Utah State University is introducing a new bachelor's degree in Robotics, Automation and Control Systems designed to help students at state technical colleges earn a degree faster. The program combines technical training with professional skills intended to prepare students for leadership roles in manufacturing and automated industries.
The degree program is the first in Utah to allow students with specific certificates from participating technical colleges to apply up to 50 credits toward the four-year degree. Students who complete the automation technology certificate or the control systems and robotics certificate can transfer those credits directly to USU. This includes high school students who may take technical college courses tuition-free.
Developed in partnership with Bridgerland Technical College, Davis Technical College, and Ogden-Weber Technical College, the degree provides a direct pathway from technical certificates to a university degree. The curriculum is designed to meet employer demand for professionals who possess both hands-on technical skills and an understanding of management, business, and systems thinking.
Zak Konakis, director of the USU School of Professional & Technical Education and vice provost for technical education and academic pathways, stated that the degree builds on technical training by adding broader university education to help graduates become leaders in their field.
Graduates will be prepared for various roles, including automation engineers, controls engineers, robotics specialists, systems integrators, industrial automation technicians, and manufacturing leaders. The degree will be offered fully online to provide flexibility for students managing work and family commitments.
This initiative aligns with efforts by the Utah Board of Higher Education to use partnerships between technical colleges and universities to meet workforce needs and expand educational access. Matt Fuller, an instructor and head of the Automation Department at Bridgerland Technical College, noted that the program creates stackable pathways that help students thrive.
Students can enroll in the Robotics, Automation and Control Systems degree starting in the fall semester of 2026. More information is available at https://www.usu.edu/degrees-majors/robotics-automation-and-control-systems_bs.
