Industrial Technology Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Industrial Technology major prepares you to manage and improve industrial and manufacturing operations. Industrial technology programs combine technical courses in manufacturing processes, automation, quality and safety with management skills.

An Industrial Technology major includes coursework in manufacturing processes, industrial automation, quality control, industrial safety, and technical drawing and CAD and more. You build skills such as process improvement, quality methods, equipment operation, and safety compliance. Typical degrees: associate and bachelor's degrees.

Typical courses include manufacturing processes, industrial automation, quality control, industrial safety, technical drawing and CAD, and supervision. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Industrial Technology is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, and a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s. Part-time study takes longer.

Associate and bachelor's degrees. In the latest federal data, 251 colleges reported certificate awards, 246 colleges reported associate awards, 94 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, and 24 colleges reported master’s awards.

Career paths connected to industrial technology include industrial engineering technician, production supervisor, quality control inspector, industrial maintenance technician, industrial production manager, and CNC programmer. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include industrial engineering technician (typical training: 2-year degree), production supervisor (typical training: 3–5 years of experience), quality control inspector (typical training: 3–12 months on the job), industrial maintenance technician (typical training: 1–4 years), industrial production manager (typical training: 5+ years of manufacturing experience), and cnc programmer (typical training: 1–2 years plus shop experience).

Industrial Technology majors build skills such as process improvement, quality methods, equipment operation, safety compliance, and supervision.

Good pairings include Business (prepares you for plant management), Occupational Safety (adds the safety knowledge plants depend on), and Supply Chain Management (connects production to purchasing and logistics).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as industrial engineering technician, production supervisor, and quality control inspector, and enjoy subjects like manufacturing processes and industrial automation. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes manufacturing processes, industrial automation, and quality control; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

416 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (32), Illinois (28), Texas (23), Michigan (22), and Ohio (22), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

364 of the colleges that offer industrial technology also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Industrial Technology prepares you to manage and improve industrial and manufacturing operations. Construction Management teaches you to plan, budget, schedule and supervise construction projects. Industrial Technology leads to careers such as industrial engineering technician and production supervisor, while Construction Management leads to careers such as construction manager and cost estimator.

Industrial Technology prepares you to manage and improve industrial and manufacturing operations. Building Science and Construction Technology studies how buildings are designed, built and maintained to perform well. Industrial Technology leads to careers such as industrial engineering technician and production supervisor, while Building Science and Construction Technology leads to careers such as construction and building inspector and building maintenance technician.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to industrial technology, such as Industrial Engineering Technician Training.