivered asynchronous and offered 24/7.

The majority of courses are 3-5 weeks long.

Plan to spend approximately 15-20 hours a week working on a course.

You can start anytime during the year.

You choose your education journey. You can take an individual course, a certificate program or pursue a degree. If you are degree seeking, official transcripts will be required and placement tests may need to be completed. 

Visit the tuition page here. If you/your company is not an EPCE member, learn more about becoming an EPCE member company and or individual member.

Yes, you can receive college credit for a variety of approved previous learning accomplishments. Explore your options with the BSC advisor. 

Contact your Human Resources department to see if courses/programs qualify.  

To get started, you will need to complete the application process . The admissions process typically takes 1 – 3 weeks.

Ask a BSC Advisor

Have questions about earning your certificate?
Get in touch with Bismarck State’s program advisor.

Contact the National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE)
701-224-5651 • 800-852-5685
[email protected]

Ask an Advisor
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