Utah State University's Robotics, Automation, and Controls emphasis area provides students with hands-on training designed to prepare them for careers in industrial automation, offering a specialized pathway for students to earn 48 credits through partnerships with several Utah technical colleges.
Hands-On Technical Training
The Robotics, Automation, and Controls emphasis area, part of the Technology Systems program, focuses on providing students with practical experience to prepare them for roles such as automation technicians, robotics engineer technologists, and control systems engineer technologists. Students in the program learn to design, program, and maintain industrial automation systems while optimizing processes for efficiency and productivity.
To facilitate this training, Utah State University has established partnerships with Bridgerland Technical College, Davis Technical College, and Ogden-Weber Technical College. Students can complete two certificates at one of these technical colleges, which contributes a total of 48 credits toward the emphasis area.
Career Opportunities and Earnings
The curriculum covers a wide range of modern industrial technologies. Students gain experience with industrial robots, programmable logic controllers, work cell creation, industrial networking, electronics, human-machine interface programming, and fluid power systems.
Graduates of the program enter a field with diverse career opportunities and significant earning potential. Starting salaries for graduates are estimated to be approximately $75,000 to $100,000 or more.
Professional Career Paths
The program offers several specific career paths for those who complete the curriculum. Automation engineer technologists work to improve manufacturing and computer system efficiency by automating specific tasks and monitoring performance. Controls engineer technologists design and update multi-functioning machines, such as automobiles and planes, by combining mathematics and basic engineering.
Other roles include control systems engineer technologists, who design, build, and maintain instrumentation and monitors for complex systems like navigation networks and production machinery. Additionally, product safety engineer technologists ensure manufactured products meet safety standards and regulations through testing and data analysis. Other positions include process maintenance technicians, who handle equipment repairs and facility maintenance, and systems integrators, who synchronize data and software systems to ensure interoperability.
Technical College Admissions Pathway
For students who do not meet the standard admissions requirements, Utah State University provides a Technical College Pathway. This route allows students with a high school GPA below the 2.0 admissions standard required for the Earned Admission Pathway program to qualify for admission by completing a 12-credit certificate with a 2.0 GPA at a local Utah technical college.
To utilize this pathway, prospective students must be incoming first-year or transfer students with fewer than 24 post-high school credits. They must also have applied to Utah State University within the past year and meet all other non-academic admissions criteria. Once the certificate is completed and the student is admitted, they can proceed with enrollment, housing, and registration.
Credit Transfer and Partnerships
Utah State University maintains credit transfer agreements with all Utah System of Higher Education Technical Colleges. Approved institutions include USU Eastern in Price, Bridgerland Technical College in Logan, Davis Technical College in Kaysville, Dixie Technical College in St. George, Mountainland Technical College in Lehi, Ogden-Weber Technical College in Ogden, Salt Lake Tech at SLCC in Salt Lake City, Snow College Richfield Campus in Richfield, Southwest Technical College in Cedar City, Tooele Technical College in Tooele, and Uintah Basin Technical College in Vernal.
For credit to be transferred, the certificate must have been earned after July 1, 2023. Courses completed before this date will not be granted credit. For work completed after July 1, 2023, but where a certificate was not earned, courses will be posted individually as elective credit once evaluated and articulated.
Student Perspectives
The program's structure allows for a faster route to graduation than a traditional four-year degree. John Robinson, a graduate of the Technology Systems: Robotics, Automation & Controls program, noted that the program helped him reach his career goals through its efficient timeframe, allowing him to graduate debt-free.
Robinson credited the success of the program to the instructors, stating that the teachers were highly willing to help ensure student success.
