Program Code: W110 – Timmins Campus (PC)
Program availability varies by academic year. Refer to the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) for Domestic Students or OCAS International for the most up-to-date availability. Applications open in October prior to the next academic year.
This program is a strong fit for creative students who like to imagine ideas, design solutions, build things, and see how machines work in the real world.
In Northern’s Mechanical Engineering Technician program, students learn practical skills in sketching, 3D modelling, technical drawings, product design, prototyping, machining, manufacturing, and industrial maintenance. Using Northern’s advanced 3D printing studio and manufacturing lab, students work with state-of-the-art equipment such as 3D printers, scanners, mills, and lathes to turn ideas into physical parts, test and improve designs, and understand how products and mechanical systems are made.
Graduates can apply these hands-on skills in mining, manufacturing, forestry, construction, energy, and industrial services, in roles such as mechanical engineering technician, product design technician, CAD/design technician, manufacturing technician, maintenance technician, or industrial mechanical support technician.
Contact Information
For questions about being admitted into the program, please contact Northern College Admissions at admissions@northern.on.ca or by phone at 705-235-3211 ext. 7222.
For questions about the content of the program, contact the Program Coordinator.
Marc Veilleux Program Coordinator Tel: 705-235-3211 ext. 2116 Email: veilleuxm@northern.on.ca
Mechanical Engineering Technicians provide technical support and services including design, development, testing, manufacture, and maintenance of machines, tools, engines, heating and ventilating systems, piping, and electronic equipment.
In our program, you will learn to make sketches, layouts, 2D drawings, 3D models, record and analyze engineering data, make calculations & estimates and report their findings.
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The courses listed below may be part of your Program of Study.
Please note that the courses and course descriptions listed below are based on our current offering and are subject to change. Current students can find information on the courses they are enrolled in by logging into their Student Portal Account.
Information for previous academic years can be found in the Program Outline Archive.
If you have questions or require more information, please contact the Program Coordinator.
In this course, students will learn essential skills for success in college and the workplace. This course focuses on developing and strengthening oral and written communication skills, and critical thinking ability. During this course, students will engage in a variety of forms of communication with a focus on upholding the principles of academic integrity. Students will develop the skills necessary to create discipline-specific documents, practice business etiquette and professionalism, and apply critical thinking strategies to practical scenarios. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to plan and draft concise, coherent and well-organized writing assignments that are tailored to specific audiences and purposes.
42 hours
This course introduces the student to health and safety in their home, in society and within an occupational setting. Students learn about the social and personal benefits of safe work practices and the methods to best prevent accidents or injuries. Students will review the role, right and responsibilities of an individual in today’s health and safety conscious world. Students also learn how to read and interpret the Occupational Act and Regulations.
42 Hours
This course is an introductory course into the study of physics. It consists of 6 theory units and a corresponding laboratory component. The topics covered include: measurement, motion, forces, work and energy, fluids and heat. The lab component gives students the opportunity to connect with the acquired theory.
56 Hours
This course covers basic algebra properties, graphing the straight line, basic geometry and trigonometry, and solving a system of equations graphically and algebraically. It also covers vector addition by components and by the cosine and sine laws.
Introduces engineering drawings and GD&T using Fusion 360, including parametric modelling, drawing views, tolerances, datums, additive manufacturing preparation and design validation. This course may also be offered as a dual credit opportunity for high school students, giving them an early, hands-on taste of college learning through product design projects, digital modelling, technical drawings and prototype preparation.
This course will develop the knowledge of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, alloys and non-metallic materials, thread systems for specific applications; select and install nuts, bolts, screws, dowels required to specifications, heat treat and stress relieve material if required.
28 Hours
This course will enable the student to protect self and others; comply with safety legislation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS); wear and maintain safety clothing and equipment; report all hazards; apply confined space safety procedures; apply machinery and equipment lock-out procedures; use correct body mechanics when lifting loads; communicate with fellow workers; report all accidents and respond to emergency situations. In addition, the student will be able to plan lifts; perform calculations using load charts; estimate load weights; select and use correct rigging/hoisting equipment; inspect and maintain rigging/hoisting equipment; use hand signals; control, balance and direct loads; disassemble all equipment safely.
