Curriculum

Foundation Skills For Technology Curriculum

The online Undergraduate Certificate in Foundational Skills for Technology Program is designed for personal enrichment and to teach foundational skills that are transferrable to Penn Foster's technology-focused degree programs. Understand how to read technical and construction drawings, as well as blueprints, and describe the process of computer-aided design with a college curriculum comprised of subjects like math, writing, and science.

Foundation Skills for Technology

Undergrad. Cert. 9 months As low as $59/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-471-3232 (10AM - 6:30PM EST)

Foundation Skills For Technology Curriculum

6 courses
16 credits

Estimated completion time:

Fast track = 9 months
Average time = 12 months

With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework.

The development of engineering and engineering technology, technical mathematics, use of a scientific calculator.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
- Categorize the infrastructure used in building automation, active traction control, web, and fire alarm systems
- Analyze the processes of generating electricity, transporting natural gas, and designing of fire sprinkler systems
In this course, you'll learn the essential math skills necessary for future success in an AS technology program. The course of study includes a review of basic math functions, including trades-based examples, the metric system, formulas, introductory algebra, applied geometry, and some practical applications of trigonometry.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Define basic math skills to solve real-world skilled trades–related problems
- Illustrate your ability to effectively use the metric system
- Identify your knowledge of formulas to solve problems
- Identify algebraic concepts to solve problems
- Solve perimeter, area, and volume for a variety of geometrical shapes
- Define basic trigonometry functions such as sine and cosine to perform trades-related calculations
This course provides an overview of writing styles for technology applications. Students will review basic grammar, including parts of speech, active and passive voices, sentence structure, and paragraph construction. The course also includes practical information on writing memos and emails and organizing material.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the process of writing, as well as the parts of speech and how to use them
- Explain various types of punctuation, rules for capitalization and spelling, and documenting sources for research
- Construct complete, correct sentences and well-organized, coherent paragraphs
- Recognize how to plan, develop, revise, and present your work
- Prepare for the various kinds of writing most likely needed for a job
Microsoft® Office allows people to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and databases. This course will teach you how to use three popular tools from the Microsoft® Office Suite — Word™, Excel®, and PowerPoint®. In this course, you'll learn how to use Word™ to create and edit text documents, insert figures and tables, and format pages for a variety of uses. You'll then learn how to use Excel® to organize and format data, including charts, formulas, and more complex tables. Next, you'll learn how to use PowerPoint® to create and deliver slide shows. Finally, you'll complete a graded project, which will test the skills acquired in Word™, Excel®, and PowerPoint®.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Create various Microsoft® Word™ documents.
- Produce a thorough Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet.
- Identify the basic skills needed to use Microsoft® PowerPoint®.
- Synthesize what you’ve learned by integrating Word™, Excel®, and PowerPoint®.
This course provides students with an overview of visual communication skills necessary to successfully complete the wide range of courses in technology programs that require learning to read and interpret technical drawings. Students learn print reading, interpretation of symbols and abbreviations, dimensioning, tolerancing, and the application of these skills to actual print reading. The course also contains an overview of computer-aided drawing and its role in modern technology.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe perspective drawing, projection drawing, and features of mechanical parts
- Differentiate between the various concepts of dimensioning and tolerancing
- Point out the various symbols and abbreviations used in technical drawings
- Categorize the purposes of CAD technology and the different elements in it
- Distinguish between the different sketching methods and their importance
- Analyze the geometries and print-reading applications involved in various drawings and prints
- Categorize the various types, layouts, specifications, and codes in construction drawings
Principles that define and govern the physical universe as we know it; chemistry, physics, earth, and space sciences.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Explain mechanics and properties of matter
- Describe heat and its effects on matter
- Analyze sound
- Apply the principles of chemistry
- Describe light
- Determine what scientific principles apply to electricity and electronics

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

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