Academic Catalog

APEL 120: INTRODUCTION TO THE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, MATERIAL & TOOL I.D., ELECTRICAL DEVICES

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 5.5
Hours: 60 lecture, 33 laboratory per quarter (93 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Electrical Apprenticeship Program; student is a registered State indentured apprentice.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APRT 120.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will be able to apply electrical theory for basic units.
  • A student will be able to apply electrical theory for series circuits.
  • A student will be able to demonstrate jobsite Safety and OSHA Regulation.
  • A student will be able to explain and use OHMS Law.

Description

Orientation to the commercial/industrial electrical industry with an introduction to electrical theory, tools, materials, wiring methods, and basic electrical installation practices. Review of mathematics as applied in the electrical construction trades.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate basic on-the-job skills to include communication skills, use of tools and materials, and on-the-job safety.
  2. Demonstrate basic knowledge of electrical devices, circuitry, and installation practices.
  3. Review basic math skills.
  4. Demonstrate the proper use and care of tools and equipment.
  5. Identify job site safety guidelines and procedures.

Course Content

  1. Orientation to electrical trades industry
    1. Job site chain of command: owner/customer, architects and engineers, inspection authorities, general and specialty contractors
    2. Organizations within the industry: manufacturers, distributors, trade unions
  2. Methods of working with others
    1. Three basic methods of motivation
    2. Human levels of need
    3. Leadership style and the role of competent supervisors
    4. Effective workplace communication: importance, barriers, and keys
  3. Mathematics
    1. Review arithmetic properties
    2. Word problems
    3. Fractions
    4. Decimals
    5. Properties of triangles
    6. Metric system
    7. Prefixes
    8. Conversion from English to metric
    9. Powers of ten
    10. Algebraic formulas
    11. Square roots
    12. Ratio, percentage, and proportion
    13. Direct and inverse relationships
  4. Basic electrical theory
    1. Define terms
    2. Electron flow
    3. Producing electrical current
    4. Effects of electrical current
  5. Tools, materials, safety, and handling
    1. Proper tool management
    2. Identify common hand and power tools
    3. Proper selection and application
    4. Proper care of tools
    5. Tool defects that create unsafe conditions
    6. Ladder safety
    7. Digging techniques
    8. Motorized tools
    9. Platform lifts
    10. Material management
    11. Identify commonly used materials by name
    12. Proper selection and application of materials
  6. General job site safety and awareness
    1. Why safety is important
    2. Key factors involved with safe work practices
    3. Develop respect for electricity
    4. Be aware of dangers
    5. Describe locations of potential hazards
    6. Demonstrate use of no contact voltage indicators and other devices to determine if system is energized
    7. Demonstrate safe techniques for energized systems
    8. Hazards from poor job site house keeping
    9. Awareness of dangers of fall objects and respect for job safety rules

Lab Content

  1. Students will demonstrate the proper use of power tools
  2. Students will demonstrate proper pipe bending techniques
  3. Students will properly install and wire single pole switches and receptacles
  4. Students will demonstrate the proper use and installation of anchor fasteners in different substrates
  5. Students will demonstrate proper conductor pulling techniques

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Laboratory with electrical tools and equipment.
2. When taught as a virtual section, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of running video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom).

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written quizzes and average of four tests
Results of hands-on projects and homework
Results of class participation
Maintenance of a student's workbook with questions drawn from text

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Lab assignments
Group discussion
Class demonstrations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Hart, G.V., and S. Hart. Ugly's Electrical References. 2023.

Callanan, M.I., and B. Wusinich. Electrical Systems, Based on the NEC 2023. 2023.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Syllabus for First Year Core Curriculum. 2022.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Conduit Bending and Fabrication Textbook. 2007.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. DC Theory, 3rd ed.. 2010.

NFPA. National Electrical Code (NEC). 2023.

Electrical Training Alliance. Construction Documentation. 2024.

These are the standard electrical textbooks/workbooks used for this course. Although some are older than 5 years, they are the most current books used when teaching this course.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Write article on important safety considerations per the National Fire Protection Association, NEC. NFPA 70: National Electrical Code

Discipline(s)

Electricity