This is an introduction to engineering statics/mechanics tailored to the needs of Mechanical and Civil students. The major topics include vectors, moments, couples, centroids and moment of inertia. Students will learn how to find the reaction forces at the supports and the internal force in members using the method of joints and the method of sections. Students will also learn how to calculate the centroid and the area moment of inertia for simple shapes and some commercial shapes. Applied statics/mechanics is the basis for all calculations in areas such as stress analysis, machine design, hydraulics and structural design.
MA2104 is the second course in the math stream for students in an Engineering Technician / Technology program. The emphasis of this course is on solving equations relating to quadratics, logarithms, exponentials, with sections on factoring, fractional equations, manipulating exponent and radical expressions, and complex numbers, and for some programs studying systems of linear equations and determinants. Applications of the basic concepts to particular fields of study will be covered. The second semester Mathematics course is designed to give the student the mathematical tools required to function in his/her special field of study. Students are encouraged to seek help after class hours if problems are encountered in the course. Every effort will be made to identify problem areas for the student, but in the final analysis, it is the responsibility of the student to ask for help.
Introduces Fusion-based mechanical design through sketches, constraints, parametric 3D modelling, basic assemblies, drawings, dimensions and simple project-based design workflows.
This is an introductory course intended to give students a basic understanding of electronic devices and fundamental electrical concepts including current, voltage, resistance, ohm’s law, series/parallel circuits, combination circuits, Kirchoff’s Law, inductance, and reactance. The student will also be introduced to the general principles of motor controls, electronics and electrical safety considerations.
This course will develop the theories and practices taught during MM1002 while furthering their knowledge on conventional machine tools such as engine lathes, drilling machines, saws, pedestal grinders and various hand tools. They will learn the parts, various operations, cutting tools and the relationship of speeds and feeds applied to milling machines. They will manufacture parts to specified tolerances which reflect field operations.
This course will enable the student to install and maintain power transmission systems, perform trade calculations on horsepower, torque, speed ratios, install and align belts, V- belts, and pulleys, chain drives and sprockets. They will install, align and perform maintenance functions on shafts, speed reducers, gears, brakes, clutches and drives. They will demonstrate the correct use of keys, splines and bushings, to ensure installation and maintenance to specifications.
70 Hours
Improving your knowledge and understanding of the history of the Indigenous peoples of what we now call Canada is an important step to enable Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, organizations, and communities to work together more respectfully. Throughout this course you will have the opportunity to learn, discuss and reflect about many topics that are relevant in the learning journey towards reconciliation.
The first part of this course introduces the learner to the fundamentals of computer and how they are networked. Topics include a basic overview of computer/network equipment, networking fundamentals and standards, and network design. The second part of the course provides the learner with an introduction to computer programming using embedded systems. Topics covered include syntax, variables, equations, data types, loops, conditional statements, logical statements, and ADC interfacing.
MA3105 focuses on additional topics in algebra, geometry and trigonometry. Applications from many fields of technology are explored to show where and how mathematical techniques are used in the real world. Emphasis is placed on doing mathematics.
The learner is expected to apply time and effort to understanding the basic concepts. The learner is also expected to apply time and effort in demonstrating acquired knowledge by solving basic word problems involving technical applications. Using mathematics effectively in everyday situations requires the ability to apply a wide variety of mathematical skills accurately.
Students who successfully complete this course will have demonstrated their ability to apply the concepts of number and space to situations which include quantities, magnitudes, measurements, and ratios. They will have developed their ability to identify the need for mathematics, to apply mathematical techniques (concepts, conventions, strategies, and operations) and to check the results of their analyses. This will require flexibility, creativity and confidence, which can only be gained through practice.
56 hours
Builds intermediate mechanical design and CAD skills through parametric part modelling, assemblies, technical drawings, design documentation and project-based mechanical component development.
This course will develop various positive and non-positive displacement pumps. The students will also learn to assemble, disassemble and maintain various pumps. They will identify, install and maintain various types of valves and how to incorporate them into piping systems as well as identifying various pipe fittings and their uses.
