(ABILENE, Texas) – Students in Texas State Technical College’s Electrical Power and Controls program may come from different backgrounds, but they share one goal: building successful futures in the electrical industry.
“We are given the training to take our career options further,” said Liam Terrill, of San Angelo.
Several fourth-semester students are already looking ahead to what comes next as they prepare to complete their associate degrees this spring.
“I want to sign with a company that will allow me to travel,” said Juan Rodriguez, of Abilene. “This program allows us to learn a lot. Our career options will be broad.”
For many students, the biggest strength of the program is the instructors and the supportive classroom environment.
“I like how easy it is to learn from the instructors,” Terrill said. “We can talk to them one-on-one to make sure we understand what we’re supposed to do.”
Juan Soliz, of Abilene, chose TSTC because of its strong industry reputation and career placement success.
“I learned about the high demand for the different jobs you can have with this degree,” Soliz said. “I also like that we’re guaranteed a lot of interviews and can get to work quicker. That would not have happened if I attended a four-year school.”
Students said the program offers more than learning circuits — it teaches them a wide range of technical and problem-solving skills.
“It’s not just wiring; there’s a lot more to this program,” Soliz said. “I’ve found the coding curriculum very interesting.”
Terrill said he began the program without any electrical experience and encourages others not to be intimidated.
“You’ll be given the ability to learn the ins and outs of the electrical system,” he said.
Rodriguez added that the classroom experience also connects students from diverse walks of life.
“You meet people from different backgrounds who have different stories,” he said. “That’s one of the cool things about the program.”
According to onetonline.org, electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians in Texas earn an average annual salary of $69,720. The number of such positions in the state is projected to grow 11% between 2022 and 2032.
TSTC offers the Electrical Power and Controls program in a hybrid format, combining online learning with in-person, hands-on lab work. In addition to the Abilene campus, the program is also available at TSTC’s campuses in Fort Bend County, North Texas and Waco.
Registration for the spring semester is underway. To learn more, visit tstc.edu.