South Carolina Community Colleges
Engineering Programs
Engineering and pre-engineering programs at community colleges in this state. Calculus, physics, and intro engineering for transfer to four-year programs.
9 colleges · 70 sections · 43 unique courses · Summer 2026 · Updated today
Two distinct engineering pathways run through South Carolina community colleges: the transfer-track pre-engineering associate that articulates to a bachelor's in mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering at a four-year school, and the engineering-technology associate (AAS) that prepares students directly for industrial-tech, manufacturing-engineering-tech, and CAD-drafter careers. The 70 sections across 9 SCTCS institutions cover both — calculus and physics for the transfer track, applied automation and materials for the AAS.
Engineering proper (the licensed P.E. profession) requires a bachelor's from an ABET-accredited program. CC's role is to provide the first two years at lower cost, especially the heavy calculus and physics sequence that many four-year programs treat as a weed-out. The engineering-technology track is a complete career credential on its own — graduates work as technicians, lab specialists, and field engineers without continuing to a bachelor's.
Earnings & outcomes for Engineering graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 1501 — Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Engineering
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville Technical College | 18 | 15 | 3 | 24 | — |
| Trident Technical College | 11 | 11 | — | 24 | — |
| Midlands Technical College | 10 | 10 | — | 20 | — |
| Tri-County Technical College | 10 | 6 | — | 1 | — |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College | 7 | 4 | 1 | — | — |
| Piedmont Technical College | 6 | 6 | — | — | — |
| Florence-Darlington Technical College | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Aiken Technical College | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| York Technical College | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Engineering Availability Snapshot
How engineering sections are being offered across 9 colleges in South Carolina this term (70 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person53 (76%)
- hybrid10 (14%)
- online7 (10%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)24
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)16
- Evening (5 PM and after)3
- Asynchronous / TBA27
Start dates
Sections begin on 8 distinct dates. 13 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 21 distinct instructors across 9 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Central Carolina Technical College2 programs
Spartanburg Community College1 program
Powered by Modern Campus Catalog™.
Course Requirements
- COL 101College Orientationnot offered
- COL 103not offered
- CPT 170Microcomputer Applicationsnot offered
- ENG 101English Composition Inot offered
- SPC 205Public Speakingnot offered
- EET 104Electronic Engineering Technology Foundationsnot offered
- EET 111DC Circuitsnot offered
- EET 112AC Circuitsnot offered
- EET 131Active Devicesnot offered
- EET 141Electronic Circuitsnot offered
- EET 145Digital Circuitsnot offered
- EET 231Industrial Electronicsnot offered
- EET 235Programmable Controllersnot offered
- EET 236PLC Systems Programmingnot offered
- EET 261Electronic Troubleshootingnot offered
- EET 273Electronics Senior Projectnot offered
- EGT 151Introduction to CADnot offered
- IST 166Network Fundamentalsnot offered
- MEC 103Hydraulics and Pneumaticsnot offered
Mathematics and/or Lab Sciences: 13 Credits
13 creditsHumanities/Fine Arts General Education Course: 3 Credits
3 credits- ART 101Art History and Appreciationnot offered
- ART 107History of Early Western Artnot offered
- ART 108History of Western Artnot offered
- ENG 102English Composition IInot offered
- ENG 228Studies in Film Genrenot offered
- HSS 101Introduction to Humanitiesnot offered
- MUS 105Music Appreciationnot offered
- PHI 101Intro to Philosophynot offered
- PHI 105Introduction to Logicnot offered
- PHI 110Ethicsnot offered
- REL 101Introduction to Religionnot offered
- REL 104Early Christian History and Literaturenot offered
- REL 105Early Jewish History and Literaturenot offered
- REL 201Religions of the Worldnot offered
- THE 101Introduction to Theatrenot offered
Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education Course: 3 Credits
3 credits- ANT 101General Anthropologynot offered
- ECO 210Macroeconomicsnot offered
- ECO 211Microeconomicsnot offered
- GEO 101Introduction to Geographynot offered
- GEO 102World Geographynot offered
- HIS 101Western Civilization to 1689not offered
- HIS 102Western Civilization Post 1689not offered
- HIS 104World History Inot offered
- HIS 105World History IInot offered
- HIS 201American History: Discovery to 1877not offered
- HIS 202American History: 1877 to Presentnot offered
- PSC 201American Governmentnot offered
- PSC 215State and Local Governmentnot offered
- PSC 220Introduction to International Relationsnot offered
- PSY 201General Psychologynot offered
- SOC 101Introduction to Sociologynot offered
First Semester
Second Semester
Third Semester
Fourth Semester
Fifth Semester
- EET 236PLC Systems Programmingnot offered
- EET 273Electronics Senior Projectnot offered
- MAT 120Probability & Statisticsnot offered
- ELEC XXXornot offered
- MAT 140Analytical Geometry and Calculus Inot offered
- EET 231Industrial Electronicsnot offered
- ELEC XXXHumanities/ Fine Arts General Education Course (Choose 1 course from the Humanities/Fine Arts Section above).not offered
Source: College catalog
Trident Technical College17 programs
York Technical College7 programs
Common Engineering courses
- EGR 270Intro to Engineering(6 sections)
- EGR 269Eng Disciplines and Skills(4 sections)
- EGR 130Engr Tech Applica & Prog(3 sections)
- EGR 194Statics & Strength Of Material(3 sections)
- EGR 275Intro to Engr/Comp Graph(3 sections)
- EGT 115Engineering Graphics II(3 sections)
- EGT 152Fundamentals of CAD(3 sections)
- EGR 110Intro to Computer Environment(2 sections)
- EGR 175Manufacturing Processes(2 sections)
- EGR 210Intro to Engineering CAD(2 sections)
- EGR 262Engineering Dynamics(2 sections)
- EGR 286Engineering Survey II(2 sections)
Career outlook for Engineering graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare South Carolina’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
South Carolina's typical pay is about 9% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I become an engineer with just an associate degree?
- Not in the licensed-engineer sense — the P.E. (Professional Engineer) license requires a bachelor's from an ABET-accredited program. But you can absolutely work as an engineering technologist, engineering technician, or specialized field role (CAD drafter, surveying technician, manufacturing technician) with the AAS in engineering technology.
- Does the pre-engineering associate transfer cleanly to a four-year program?
- Largely yes if you follow the structured pre-engineering pathway — Calculus I/II/III, Differential Equations, Physics with Calculus, Chemistry I, and intro engineering. Programs vary in which discipline they're best aligned to (mechanical vs electrical vs civil); confirm with the target four-year school before enrolling. Engineering majors are tightly sequenced and a missing prerequisite can cost a semester.
- What's the difference between engineering and engineering technology?
- Engineering programs focus on theory and design — you'll work as a P.E. designing new systems. Engineering technology programs focus on applying existing designs — you'll work as a technician building, testing, or maintaining systems engineers have specified. Both are good careers; ET grads earn solid wages and don't need a bachelor's.
- Is the math required for engineering at a community college?
- Yes, and that's one of the strongest reasons to start at CC. The Calculus I → II → III → Differential Equations sequence is the same content at CC and four-year, but CC class sizes are smaller and tuition is much lower. Many engineering students who struggled with high-school math intentionally take the calculus sequence at CC before transferring.
Compare Engineering programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how South Carolina’s engineering programs stack up.
Other programs in South Carolina
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.