This course examines the behaviour of engineering materials under various loading conditions. The concepts of stress and strain are critically examined with emphasis on the application of those concepts to practical design and analysis problems. Topics include direct normal and shear stresses; axial deformation and thermal stress; torsional shear stress and torsional deformation; shearing forces and bending moments in beams; pressure vessel stresses; welded and bolted (riveted) connections.
General Education Courses are selected online each semester by the student from a list provided and exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline. Certain programs have predetermined electives.
This course will cover such topics as: Measures of Central and Dispersion Tendencies; Distributions (Frequency, Probability, Binomial and Normal); Quality Process Control; Correlation and Regression Models and Hypothesis Testing. This course will have applications to various fields in engineering while using Microsoft Excel
Pre-requisites: MA1100 Mathematics I
This is an introductory course that deals with the correlation between manufacturing, mechanical properties, microstructure, and applications. The course addresses material structures at atomic, crystallographic, microstructural, and macrostructural levels. Also included are topics such as strengthening mechanisms, tensile and cyclic testing, failure mechanisms, solid state diffusion, solidification, and phase diagrams. The purpose of this course is also to provide students with hands-on experience in modern manufacturing processes. It introduces the learner to how each process works and its relative advantages and limitations. Major emphasis is on the fundamentals of production processes in order to produce quality products in a competitive manner.
This course introduces students to the behaviour of fluids at rest and in motion. The physical properties of fluids and their measurement are discussed. Energy and Bernoulli equations are applied to problems involving laminar and turbulent flow of fluids in pipes.
Dynamics is the study of motion and force systems on bodies in motion. The course will be an overview of the application of Newton’s laws to rectilinear and curvilinear motion problems. Plane motion, work/energy, impulse/momentum and force analysis will also be studied.
Develops advanced CAD/CAM competencies, including complex solid modelling, surface/freeform modelling, meshing, finite element simulation, machining simulation and additive manufacturing preparation.
Articulation Agreements
A number of articulation agreements have been negotiated with universities and other institutions across Canada, North America and internationally. These agreements are assessed, revised and updated on a regular basis. Please contact the program coordinator for specific details if you are interested in pursuing such an option.
Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List
CIP Code: 15.0805
International students: check the Canadian Field of Study/CIP Code List to see if your program is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Career Opportunities
Northern College graduates are currently employed by consulting engineering firms, manufacturing & processing companies, public institutions, and government departments in a wide range of industries including mining, oil & gas, forestry, automotive, and construction.
Explore labour market information for related careers and employment trend data from the Government of Canada Job Bank.
Pathways to Success
Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering Technician program may choose to continue their studies and complete an additional year in order to obtain a diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology at the Timmins campus. Graduates of this program may be eligible to enroll in the Mechanical Engineering degree program at Lakehead University.
Or equivalent
Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.
For more details, please contact the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 or admissions@northern.on.ca.
In addition to the admission requirements, international students must have proof of English Proficiency and meet the requirements below.
1. Proof of Senior High School Diploma/Certificate
2. English Proficiency (we will require one of the following):
If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency.
All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependent on the country of citizenship.
For more information, please contact admissions@northern.on.ca.
The tuition and fees information is typically updated yearly for the upcoming Academic Year in May. The amounts are for the full academic year.
Amounts may be based on last years tuition and fees and are subject to change.
If you are a current student, please refer to your Student Account or see a Student Services Clerk for the most up-to-date information.
Domestic: $2,774.97
International: $15,715.60
Ancillary fees are paid in full for the entire academic year in the first semester.
Please see Detailed Ancillary Fees for more information.
At Northern College, you’re a part of a community.
From your teachers to support staff and administrators, we are all here to help you get an education and make some lasting connections along the way.
Your success is incredibly important to you, so we provide student supports to help you achieve your goals. From study assistance and accessibility services to mental health supports and financial aid, we’ve got you covered.
Each of Northern’s campuses boasts exercise facilities, a gym, cafeteria, study areas and a library – places that you can go to help keep you focused as you work your way through your studies. The communities we call home are incredible places, filled with amazing people and things to do.
Student Supports & ServicesTimmins Campus
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